From CNN.COM Student suspended over call from mom in Iraq Friday, May 6, 2005 Posted: 12:54 PM EDT (1654 GMT) COLUMBUS, Georgia (AP) -- A high school student was suspended for 10 days for refusing to end a cell 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.
Cell 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.'
LFitzy79
Posted:
Member since
Re: Do you Agree?
If he was fresh to the teacher, than maybe detention, let the punishment fit the crime, the kid was on lunch-not in class. Sometimes kids are brats, but some times teachers get on a power trip.
jantany26
Posted:
Member since
Re: Do you Agree?
I can understand how he got defiant. I think I would have gotten the same way considering that my mom is calling from Irak and sadly, who knows if that could be the last time that I spoke to her.
Jan05Bride
Posted:
Member since
Re: Do you Agree?
I agree. The kid should not have been disrespectful but #1 he was on lunch, #2 the teacher should have backed down immediately due to the situation and #3 give the kid detention for being rude not a 10-day suspension that will go on his record.
Boop2704
Posted:
Member since
Re: Do you Agree?
That is so wrong!!
Ya know, I never understood the concept of suspension..Give a kid a 10 day vacation?? To me suspension is an easy way out for school to not have to deal with a problem!! Suspension was definitely not required in this situation.JMO
Jax430
Posted:
Member since
Re: Do you Agree?
10 days of suspension is an absolutely ridiculous punishment, IMO! I've seen kids in physical fights only get 3 days. In no way does suspension benefit the child or the school.
If the child was rude to the teacher, then detention would be appropriate. However, upon hearing the student was talking to his mother in Iraq, the teacher should have backed off.
FLaCaTaCa
Posted:
Member since
Re: Do you Agree?
I think it's terribly harsh. I think even a punishment would have been harsh as well. But I would understand the whole discipline thing and what is good for one kid...you have to do for the others. (I am a student teacher and have been to all these workshops). BUT!! I would have NEVER been able to hang up the phone. As a student...I would have talked for as long as my little heart desired. I was a bad kid anyway!!!
soontobemrsd325
Posted:
Member since
Re: Do you Agree?
Thats so arrogant of the school to suspend him, if he cursed then detention, not 10 day suspension....that's not right
dpli
Posted:
Member since
Re: Do you Agree?
Being on the teacher end of things like this, I have to say that unless the teacher talked to the mom, she/he wouldn't necessarily know whether or not it really was the mom (kids do lie about stuff like this so they don't get in trouble...)
I think detention was warranted for the disrespectful behavior, but a 10 day suspension seems excessive. Especially if mom is in Iraq- is the student even going to be supervised at home during that time?
JimmysBride
Posted:
Member since
Re: Do you Agree?
Punishment does not fit the crime. Sounds like a power tripping situation.
I never understood the purpose of a suspension anyway.
suven
Posted:
Member since
Re: Do you Agree?
I agree that he should have been suspended for the way he treated the teacher.
And, that is why he was suspended- because he was insolent with the teacher.
tourist
Posted:
Member since
Re: Do you Agree?
Regarless of the mom situtation, the punishment seems harsh. Any student who is disruptive get 10 days suspension or ARRESTED?
This must be a crazy school, that they had to implement such rules.
I wonder what the criteria for ' disrupttive' is?
Jan05Bride
Posted:
Member since
Re: Do you Agree?
Posted by suven And, that is why he was suspended- because he was insolent with the teacher.
This is why I don't think he should have been suspended. From the article He said the teen used profanity when taken to the office. .
The teacher should have backed off when the teen said it was a call from his mom from Iraq. Instead the teacher sends him go to the principals office???? I'd be p.o.'d too.
DjPiLL
Posted:
Member since
Re: Do you Agree?
Sorry but I am siding with the school on this.
Rules are there for a reason. To be followed.
If you make an exception for one guy... say his mom is in Iraq. Then the next kid will want the same phone treatment.
Plus the kid was a nasty a-- brat. He wouldn't have been suspended if he didn't mouth off and embarass the teacher and staff in front of all the other students.
PrincessRose
Posted:
Member since
Re: Do you Agree?
Posted by Jax430
10 days of suspension is an absolutely ridiculous punishment, IMO! I've seen kids in physical fights only get 3 days. In no way does suspension benefit the child or the school.
If the child was rude to the teacher, then detention would be appropriate. However, upon hearing the student was talking to his mother in Iraq, the teacher should have backed off.
You're 100% right. C'mon, his MOM is in Iraq!!!!!!!!! And it was lunch hour.
The kid who threw a swastika at me didn't even get that much punishment.
cjb88
Posted:
Member since
Re: Do you Agree?
Students should never speak to a teacher in that manner...
I have been cursed out by a student when I asked him to get off the cell phone in study hall... he was on the phone with his mom too... but he didnt have to curse me out because of that... he got a well deserved full day of in-school-suspension because of that... 10days i think would have been a little harsh though...
xjulietx
Posted:
Member since
Re: Do you Agree?
If the school was aware of his mother's situation (which they may have been) and they could actually see the phone number of the incoming call (probably really long because of country codes and stuff) then they should have relaxed.
This kid may have lashed out, but maybe somebody in that school should have reached out to this kid and maybe asked him if he wanted to talk to a counselor about how he feels having his mom in Iraq. I think I would be a mess if I was 17 and had a parent in the military in Iraq. Someone should try to help this kid with his emotions, not suspend him for 10 days so he can sit in his house and stare at his mother's belongings, wondering when she will be home again!
tourist
Posted:
Member since
Re: Do you Agree?
Posted by PrincessRose
The kid who threw a swastika at me didn't even get that much punishment.
july06bride
Posted:
Member since
Re: Do you Agree?
10 days is harsh- but there was some punishment due, not for the phone necessarily but for the rude behavior to the teacher...
june262004
Posted:
Member since
Re: Do you Agree?
No 1. He was on the phone with his mother who is serving in IRAQ for us right now.
No 2. He was fresh cause he said No Im not going to hang up with my mom?
News of people in the military travels fast IM sure they knew where his mom was. Its not like she was in the store and asked her what kind of cookies he wanted.
