Posted on 08/11/2004 12:28:32 PM PDT by EUPHORIC
A California school district is considering adopting a new policy that could cause students to be expelled for "rejecting" each other, for sharing "unpleasant stories" about each other – even if true – or for associating with like-minded peers in groups if others feel "left out."
According to a statement from the Pro-Family Law Center, the Murrieta Valley Unified School District in Riverside County, Calif., is taking up the issue in response to race-related incidents that have taken place within the district in the last year.
The center says national race-based organizations came to the district to propose language for the policy, which prevents students from forming or openly participating in groups that tend to exclude, or create the impression of the exclusion of, other students.
"Based on a plain reading of the proposed regulation, a student could be expelled for simply claiming to be a member of La Raza ('The Race'), a Latino organization, or for playing rap music near white students," said the law group's statement.
Richard D. Ackerman is vice president of legal affairs for the Pro-Family Law Center.
"This is a brutal affront to the First Amendment," Ackerman said. "Students have a right to associate with each other and should not be punished for dividing themselves into groups that allow individuals to better relate to each other.
"For example, Latino students have unique socio-economic circumstances that justify allowing them to privately associate with each other, just as much as Christian students may have things in common that warrant the creation of a private group whose members share common values and attitudes. School districts have no right to interfere with the peaceful activities of any club or social group, even if the mere existence of the group makes certain persons uncomfortable."
Ackerman is a MVUSD parent and has sent a strongly worded legal opinion to the district. Litigation is threatened if the proposed policy is approved.
Under the policy, Ackerman says, no group would be allowed to engage in any behavior that makes others "feel left out."
The school board is scheduled to vote on the proposal tomorrow.
I, Robot(s)...
I predict a bounce in homeschooling numbers in the state.
It's California. Just wait, they'll come up with something stupider next week.
This is pretty bad, but Commander in Chief Bill Clinton is the stupiest thing I've ever heard.
What next? Designated friendships?
Possible scenario: If you turn me down for a date, I'll tell and you'll get expelled.
The bureaucrats have flipped. Just another reason for homeschooling.
Wow, that school's going to be empty by the end of that week.
If there are now cliques then how would my son going to know whose lunch money to take?
But's it okay for students to be members and just not mention it at school, right?
Words fail me.
"Juveniles do not have a "right" to unfettered free speech in the schools."
Or anywhere else for that matter.
You are not considered a 'citizen' until you reach adulthood.(18)
Underage children are considered to be 'wards' of their parents.
No, no, it will have not effect on the minorities, fairies or freaks, they are fully protected. Only the wrong doing of the evil white Christians needs to be corrected!
WRONG! You would have been expelled first, for sexual harassment, just for asking them out on a date ;-)
Only if the person asking for the date is male.
Wait a minute people! Lets think this out. On the surface this seems to make no sense at all. But when you really analyze what this is saying....it makes even less sense!!! What bunch of whackos. California liberals tried to feed us ebonics in the mid-nineties until cooler (more reasonable and intelligent) heads prevailed. I just want to know if we can devise an early warning system to notify our California conservative friends in advance of the big earthquake that knocks CA into the ocean.
More thought control..
The idea that a Latino student would be expelled for associating with La Raza is laughable. It wouldn't happen. This type of garbage is done for the benefit of racist and idiotic oragnizations like La Raza so they can threaten, harass and intimidate any student with moral and/or Christian principals.
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