Boy suspended for calling student referee's call "gay"

Casper Star-Tribune ^ | April 4th, 2003

[TexRef]

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) - A sixth-grader whose ball was called out of bounds during a playground game was suspended for calling the student referee's call "gay."

West Middle School student Ben Madison, 12, said he thought the word meant "dumb" until his mother explained it differently during his suspension.

Thursday was the last day of Madison's two-day suspension.

Principal Jody Mimmack said the school uses a national curriculum called "Bullyproofing Your Schools," and that students have learned they cannot say things that might be hurtful. She said students are warned about such behaviors before they are suspended.

"We have a code of student conduct concerning harassment. ... We work very hard to create a safe environment for students," Mimmack said. "We suspend students all the time for disciplinary issues."

Mimmack said Ben, who has had previous disciplinary problems at the school, also would have been suspended if he had referred to the playground call as "dumb" or if he had teased the other student about a hairstyle or ethnicity.

Ben's mother, Susan Madison, objected to the suspension.

"I almost feel like my son was a test case," she said.

[TexRef]

That is so gay!

[wideawake]

Dude, seriously

[nevergore]

Too bad they were'nt playing "Smear the Queer".....

Sigh...I guess that's outlawed now too.....

NeverGore

[MatthewViti]

the criminalization of thoughts

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Really, really gay!

[xsmommy]

OMG, if they are going to suspend for that comment, my 5th grade son's class would have NO ONE IN IT!!!

[KansasCanadian]

Gives the term "blowing his whistle" a whole new meaning

[Frankss]

Happy,carefree,light hearted, hmm

[Camerican]

Good God!! What's next? Expulsion for telling little Jimmy that he throws like a girl?

[new cruelty]

sounds like the student ref really blew that one.

[The_Victor]

"I feel pretty,
Oh, so pretty,
I feel pretty and witty and" < censored>.

[coder2]

Exactly !!!

I hear my son's friends say that all the time --- one of them told me that it means dumb, stupid, etc...

GEEZ !!!

[Willie Green]

So now "gay" is a dirty word that you're not allowed to call somebody?

Ya know, in a way, that makes sense!

I can't remember if anybody ever got suspended, but in elementary school, we certainly received a stern lecture if any of use got caught using vulgar language. So "gay" is now vulgar and crass? Yeah, that's cool, I can go along with the principle! You certainly shouldn't go around calling another kid "gay" when he's not. Might ruin him for life!

[smith288]

Screw you guys, im going home

[xsmommy]

and the student ref has to know it too, because you can't spend ANY amount of time around kids that age and not know the way it is intended.

[Thinkin' Gal]

OMG, if they are going to suspend for that comment, my 5th grade son's class would have NO ONE IN IT!!!

The entire student body should call all of the teachers dumb and gay. Not only would the kids get some quality time away from these bozos, but for the most part, the kids would have merely stated the truth.

Principal Jody Mimmack said the school uses a national curriculum called "Bullyproofing Your Schools," <<<

The real bullies are the kind of people who suspend kids for the most mundane behavior. I guess it makes them feel important and powerful to manipulate children. Typical liberal control freaks, preying on the smallest and most helpless members of society, because they can. Budding Fedayeen, these teachers.

[TexRef]

I wonder what would have happened if he had called him a "gay homosexual"?!?

[Prysson]

That about sums it up...My thinking exactly.

[bedolido]

can anyone say "Thought Police"?

[Astronaut]

Another victory for the liberal thought police. What an astonishing overreaction. I guess its just another reason for people to abandon public schools in favor of home schooling. Besides, public schools are so gay! ;)