Comments on: ACLU sues Smith-Green Schools and principal on teens’ behalf

By: SI

SI — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:32:33 +0000

After reading numerous articles in the paper and online, I feel that the blame can be placed on a number of individuals. As a former student-athlete at Churubusco, I did numerous things that would have been deemed “unacceptable” behavior for a representative of our high school. Fortunately I was intelligent enough to do this out of public view and not to post it on Facebook like a damn fool.
Having said that, this punishment that was handed out by my former school totally crossed the line and is another attempt by the school to dictate the behavior of students outside of school(and during summer break no less) much like the drug testing implemented during I believe it was my junior year. This makes me ponder whether our town’s students are ruled by a school board or a panel of czars.
As far as the ACLU goes, I hope they will restrain themselves from seeking financial compensation from Smith-Green; because in the end you will do great harm to the taxpayers and they don’t deserve anymore financial scrutiny. Whomever decided to print off these pictures and give them to Couch deserves much blame as well. This could have easily been settled between the parents outside of school and we wouldn’t even be having this discussion.
I’ve read other blogs stating that these girls and their parents are using the ACLU to save their butts and aren’t willing to take responsibility. First off, these girls already made an apology so they obviously took some responsibility. Second off, the punishment (which was reduced) has already been served and we can’t change what happened in the past so why does this have to become a legal matter? In my opinion it would be best to drop the lawsuit, have everyone apologize and make sure something like this doesn’t happen again but there is one main point that stands above all of this. First amendment rights were violated and instead of just following blindly our forefathers broke the rules of tyranny and oppression and created a free nation with the Constitution our sacred Bill of Rights. These same rights are the same ones that young soldiers(some are fellow classmates of mine) fight and die for to maintain so we can enjoy them in our daily lives. When the time calls we should be willing to fight for our rights as well!

By: KT

KT — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:26:39 +0000

Lets be honest here. Are these girls criminals?? No. so why do we keep treating them as if they have broken the law? You all talk about them as if the are satan (sorry) here. I understand athelets sign a “code a conduct” but according to buscos rules you are pretty much signing your life and freedom away. As a former student of busco I personally know the crap that goes on behind closed doors. Teachers talk about other students, administrators pick out certain students they dont like, and administrators have bullied other teachers because no one can stand up for whats right! About 3 years ago busco lost MANY teachers because of the way the administrators treated them. Everyone applauded them for standing up for what is right, but now that 2 students who were falsly punished do it, you all freak out! These girls did not sign a “code of conduct” for the new year which is where their punishment came from.

Just because someone has 2 or 3 or 4 has a few drinks does not make them an alcoholic. These girls took a few pictures for FUN, its does not make them sex addicts which is how they were punished as well.

By: Don Amber

Don Amber — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:39:26 +0000

Do we still have english classes at our school? Perhaps a class where sentence structure, grammar,and punctuation are taught?

By: ashley

ashley — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:58:17 +0000

i think the rule is completly dumb.i understand that they are trying to crack down on the underage drinking but dont just go and crack down on people in sports.they should have their freedom just like anybody else.yeah we are put above everybody else but come on everybody does something stupid.Its fair to just cut down on us.

By: John Richards

John Richards — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:22:13 +0000

Wow, what a hornets nest! Maybe we have all gotten off the beaten path a little here.
I attended Smith-Green Community school for 12 years, both as a student and an athlete and actually grateful for what they have done for me. From what I remember, we had to sign a Code of Conduct even way back then (30 years ago!). It simply stated we were representing ourselves as well as the school and were expected to act accordingly. Yes, things have changed but they are really just the same. I signed the paper as a condition for the privilege of playing sports and representing our school. I assume extra-curricular activities are still a privilege instead of a God-given “right”. ( Oops, I said God!, can I even say that anymore? Sorry ACLU! ). My point is that we all have to have some boundries or we have mass chaos (much like what we have in politics today). If you don’t want to do the time, don’t do the crime. At some point we are all going to have to get back to being held accountable for the things we do. Mommy and Daddy ( or the ACLU ) cannot nor should they be expected to get us out of a little hot water every time. If you don’t want to abide by the rules, don’t play the game. I can remember quite a few times an athlete ( myself included ) were held accountable for their actions off the field. One that comes to mind was an athlete that was observed smoking (during summer break ) at a local restaurant. We knew the rules and were expected to abide by them.
The sad part is that this is just a little piece of the larger picture of no-one wanting to take responsibility for their actions anymore and it is going to give the generations to come some very hard times. Sorry for ranting on so long.

By: mike murphy sr.

mike murphy sr. — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:17:11 +0000

I applaud those whose who “signed” their name after posting comments.Part of the crux here is a violation of rights in this whole arguement,yet many are reluctant to stand and post their true identity after commenting.How can one stand for or opposed to an issue and not have the intestinal fortitude to post one’s name?? After all it is the Constitution and Bill of Rights that gave us our right to a free press,at least be proud and secure enough in your viewpoint to post your true identity!.To “politically correct” whomever you are? you are quick to chastise those for what you deem offensive in your mindspeak,but wont present your name either.! If “cultural marxism” or “political correctness” is your belief fine,just stand and be counted!! I guess the most puzzling question in all of this lastest drama erupting from the boardroom of “Hee-Haw” Community Schools is what “brave new world”counciling were these girls to receive?? and for what ends?The girls involved suffer from poor judgement,as does many at S-G Schools,but counciling? get real!! Why not put Dr.Zuess on retainer maybe he can dissect the problem.

By: Mandi Barger

Mandi Barger — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:29:25 +0000

I’ve found it is too easy to offend people in this little town; publicly that is. People feel the need to put on an outraged face and act like the masses in order to blend in and not be ridiculed themselves. I for one am not a popular person because of my beliefs and liberal stances against this school district, so let me add my two cents here, please. The school system has over-stepped its bounds legally in this matter, case closed. The parents of the girls are said to have taken care of the situation. I monitor our teenagers’ myspace pages because I know a teenager’s brain is not fully developed and thus they say and do stupid things sometimes. If they post something offensive, it is removed and they are punished. Do I need SGCS taking care of this for me? Do you need SGCS taking care of this for you?

Besides the fact that this is a first amendment issue, why would anyone want to put the authority the principal has on one person? Why is an appeals process not allowed? Furthermore, this situation smacks of sexism in the fact that although the girls showed bad taste by what they did, they did nothing illegal. However, how many have seen male athletes with drugs, alcohol or tobacco all over their myspace pages? No one at the school is punishing them, because boys will be boys. I personally think that some of the photos of marijuana sitting by a scale or friends together drinking it up is in poor taste because it’s a reflection of that person’s mentality. However, it’s not illegal, just immature.

By: John Bridegan

John Bridegan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:49:19 +0000

You can’t have “gay” either I’m taking it back too.

By: John Bridegan

John Bridegan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:44:57 +0000

To Politically Correct I have a three point response:

1) Point one of my response is really a three point question. By singling out one, of potentially hundreds of alleged (according to the definition) “Politically Incorrect” words on this comment board, doesn’t that in effect only further promote the stereotypical negative associations of the word? Also are you aware that by the definition of Politically Correct, certain literary works such as Hamlet, Pride and Prejudice, Jurassic Park and The Bible, are saturated with such words? Finally then, are you going to correct politically everyone else, or continue to derogate me by singling me out?

2)Point two, I would like to correct you to my politics. In my original post and in it the use of the word “retarded”
“…here we are nearly a decade (later) and we as a people are genuinely retarded, blind to the (misleading) fear mongering media.”

Your implying, under the definition of derogatory that I mean to “detract from the character or standing of and/or to express a genuine low opinion of we the people as a whole, disparaging the planet’s entire populace, equating them to that of someone suffering developmental disabilities.

Well in fact what I meant was that due to a corrupt government and it’s lap dog, the apply named “mainstream media”, we as Americans (and as citizens of the planet even) have been blinded and intellectually, socially, and economically, arrested, baffled, balked, bogged, bogged down, braked, brought to screeching f-ing halt, checked, choked, closed off, crimped, dawdled, decelerated, decreased, delayed, detained, downed, encumbered, faltered, fettered, hampered, held back, held up, held down, hindered, impeded, lessened, mired, poked, postponed, reduced, set back, shut down, shut off, slackened, slowed down, slowed up, stalled, or taken down.

3)If you read the entirety of my comment or the Bill of Rights, you may have noticed that I have the right of free speech. Good thing too because some politician corrected, retarding, retarder could potentially retard my etymological arsenal of retard definitions. Thanks for making me right, from now one I’ll retard my use of retarding words such as retard if you retardly the retardish comments.

By: Politically Correct

Politically Correct — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:32:19 +0000

Dear John Bridegan,

Please refrain from using the word “retarded” as a derogatory term. Some people find this offensive.

Thanks.

By: Joshua Herron

Joshua Herron — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:21:11 +0000

I am from Churubusco and have been following this story since it was first published. Something I’d like to clear up is the legal definition of “child pornography”. Many public comments on this and other websites running the story, claim that the pictures in question are child porn, but with a quick and easy search of the US Code, you will find the meaning is clearly defined.

US Code, Title 18, Part I, Chapter 110, § 2256 provides the definitions for Chapter 110 – Sexual Exploitation and Other Abuse of Children. My position here is not to interpret these definitions, but I think this will give you a better understanding of what is and is not considered child pornography.

I hope this clear up any confusion concerning the claims of child pornography that readers have posted in their comments.

Sincerely,
Joshua Herron

Reference:
Cornell University Law School Legal Information Institute (n.d.). US code: Title 18, 2256. Definitions for chapter. Retrieved from http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/usc_sec_18_00002256—-000-.html
***Editor’s note: Joshua posted the actual code into his response and in an attempt to not offend or expose people to certain verbiage, we’ve deleted that part of his post. Please feel free to follow the link he provided for any further information.

We appreciate and applaud Joshua’s time and effort in researching this, but we would prefer to leave the comment as it is now.

Sincerely,
Chris Tomlinson

By: lindsay

lindsay — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:50:24 +0000

the girls represent the school and are not being good role models for younger girls…that is my point. i apologize for not making my point clearer. the issue is that they are suing the school. why? these girls were minors when these pictures were taken and are still minors. their pictures could be taken for child porn. i dont think its fair to the school to be sued over an issue that was brought to the school’s attention.

i am voicing my opinion not trying to make everyone upset…please know that.

By: Enough

Enough — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:15:46 +0000

To J Bridegan, Very good points here. And yes people are just so eager to say something they don’t take a moment to read all of the information. I’m just shocked at some of the comments. Some of you really need to slow down and read. These girls – for the 100th time – have done all the school has ask them. They’ve taken their punishment. The big picture here is that the school had no right to step in to this situation in the first place and since they did, people’s rights were violated. This is where the ACLU stepped in. NO ONE IS TRYING TO GET OUT OF A PUNISHMENT! No parent nor girls are suing the school. The ACLU is suing the school because they violated their rights getting involved in something that was NONE of their business. Now the reason the school stepped in was because of some (unnamed) parent who has nothing else to do but hack into their children’s facebook and spy on their friends and read their child’s business. Which as a parent, they have the right, but what they did from there was not right. They invaded others’ privacy when they went so far as to print (with out permission of the people involved in the pictures) the pictures. Then waited for school to start and took these pictures to the school so they could get trouble started and get these girls in trouble. It’s sad someone of this character lives here in our community and that they could be so low to do something like this. So, then the school – without contacting the parents of these girls – called them out and began giving them their punishments. Ye,s you have that right, the parents were not notified by the school of the situation. Are all of you still able to follow this? And the parent who did this did not contact the parents of the girls when they found them on facebook. So other than pure harmful intent to the girls there was NO reason for their behavior. If anyone is ready to jump on me go back at this point and re-read again. The school had several choices here (as I pointed out in a earlier comment) In MY OPINION they should have ask this parent right up front what their purpose of bringing in these photos. But they didn’t and acting as this parent’s puppet, they did as the parent wanted. OR if they truly care about the children in the system: they could have placde a call to the girls’ parents to discuss what had been given to them (which they did not do or even have respect for the families to notify them at all) OR simply sent that parent with the pictures out the door and got on with their business of providing quality education to our children of this community. I feel there are many issues they need to focus on and to take the time to freely get involved in something that took place over the summer while school was not in session is a waste of taxpayers’ money. The ACLU nor the girls nor their parents are costing the taxpayers anything. What is costing us and our children here is the poor judgement of the school and the parent who initiated this whole mess. Place the blame where it started and realize this suit is for the better of all our children in the future, so that nothing like this will ever happen again. Pointing fingers at the victims isn’t going to fix anything. And realize these girls were victims. Victims of being silly and trusting in their friends. They did not post these pictures on a public sight I’m so tired of everyone with NO knowledge of facebook constantly saying they wanted everyone to see these pictures. They didn’t if they had they might have tried to post them on BV – this is a public sight. There are security setting on facebook I know I have one. And you choose who you want to share with. This parent was not on the list of friends but unfortunatley their child was. My son has a facebook I know his password and yes I check his pages regularly not because I don’t trust him but because as a parent it is my right and responsibility to keep an eye on him and if he needs a punishment it is MY responsibility to give it to him. IF THE SCHOOL EVER OVER STEPPED THEIR BOUNDARIES WITH MY CHILD WELL HERE WOULD BE SUIT #2 so let’s nip it in the bud right now, because with this systems track record it’s not their first time they’ve over stepped their boundaries and it won’t be their last. I’m proud of the people involved in this and for the ACLU for stepping in and saying this is a violation. Finally after all these years someone had the courage to stand up! We all have a right to privacy. We as parent have the right to raise our children and choose the method of discipline for them. NOTHING IN THOSE PICTURES INVOLVED THE SCHOOL! Plain and clear. Get with the facts. STOP “wondering” – STOP attacking. LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE. I really pray the (instigator’s) name becomes public and they can have AT LEAST 1/2 the bashing they’ve cause to these families and friends of these families. I feel so sorry for their children and I do believe maybe welfare should be contacted just like the people in the air balloon scam. This person is no different.

By: 2nd Guessing

2nd Guessing — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:33:25 +0000

Yes the girls did take their punishment at home as well as at the school. The performance that was missed and the games that were missed cant be given back. All of that is a mute point now. The fact of the matter is that the none of it should have happened to begin with. Not in this case or any of the kids that were punished in years before. Someone has to stand up for what is right. Doing that isnt always the easiest or most popular choice. But if someone doesnt act now. what is next? Where does it end? I really doesnt matter what day this happended in the summer all that matters is that it was in the summer not durning the school year. Thank you John for hitting the nail on the head with your comments.

By: Parent

Parent — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:24:44 +0000

I am so sorry to hear this all happen to Busco. I am even more sorry to say that it does not surprise me. I feel the school has been riding this train that makes them feel that they can get away with anything. What I want to know is where is our checks and balance system? This would have never come to this if we would have had some form of system that worked. I feel this goes to show exactly what is wrong with our school. This is not the first situation that has gone through that office and unless we are forced to face what is wrong with our school we will never fix the problems and it will happen time and time again. I as an athlete understand the code of conduct what I do not understand is the code of conduct when school is not in session nore when your not even practicing the sport. As was stated before its not the first time something to an unquestionable nature has happened it is just the first anyone has stepped up and tried to fix the problem and made it known to public. I feel for those girls that are going to get drug through the mud but maybe it will make it from happening to another set of girls down the road. I do not agree with what they did by any means. I highly believe that it should have been handled in the privacy of their homes by their parents and there parents only.

By: lol

lol — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:11:10 +0000

@what have we become

your kid got kicked out of school for three days because someone saw his boxers and you agree with that?

By: to Lindsey

to Lindsey — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:00:27 +0000

Did you not read. They did take their punishment. That is not what the issue is.

By: John Bridegan

John Bridegan — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:51:27 +0000

btw for the yeasayers littlejohnnyblews@yahoo.com

By: John Bridegan

John Bridegan — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:36:55 +0000

To Chris its nice to see you let my comment stay it took me a long time and lots of heart. Sorry about the “f-word” but I was only attempting to drive my point home(which I hope it has for some of you) and I wasn’t aware that names were not allowed but I can see now how it might offend someone and I’d like to apologize. In light of that I’ll say it this way; the principal in question unless he’s changed drastically is a good person most likely doing what he is told. We all do dumb things. To Tracy M you hit the nail on the head (everyone read her comment this really is like the 100th time crap like this has happened) btw how are ya Trace? To 2nd guessing you may find peace and quiet at the North Pole but nowhere near Indiana. (I’ve been dreaming of Corpus Christi my self) Look friends Brothers and Sisters my peeps if you will, I’ll say it again the obvious: THIS IS A VIOLATION OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT!!!
READ THIS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution THEN MAKE YOUR POST because the ACLU is suing for infringement upon the first amendment of every kid in Busco and if you haven’t noticed the remarks here are not coming close to this THE REAL ISSUE. You say these kids were wrong. I say I don’t care. You say the pecker-pop was rainbow colored. I say I don’t care. You say no matter what the privacy setting on MySpace you can see any pic. I say your sorely mistaken at least in part but yeah I still don’t care. You say hey I’m gonna kick you out of sports regardless of the Constitution. I say oh no yer not!
You know there is one simple solution to all this we come together as a community tell the school to take it all back drop the case change the handbook so its NOT flippin off the Bill of Rights the ACLU won’t need to step in we won’t pay for anything. Its our school if the bored don’t like it then we can vote them out and they can try there luck in Albion. You I don’t claim to be a genius I ain’t no fool neither. People this is me a 26 year old single man with no kids, some would argue I have no business commenting here. People please don’t give up your rights you just can’t. Do you think its bad now? What if these girls were kissin a cross? under the same rule the same if it offended some satan worshiper the same punishments could apply, silly isn’t it? Unconstitutional maybe? Does that put it to perspective? You know what I did when I was in school and they told us we can’t wear Marylin Manson T-shirts? I bought a Marylin Manson t-shirt and wore it proudly the next day. Smith-Green does not want this law suit for three very important reasons. One; they’re gonna lose (if not Texas here I come!) and lose bad (who knows how much the grievances attorney and court costs will be? It’s a jury trial too – there goes more tax money) two; they’re (the case workers) gonna dig up way more dirt and scandals than most Busconites wouldn’t ever believe about the beloved school and teachers (What kinda of pics are on the athletic board member’s computer? Maybe the better question is what pics are they looking at?), Three goes back to one – if Smith-Green wins what else can they get away with? If they lose what other policies will be examined, and what will they find? So I go back to my earlier point why involve anyone? Its our community its our school demand it be settled out of courts and out of our pockets. Oh and I know that the ACLU isn’t seeking monetary damages (yet) but the act of filing and the school being served has already started costing us. We need to unite people this is our country this whole thing is so stupid and easily avoidable. There are bigger fish to fry kids. Now is the time to put aside our differences and literally love one another. I skip one meal most days a week for all the kids that DIE FROM STARVATION it helps me put things in perspective, to put myself there death from hunger? If we took 1% of the money that this country spend on court cases similar to this one how many of those poor kids could we save? i don’t know the answer to that I’m not sure I want too. I wish we were all more concerned about that. In closing after I’ve sorta proof read this comment and reread all the other comments i feel I should say one more time THE ISSUE THE BIG PICTURE THE COURT CASE IS THIS: THE ALCU IS SUING SMITH-GREEN FOR UNCONSTITUTIONAL CONDUCT, FOR PUNISHING TWO GIRLS SPEAKING FREELY – A RIGHT WE AMERICANS ALL HAVE. No need to say anything naysayers less you comments reflect the First Amendment your points are mute. But I can’t stop you oh sayers of nay for yours nays are protected under the First Amendment as well. Feels nice don’t it?

By: lindsay

lindsay — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:32:41 +0000

ok…by suing the school that is taking it way too far. those girls took those pictures to get attention and they got it. suffer the consequences and learn from mistakes. if they didnt want to get in trouble and have to pay the price for their actions maybe they should not have taken those explicit pictures. are these girls setting a good example for younger girls to follow? no they are not. and by posting those pictures they are endangering themselves to stalkers and molesters. are these girls suing the school because the feel sorry for themselves because they don’t want to take their punishment and be responsible for their actions? or are they just upset that they got caught? there is no reason to sue the school when this situation was brought to the school’s attention to ensure the safety of the students at Churubusco.

-lindsay SGCS student