Girl Banned From Prom For Smoking Away From School

www.thekansascitychannel.com ^ | March 31, 2004

[Freedom2specul8]

GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Leona Fitzpatrick is going to court -- in order to go to the senior prom.

She's been barred from her prom for smoking -- and not even on school grounds. The Hillsboro, N.D., School Board has rules against students using alcohol, tobacco or drugs.

Students can be kicked out of extracurricular activities for violating the no-smoking rule. Now, Leona is seeking a court order so she can go to the dance. Her parents point out that she's 18 and legally allowed to smoke in North Dakota.

[freeeee]

Not because of an overbearing school authority, but because the schools no long have the right to set standards and, God forbid, enforce them. Take a look at how kids dress these days to school. It makes me sick. And yes, I'm all for dress codes, as well.

The equivalent to this case would be the public school setting dress codes for legal adult students at home.

Now drop and give me fifty. Be warned, I'm holding a wet noodle.

[Myrddin]

The school has no jurisdiction with respect to whether she can legally smoke. They do have jurisdiction with respect to what privileges she is allowed to exercise on school property. That is dictated by school rules not the law. She was aware of the rules governing access to the school privileges. She chose to break the rules and bears the loss of the privileges.

To be fair, the school should refund any fees she has paid to attend the activities from which she is now excluded by her own choice.

[discipler]

Good, she broke the law.

[Gabz]

I've got no problem with dress codes, and the school district in my county strictly enforces it - all the way to to the pre-school and kindergarten.

I've got no problem with them forbidding smoking on school grounds, including by adults.......but this was not on school grounds and the person involved is legally an adult, even if still a student.

[dpwiener]

I guess I'm looking at this whole scenario as to, what is best for this young girl. .... If there is even a chance that, she will have given up smoking because of all this, then the school did a wonderful thing.

Gee, you just love paternalistic government regulations, don't you? Who cares if it violates individual rights? After all, it's for the person's own good!

I'm sure you'll also have no objections when the School Board starts banning the eating of junk food, regardless of where the dastardly act takes place. Obviously the School Board knows what's best for their students. To paraphrase your words: "If there's even a chance that, she will have given up fattening french fries because of all this, then the school did a wonderful thing."

[green iguana]

That's why some employers can refrain from hiring smokers

I'm surprised that this hasn't been challenged on the basis of racial discrimination (disparate impact) since blacks are statistically much more likely to smoke.

[Gabz]

You are almost correct.....

They do have jurisdiction with respect to what privileges she is allowed to exercise on school property.

she was NOT on school property. there is the difference.

[WV Mountain Mama]

Actually, my dad had to take the question of tobacco use off his application as per the advice of his attorney. But if he finds any chew in the water fountain or on the floor, there is hell to pay.

[international american]

Also, ban suvs, refined sugar, bread...fattening....uh anything. If you have a 3.6 GPA and smoke, you must go to jail for the weekend.

Sex in high school should be promoted, not condoned.It teaches one how to enjoy life. We also need a 1-800 number for free abortions(unless they are smokers)

[international american]

What part of NOT do they not get??

[Sloth]

That is dictated by school rules not the law. She was aware of the rules governing access to the school privileges. She chose to break the rules and bears the loss of the privileges.

Except that the school board does not have unlimited rule-making authority.

[Protagoras]

No one's power extends to legal activity on private property.

Here's your shovel.

[metesky]

In 1962, just before HS graduation, the track coach ripped a cigarette right out of my mouth. I slapped him so hard it drove him about six yards. He never said a word about it.

[international american]

Man, that took guts. but I think my coach would have decked me:)

[Agnes Heep]

I understand your point, but this is really about a broader issue of Government intrusion. Who is to say that when you reach retirement age that the government wont say, "if you smoke, eat at McDonalds, or own a gun, you are no longer elegible to recieve your SS check" even though you paid in your whole life.

Agreed.

[Gabz]

Good, she broke the law.

Can you explain what law she broke?

She is 18 years old, it is legal for anyone over 18 to use tobacco products in the state she lives, and she did not do it on school property............

[Skooz]

My coach would have disposed of my remains in an undisclosed location.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Can you imagine the liberal uproar if the girl were being punished for having sex out of wedlock? The ACLU would be on this in a flash.

No kidding. If she was doing any number of things that deemed her politically correct they would have had 1,000 attorneys beating down their door yesterday.

[international american]

My remains never would have made it to an undisclosed location:)

[semaj]

I want to know who the Nazi was that ratted her out?