Author Topic: Student Suspended Over Call From Mom in Iraq (Read 850 times)

DREDIOCK · « **on:** May 07, 2005, 09:00:31 AM »

Student Suspended Over Call From Mom in Iraq
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COLUMBUS, Ga. (May 7) - A high school student was suspended for 10 days for refusing to end a mobile phone call with his mother, a soldier serving in Iraq, school officials said.

The 10-day suspension was issued because Kevin Francois was "defiant and disorderly'' and was imposed in lieu of an arrest, Spencer High School assistant principal Alfred Parham said.

The confrontation Wednesday began after the 17-year-old junior got a call at lunchtime from his mother, Sgt. 1st Class Monique Bates, who left in January for a one-year tour with the 203rd Forward Support Battalion.

Mobile phones are allowed on campus but may not be used during school hours. When a teacher told him to hang up, he refused. He said he told the teacher, "This is my mom in Iraq. I'm not about to hang up on my mom.''

Parham said the teen's suspension was based on his reaction to the teacher's request. He said the teen used profanity when taken to the office.

"Kevin got defiant and disorderly,'' Parham said. "When a kid becomes out of control like that they can either be arrested or suspended for 10 days. Now being that his mother is in Iraq, we're not trying to cause her any undue hardship; he was suspended for 10 days.''

megadud · « **Reply #1 on:** May 07, 2005, 09:03:58 AM »

i'd sue the school for..something...

then i'd egg the principals house...then i'd pee in his coffeee...

that's all i'd do though....

DREDIOCK · « **Reply #2 on:** May 07, 2005, 09:08:32 AM »

Personally I find it kinda amusing how the media spun the story with the title.

Though Im not saying he was right to do it Im not sure I would have reacted much differently

Lye-El · « **Reply #3 on:** May 07, 2005, 09:14:39 AM »

I think some teachers and administrators need to be send to a war zone for educational purposes for, oh, say three months. And if they use a phone to call home, extend their stay for another three months. Send them during the summer and the first 3 months they won't be missed on the class schedule.

ASTAC · « **Reply #4 on:** May 07, 2005, 09:15:33 AM »

Really, 10 days? Where I went to school more than 8 days missed was automatic failure for that quarter..and all over the fact that his mom, on deployment in Iraq called and he didn't want to hang up on her..come on..it doesn't even sound like he was too disrespectful...just agitated that they were giving him a hard time. F that school and it's administrators for not being very understanding.

My cut on this...the anit-war, anti anything Bush movement which has infected the teaching profession is just taking another jab at those who are serving or have loved ones serving as a way to get their point across. F 'em all.

hawker238 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 07, 2005, 09:28:24 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by ASTAC
My cut on this...the anit-war, anti anything Bush movement which has infected the teaching profession is just taking another jab at those who are serving or have loved ones serving as a way to get their point across. F 'em all.

I think you're a little off the mark. If the student was respectful to the teachers and explained that this call was special circumstances, he may have gotten a better reaction then when he started kicking and screaming.

Sandman · « **Reply #6 on:** May 07, 2005, 09:30:48 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by ASTAC

My cut on this...the anit-war, anti anything Bush movement which has infected the teaching profession is just taking another jab at those who are serving or have loved ones serving as a way to get their point across. F 'em all.

Obviously, you do not have any kids in high school.

My children's high school also seem to have a major hardon over cellular phones. I've also noticed that they rarely make an exception for anything if a student breaks some rule.

ASTAC · « **Reply #7 on:** May 07, 2005, 10:01:59 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by ASTAC

My cut on this...the anit-war, anti anything Bush movement which has infected the teaching profession is just taking another jab at those who are serving or have loved ones serving as a way to get their point across. F 'em all.

Really..do you think I really think like this? Just pokin' some fun...

Really don't know what to think of all this except that 10 days seems excessive.

Airhead · « **Reply #8 on:** May 07, 2005, 10:02:36 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by ASTAC

My cut on this...the anit-war, anti anything Bush movement which has infected the teaching profession is just taking another jab at those who are serving or have loved ones serving as a way to get their point across. F 'em all.

Nowhere in the article did it state or even imply the teacher(s) knew the student was on the phone with his Mom in Iraq... but, then again, if you look hard enough I'm sure you can blame the Liburls for just about anything in any thread....you're proof of that.

Sikboy · « **Reply #9 on:** May 07, 2005, 10:04:46 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Sandman
Obviously, you do not have any kids in high school.

My children's high school also seem to have a major hardon over cellular phones. I've also noticed that they rarely make an exception for anything if a student breaks some rule.

I bet coach Bell can get some real justice out there lol.

-Sik

midnight Target · « **Reply #10 on:** May 07, 2005, 10:05:57 AM »

I wonder how many times the teacher heard that old "It's my Mom in Iraq" excuse.

MiloMorai · « **Reply #11 on:** May 07, 2005, 10:08:47 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Airhead
Nowhere in the article did it state or even imply the teacher(s) knew the student was on the phone with his Mom in Iraq...

When a teacher told him to hang up, he refused. He said he told the teacher, "This is my mom in Iraq. I'm not about to hang up on my mom.''

Toad · « **Reply #12 on:** May 07, 2005, 10:10:55 AM »

The nickname for the local junior high around here is Stalag Luft 17.

These little power hungry dweebs have no common sense.

Urchin · « **Reply #13 on:** May 07, 2005, 10:15:01 AM »

I can see it both ways. If I were that kid, I wouldn't have given up the phone either. Apparently the teacher took it from him, which would get him fired in Maryland.

Places (specifically schools) have rules for a reason. What is the reason? What is the alternative to having rules that are clearly delineated and not-bendable/breakable depending on "circumstances"?

Since I'm sure all of you are smarter than me, you can come up with the answer to that on your own.

BlueJ1 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 07, 2005, 10:26:19 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Sandman
Obviously, you do not have any kids in high school.

My children's high school also seem to have a major hardon over cellular phones. I've also noticed that they rarely make an exception for anything if a student breaks some rule.

Very true, In my high school, as in every high school, theres the one kid who always gets beat up. (Sorry not me guys Im not pale enough anymore.) Well this kid gets beat up daily, he dosnt fight back, and he gets detentions and suspensions for it, because of the schools zero tolerance policy on violence.