Girl Banned From Prom For Smoking Away From School

www.thekansascitychannel.com ^ | March 31, 2004

[dirtboy]

Am I forgiven now?

It would be much more productive if you examine the absurdity of your position.

[Skooz]

Nothing. I'm just talking...............

[Viking2002]

The day that a school board can exercise any sort of dominion over a teen's behavior outside of an academic setting, is the day we come one step closer to a police state. If this girl was seen smoking somewhere other than school grounds, it's up to the parents - not NEA-sponsored overlords - to determine what action will be taken against her.

[CSM]

"Once again the rules were established AHEAD of time. I'm amazed at how many people think it's ok for this kid to be smoking at such a young age."

I haven't read one reply that said they think it's ok for this young lady to smoke. Instead, they have said that she is of legal age to make the decision to partake in a legal behaviour. The school is usurping their own society's laws by enacting policies that don't allow an adult to participate in a legal activity.

"We have drug testing at here at work, because of the heavy machinery we use and to keep people as safe as possible. If someone comes up positive on a drug test (which they do on their own time in their own home), do we not have a right to terminate that employee?"

Keep trying to compare this apple to the orange. You seem to think tobacco is illegal, when it is still legal. The drug testing is for ILLEGAL drugs. To add to the inaccuracy of the comparison, you are comparing an employer (private entity) to a school (public entity). The employer should have every right to decide which employees to hire, but the school can not usurp the laws to ban behaviour they might not like.

If they want to take this stance, let's remove any revenue from tobacco from their budgets!

[victoryatallcosts]

I don't see what's wrong with smoking. I myself am not a regular smoker, but I'm truly sick of the totalitarianism of the anti-smoking Nazis.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Just don't smoke a cigarette while you're doing It!

Updated old joke:

Q. Do you smoke after sex?

A. No, my school board doesn't allow it.

[Freedom2specul8]

"... I still don't think that it's the schools right to punish her."

Exactly..the school has no business interfering outside of their legal jurisdiction. Can you imagine the ramifications if it sets precedence?

[Modernman]

I have first hand experience. The cops don't have to help parents find 18 yr old missing children.

If that is the first-hand experience you're talking about, sorry to hear it. Whether the kid is 17 or 18, that can't be easy.

Cops do have to respond to a missing person report, at least to the extent to rule out foul play.

[Freedom2specul8]

Quote from the article:

"...She's been barred from her prom for smoking -- and not even on school grounds...."

[victoryatallcosts]

FYI, the Principal's WIFE saw her smoking OUTSIDE OF A BANL.

http://216.239.37.104/search?q=cache:kxNPIh6oR80J:http://www.kfyr.com/jacor-common/local_news_common.html?ID=20040328115722

This is simply an absurd intrution into this girl's private life.

[Publius6961]

You can't tell the difference between mind altering drugs and legal ones?
I sure hope you're never in position of authority!

[excalibur1701]

>>Are you SURE you belong here?

Well, if hating the liberal left, and thinking that following pre-established rules validates my being on this site, then yes. :)

p.s. No where in the article did it mention it was a public school. My guess is that it's a private school where rules can be more rigid.

[Husker24]

I think weve crossed that "Police State" line already, just like with gun laws, one tiny little step at a time, nobody notices untill its too late.

[MEGoody]

How can they ban someone from prom for participating in a legal activity? Hope she wins her case.

[Freedom2specul8]

THank you. She was missing for 3 days...in reaction to a crime against her. She reported the crime..but the cops didn't have to tell me about it because she was 18. I was furious.

[B Knotts]

COME ON!!! What is this, a police state?

Increasingly, and regrettably...yes. We're not quite there yet, but give it a few more decades and we will be.

[Wolfie]

The drug testing is for ILLEGAL drugs.

As I said in #54, drug testing doesn't have anything to do with illegality. This is as designed, to avoid 4th amendment implications. That's why some employers can refrain from hiring smokers, and test their employees for nicotine to see that they stay clean.

[freedox]

"Information on this incident seems to be lacking. Was she at a School event off school grounds?"

Good catch, BobJ. If it turns out that's the case, it will put a different spin on things.

[Sloth]

You are one sick puppy.

[GSWarrior]

Somehow I doubt if this ban extends to teachers. I may be wrong.