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.

[Agnes Heep]

Every year about this time we get a spate of news articles about some poor high school kids who aren't going to be allowed to participate in the two most important events in their entire lives, to-wit, the prom and graduation, because of some transgression. How much suffering can some kids stand?

[PA Engineer]

"Good for the school. She knew the rules going into this. Is she can't follow rules, then she should be banned."

Nothing like a little good old fashion goosestepping liberalism.

[Freedom2specul8]

"google search: looks like a public school system..see google search

[excalibur1701]

>>You are one sick puppy.

No....I just don't think we are getting the entire story on this. As we are often reminded on this site, the liberal media has a way of slanting storys.

[tnlibertarian]

She's been barred from her prom for smoking

Was she in an Irish pub?

[Protagoras]

What is this, a police state?

Yes, and an alarming number of posters here are supportive of it.

[CSM]

I hadn't gotten to your post yet, but you are right. They can test for it and in my mind they have a right to. If I am an employer, I would prefer to be able to chose what people to hire and I would prefer to have any criteria open to me (including race, sex, religeon, etc.). Now, with that said, I would not apply for a job with a no-tobacco use policy.

If I were really an employer, I would only hire smokers and I doubt I would administer drug tests........

[breakem]

"You can't tell the difference between mind altering drugs and legal ones?

I sure hope you're never in position of authority!"

Some bureaucracy will put him in charge of their drug testing program.

[tx_eggman]

From the link:

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.

[Husker24]

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.

[vollmond]

I'd have to support the school in one respect on this. They have to have the ability to make 18 year olds follow the same rules as 17 year olds, otherwise they'll have chaos.

[Triple]

I wonder how many teachers are covered by the same school board rule. Do teachers have more rights than adult students?

[Freedom2specul8]

I didn't catch that..bob. I thought you asked if it was on school grounds. There's another article...I'll see if it says anything.

[Protagoras]

The school has no power to tell students that they cannot engage in whatever legal behavior they want outside of school grounds.

Of course they can. All they have to do is pass a rule, like the ones you claim are just fine on other issues.

The board is elected by the people and they can usurp any rights they wish by making the rules. If you don't like it they will come after you with a court order.

You really do need to get consistent in your posting.

[tx_eggman]

She was not at a school event. From tobbaco.org:<\p>

Leona Fitzpatrick and her parents say it's not fair to ban her from the senior prom for smoking outside school grounds. The School Board says it's sticking by its policy.

"Everyone's talking about prom," said 18-year-old Leona "Oni" Fitzpatrick. "I really want to go. It's my senior year."

The School Board policy suspends students from extracurricular activities for using alcohol, tobacco or narcotics. The Hillsboro School Board includes prom and other dances as extracurricular activities.

Fitzpatrick gave a speech for a class last month about smokers' rights, in which she admitted being a smoker. She said the principal's wife saw her smoking outside the school grounds and reported it to administrators. . . .

"She did nothing illegal," Charles Fitzpatrick said. "She's a nice girl, she's a great kid.

"Welcome to Hillsboro," he said. "Set your watch back 500 years."

Fossum said even though Fitzpatrick is legally old enough to smoke, she still must follow school rules.

[Protagoras]

What lessons are we teaching our kids if we back off on any rule, and let the students have their ways.

Right, bring back slavery. We never should have backed off. < /sarcasm>

[Hanging Chad]

"...it's a private school where rules can be more rigid..."
-
Your guess (as well as your opinion) is wrong.
Unless the private school is run by the
"...The Hillsboro, N.D., School Board...".
- - -
"...and thinking that following pre-established rules
validates my being on this site..."
-
Wowwie Gee Whiz - a man who never met a rule he didn't like!

[ClintonBeGone]

Not a bad idea. However, the rule shouldn't be enforced unless she had a voucher that would allow her to attend the school that had a policy that wouldn't punish her.

[tx_eggman]

It's not just the prom, she's been barred from any school activities for 18 weeks ... essentially until High School is over for her.

http://www.kfyr.com/jacor-common/local_news_common.html?ID=20040401101203&feed=local

[excalibur1701]

>"She did nothing illegal," Charles Fitzpatrick said. "She's a
> nice girl, she's a great kid.

>"Welcome to Hillsboro," he said. "Set your watch back 500
>years."

>Fossum said even though Fitzpatrick is legally old enough to
>smoke, she still must follow school rules.

Fossum replies, "That's ok, we can make an exception in your case. We feel that by you not following the rules, you will grow up to be an outstanding young lady"