RULES FOR A REASON

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Reported by: Greg Peterson

Email: gpeterson@local15tv.com

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Published: 5/16/2011 4:48 pm

Updated: 5/16/2011 5:47 pm

We reported last week that The Southern Poverty Law Center has filed a lawsuit against Mobile County Public Schools following allegations that six school children have missed more than 445 school days because of suspensions.

Parents say the school system is not cooperating with requests for information, and their children's constitutional rights are being violated. They claim the children, between the ages of 13-18, did not receive any notification of their suspension. Parents say they were not given an opportunity to challenge the suspensions, prompting the SPLC to file the lawsuit Tuesday.

Marion Chartoff of the SPLC said: "Students in Mobile Public Schools are being pushed out of school through repeated and long term suspensions for minor non violent offenses."

Rules are in place for a reason. Just because a violation isn't violent, doesn't mean it isn't important. Repeated offenses result in suspensions, and in some cases expulsion.

Mobile Schools superintendent Dr. Roy Nichols told us: "It is true, the school system has been very aggressive about demanding the students behave themselves while in school, but we've also been very aggressive about safeguarding the constitutional rights of our students." Yes, the schools are demanding students behave themselves. If they don't, don't come back. There are students who go to school to learn.

What kind of lesson are students learning by suing the school system. If you break the rules, and are forced to suffer the consequences that are plainly printed in every student handbook.. sue!

What is even more sad, is the number of young adults in this community who are going to jail every day after knocking off a gas station or a fast food restaurant. As those who break the rules sit in their jail cells contemplating a sentence that could reach all the way into middle age, there will be no do-over. There will be no lawsuit to save them. It's the real world, with real laws. Break those laws, and pay the consequences. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime. That should also be the lesson taught in our schools. Congrats to Dr. Nichols for standing firm, and doing what is best for those children who want to learn.

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wlarry - 8/14/2011 11:10 AM

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Well, for one reason that its the law. Children should be in school. I remember when some kids were out of school for a week and the parents had to go to court. The judge told them if the parents do not send them to school, they will be going to jail. This was Chilton County. So in this case, missing that so many days that the parents could have been in prison. But not letting the parents know, we need to find out why. So I think this is a good thing. Tell our ignorant public officials that we mean business.

Mirwren - 7/10/2011 3:01 PM

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While one is entitled to their "right" of a "free" public education, one does have the responsibility to be a good citizen in and out of school. Any student that misbehaves so often as to be suspended for over 400 days is having trouble being a good citizen and does not deserve a free public education. The school year is less than 200 days so they have been suspended for over 2 years worth of instructional time. I had a child who occasionally was suspended for this or that about 15 years back. Never once was he suspended without my knowledge and his. Any parent who says no one knew about their child's suspension is just delusional. Oh, well let me ask: Did they present the school with a working phone number and address? You would be surprised how many parents do not. A student who cannot act respectful and responsible in school has no place in a classroom where other students want to learn. They are wasting everyone's time and energy. If these students had been behaving as they should have in the first place, none of this would have happened.

TAC0BE - 6/21/2011 10:50 AM

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WHAT ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF THOES STUDENTS WHO WANT TO ATTEND SCHOOLS IN A SAFE ENVIROMENT...STUDENTS WHO BREAK THERULES AT SCHOOLS ARE BREAKING THEM AT HOME AND IN THE COMMUNITY...MAKE THE RULS STRICT BEHAVE AND CONFORM OR STAY HOME...

BaghdadFlyer - 6/10/2011 1:32 PM

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16mom, you should have your 17th-ranked-AP-daughter lend you a hand in editing you error-riddled message. Correct spelling and grammar are a must if we are to understand your message. You are wrong to assume that your child should have the right to speak to the principal before being suspended. Contrary to your belief, the school system does not operate under the same freedoms and liberties that you are accustomed. The principal has the flexibility to maintain rules and regulations to ensure a proper learning environment for all students. When a student violates these rules, it is at the principal's disgression to enforce them in a fair and reasonable manner. If a teacher or principal witnesses a student violating school policies and procedures, they could be subject to disciplinary action. Plain and simple. There is no 'defense statement.' No 'trial.' No 'phone call.' Our public schools are not criminal justice systems, and should never be treated like them. These children all violated serious school policies, and hurt themselves further by (while clearly under the influence of their parents) choosing to extend their suspensions indefinitely. When it's all said and done, who are the real losers in this situation? The kids... for stubbornly opting out of years of free, grade 'A,' public education until this matter is resolved.

16mom - 5/28/2011 8:31 PM

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This is not only happening to repeat offenders. My student along with two other students were suspended with out cause. My child is an Ap student and ranked 17th in her class. She is was in a class room when a student read a teachers textes that were discusses another student inappropriatly. The teacher had given the student the cell phone to use. My student was suspended under false pretense and this principal is to sweep under the rug the inappropriate relationship between a teacher and a student and the material in the message. This principal is threating to press charges on the child that opened the message if she was to appeal her suspension. Which is keeping her from due process. One of the other students that was also only present and unaware of the message even being opened was threatned with having her transfer taking away if she appealed. My daughter was not allowed to play in her regional tennis tournament since we appealed.I have still not been contacted from any of the Superintendents that I have contact for help over the past 4 weeks. Mobile County is a broke system where they are not concerned with the best interest of their students. I have since had a hire an attorney just to get the written information that she has been accused of. My child was suspended without even being spoke to by the principal or given a right to defend herself. I have lost faith in a system that will suspend a student that was Captian of her cheer squad, Vice president of her student class, plays tennis for her school, Ap student and 17th in her class without even speaking to her. This principal is using her position to bully these students to keeping quiet. I pray that noone has to deal with the Mobile County School system. They are only interesting in protecting there self and are unconcerned with your student. I am glad to see that someone is standing up to the system and hope there is more accountability for these principals.

Working4u - 5/26/2011 1:28 PM

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If ant child has missed 445 days of school because of misbehavior, that child should be institutionalized in a mental hospital. The only Constitutional Rights that are being violated are the ones of the children that know how to behave.

WAKE UP PEOPLE - 5/25/2011 9:13 PM

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SUPPORT YOUR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER

WAKE UP PEOPLE - 5/25/2011 9:12 PM

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Send the thugs to school a the jail. These punks want to do nothing more than get their state-required meals, then go sell their crack and shoot their guns. This city is no different than other southern cities like New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Memphis, Jackson, MS, or Tallahassee. The parents are to blame, or I should say the lack of parenting. "Mom" or "Dad" let these punks get away without learning to be a responsible, law-abiding adult. Let the streets teach 'em, right? We all need ditch diggers and trashmen, and they should make minimum wage because they want something for nothing, for the rest of their worthless lives. KICK 'EM TO THE CURB!!

Daniel - 5/21/2011 1:25 PM

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They should sue the "SO CALLED PARENTS" of those brats. If they had done their job an raised their kids the right way, maybe they wouldn't have turned out like BRATS. Maybe their parents need to learn to "DO THE MATH".

MobileAlaGirl - 5/19/2011 9:33 PM

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should put paddling back in school so teachers can have more control...and put God back in the school where he belongs..When they took those out then the school systems got worse

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