The "Right" to Humilate Onself

[chanel]

Two Indiana teenagers have sued their school district after they were punished for posting suggestive photos on MySpace.

The girls, 10th-graders at Churubusco High School in Churubusco, Indiana, say they were humiliated after the school banned them from fall semester extracurricular activities and forced them to apologize to the all-male Athletics Board (composed of varsity coaches). The girls also had to attend three counseling sessions.

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed the proposed class-action suit on behalf of the girls and all present and future students at the school who participate or may participate in extracurricular activities. The ACLU argues the district violated the girls’ First Amendment rights and should not have punished them for activities conducted outside school. The suit names the girls’ high school, school district and principal.

According to the complaint, the photos in question were taken at a slumber party (.pdf) that occurred during the summer school break. The girls were photographed “pretending to kiss or lick a large multi-colored lollipop shaped phallus.” Other pictures showed them in lingerie with dollar bills tucked into the underwear.

The girls each posted the pictures to their MySpace pages. Only “friends” could view the photos on their pages. But after someone copied the images, they found their way to the school principal.

According to the school’s student handbook, the principal “may exclude any student-athlete from representing Churubusco High School if his/her conduct in or out of school reflects discredit” upon the school or creates a “disruptive influence on the discipline, good order, moral, or educational environment” at the school.

The ACLU says the photos were meant to be a joke shared among friends and had “no effect on the school whatsoever.” The girls’ self-expression has been curbed as a result of the school’s activity, the suit alleges. They’ve since become afraid to post any photos or otherwise communicate in writing to friends for fear of garnering additional punishment.

The suit seeks a jury trial and unspecified damages. It also seeks a temporary injunction preventing the school from punishing the girls and a permanent injunction to strike any mention of the incident from the girls’ student record and to destroy the counseling reports.

Teens Sue High School That Punished Them for Racy MySpace Pics | Threat Level | Wired.com
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"They’ve since become afraid to post any photos or otherwise communicate in writing to friends for fear of garnering additional punishment." Isn't that the point?

 

[Zoom-boing]

The rules were known via the handbook, they chose to break the rules, they got caught, they got punished. Maybe next time they'll think twice before breaking the rules.

 

[chanel]

I agree. They were denied "privileges" not an education. Since when is a "privilege" a right? Instead of the parents saying, "Well at least they learned a lesson" they are saying "How can we make some money from this?" Whores, just like their whory kids.

 

[Zoom-boing]

The parents should do their job and yank these brat's Myspace account and computer access. Oh, but then their kids might not 'like' them.

 

[Immanuel]

The rules were known via the handbook, they chose to break the rules, they got caught, they got punished. Maybe next time they'll think twice before breaking the rules.

Although I agree with you that they knew, or should have known, the rules, what gives the school district the right to dictate what a student does outside of school and even when school was out for the summer break?

That does not by any means suggest that I think the girls should have taken those photos or placed them on MySpace, but I don't see where the school has the right to discipline students for any act(s) committed off school grounds and during non-classroom time.

Immie

 

[chanel]

According to the school’s student handbook, the principal “may exclude any student-athlete from representing Churubusco High School if his/her conduct in or out of school reflects discredit” upon the school or creates a “disruptive influence on the discipline, good order, moral, or educational environment” at the school.

Maybe they should change the handbook Immie, but school rules are different than the law. Children do not have the same rights as adults. As it should be.

Should the taxpayers of that district have to cough up money to pay off these clowns? Should our tax dollars go to the ACLU to take on such nonsense?

Five girls were disciplined (if you even want to call it that) but only two are suing. Perhaps the other three families didn't want their daughters subjected to national attention. It's disgraceful that these people would further exploit their kids to make a buck.

They played volleyball. Doubtful they lose a Division One scholarship over it....

They are speculating that this may go to the Supreme Court. Time well spent, eh?

 

[strollingbones]

now here is where i differ....the school's have no right to govern the legal activities of kids out of school....do they enforce this across the board with male athletes? i would be curious to see if that is done? did the girls do anything illegal? no. you cannot enforce vague moral standards at the whim of school admins.

 

[strollingbones]

hand books are nothing more than cover your ass books...for the admins

 

[chanel]

I don't think there was anything "vague" about licking dick pops and shoving money in their underwear, do you? I'm surprised they weren't arrested for kiddie porn.

 

[bodecea]

The rules were known via the handbook, they chose to break the rules, they got caught, they got punished. Maybe next time they'll think twice before breaking the rules.

Although I agree with you that they knew, or should have known, the rules, what gives the school district the right to dictate what a student does outside of school and even when school was out for the summer break?

That does not by any means suggest that I think the girls should have taken those photos or placed them on MySpace, but I don't see where the school has the right to discipline students for any act(s) committed off school grounds and during non-classroom time.

Immie

To piggy back on to this, what is it in the pictures that in anyway connects the girls to the school? NOW, after all this publicity, everyone knows they are connected to that school...would anyone have cared about the school before they were suspended from afterschool activities?

Having said that, it is the JOB of the parents to nail those kids for all they're worth.

 

[strollingbones]

first someone reported this...or does the admin do searches? now if the admin opts to do this to these girls they should review ever students facebook or whatever....


shit like this is why...no one in my family has any of this crap...

lets see what were these girls crimes...licking a fake ass dick lollipop..and pretending to be pole dancers?

o hell will they ever recover from the shame??

 

[Immanuel]

According to the school’s student handbook, the principal “may exclude any student-athlete from representing Churubusco High School if his/her conduct in or out of school reflects discredit” upon the school or creates a “disruptive influence on the discipline, good order, moral, or educational environment” at the school.

Maybe they should change the handbook Immie, but school rules are different than the law. Children do not have the same rights as adults. As it should be.

Should the taxpayers of that district have to cough up money to pay off these clowns? Should our tax dollars go to the ACLU to take on such nonsense?

Five girls were disciplined (if you even want to call it that) but only two are suing. Perhaps the other three families didn't want their daughters subjected to national attention. It's disgraceful that these people would further exploit their kids to make a buck.

They played volleyball. Doubtful they lose a Division One scholarship over it....

They are speculating that this may go to the Supreme Court. Time well spent, eh?

I think the rule must be unconstitutional. The school does not have the right to restrict these girl's freedom of speech. What the girls did was wrong in my opinion but it is the responsibility of the parents to discipline them, not the school

As for three of the girls not getting involved in the suit, sometimes people just don't want to get involved. It is unfortunate that many times a rape will go unreported because the woman is afraid of exposing herself to the rigors of a trial. This may very well be the case for the families of the three girls who are not getting involved.

No, our tax dollars should not go to the ACLU but our tax dollars do not nor will they go to the ACLU, unless, of course, you mean should the ACLU win this case then some of that districts tax dollars will end up going to the ACLU but if that is the case it will happen because the school district acted poorly if not in an unconstitutional manner.

As for the parents exploiting their children to make a buck, I'd have to wait and see how this develops. Are they out to win a fortune or redress a wrong?

Immie

 

[midcan5]

I'm having a hard time with this one; I am on both sides of the issue. ( a smoky ... lol)

 

[Ravi]

Oops...I thought this thread was about RGS.

 

[chanel]

The point I am making is if you want to change a school rule then run for the school board. This is not a civil rights issue. Its ridiculous. The important thing is that the kids learn a lesson. Don't we agree about that at least?

 

[Big Black Dog]

I have some mixed opinions about this issue. On one hand, I think it was a pretty poor idea of a joke and the girls really should be ashamed of themselves for such behavior. I don't think it's appropriate for high school girls to be carrying on this way and I would hope their parents would be upset enough about this to hand out some meaningful discipline. On the other hand, what about the girl's freedom of speech issues here? Because of their minor age, does it impact their freedom of speech? Tough call. Personally, if I was one of the girls I think I would be pretty ashamed to show my face at school knowing I was the laughing stock of the whole school because of this stupid stunt.

 

[Immanuel]

The point I am making is if you want to change a school rule then run for the school board. This is not a civil rights issue. Its ridiculous. The important thing is that the kids learn a lesson. Don't we agree about that at least?

Yes, but where we differ is who's responsibility is it to teach that lesson.

If the rule in question is a violation of student's rights there is no question that the school district will have to change that rule.

Immie

 

[Immanuel]

I have some mixed opinions about this issue. On one hand, I think it was a pretty poor idea of a joke and the girls really should be ashamed of themselves for such behavior. I don't think it's appropriate for high school girls to be carrying on this way and I would hope their parents would be upset enough about this to hand out some meaningful discipline. On the other hand, what about the girl's freedom of speech issues here? Because of their minor age, does it impact their freedom of speech? Tough call. Personally, if I was one of the girls I think I would be pretty ashamed to show my face at school knowing I was the laughing stock of the whole school because of this stupid stunt.

I agree, but I bet if they are even halfway decent looking, they wont be lacking for boys asking them for a date.

That brings to mind a question that I had. The article states that this violation became known when someone who had access to these girl's Myspace pages brought the pictures to school. Are they facing discipline for bringing soft porn to school?

Immie

 

[chanel]

Any parent who would exploit their daughter for profit might not be the best person to teach that lesson IMHO.

How many people here are curious to see those pics? I was.

 

[del]

SCOTUS has ruled in numerous cases that schools have the right to mete out this kind of punishment for off campus activity. the most famous case was probably morse v. frederick, but there have been others.