My sister was suspended for insulting her principal on a public messageboard. Fair?

Question

In a conversation on a public messageboard my younger sister, who is in high school, said her principal was a "b*tch". Her school subsequently suspended her for two days. Nobody in her school was informed that it was against school policy to insult teachers on public messageboards. She did this on own home computer, not at school. I think that this is unfair. What do you think?

Answer 1

Off campus? hmm...

My opinion: if this is all your sister said, it sounds like an overreaction from a hypersensitive principal - and that proves your sister's characterization of her was correct.

Here is an extremely informative article about the law - start on p. 14 of the Adobe document. Based on the facts you've given, I think a school should take no action against the student who posts a vulgar insult against a district employee from a computer off campus. It may be an unsettled issue in the courts, but the student would have a very good 1st Amendment argument and a case could go either way. Would it be worth it for the school to take a chance and suspend the student? No way.

My advice to you is to read this article and call the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt or the ACLU. You may not want to start a suit, but it will not hurt to call them and see what they think. I really think you should look further into this!

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/PDF/student.internet.speech.pdf

Answer 2

What happened to freedom of speech! I'm a 47 year old woman and a mother. In my own opinion she is entitled to call any one what she wants especially when its after school. What if we sat in on the principal and teachers meeting hearing what they call the kids? What are they doing now gong on the internet to invade the opinions of the students that attend their schools. To me that is a set-up, entrapment I do believe the law calls it! It would be a different story if she did it at school then I would say it was fair. On her own time, no, its her own time. Maybe the principal is a "captial B", i know a few that are and the one my children attend is referred to as a witch along with a few teachers as well. The principal and teachers think they are untouchable these days as they are protected by the board. I've been at the school lately where i hear the teachers screaming at the kids, being darn right rude, offensive, vulgar in language towards children, not watching the younger ones when on the playgrounds and they certainly find excuses for the ones that bully - your always met with we were unaware of the situation or this child has anger management issues, in my opinion the principals and teachers are just as childish as the children they are teaching. They need to go back and take a course on human rights!!! hey just my opinion. I've had to go beyond the school and contact the Miinistry of Education on a few points that I have raised and believe me here in Canada we have a Zero tolerance for abuse on school property for the children and the principal/teachers. If I was your sister, I would protest outside her school on the days that they suspended her. That will be educational and see how many other students get involved and contact the local newspaper. Just to prove her point, whats next their thoughts will be sensored!!!! I'm all for equal rights and freedom of speech. Just the other day on the View, Barbara Walters used the "B" word on National Television, hey get in touch with Howard Stern and ask his opinion.....kat.b

Answer 3

I think that you should be more concern about your sister doing this, than the legality of it...It is not right to insult the principal period..regardless of the means that you use for doing this...
Would you like someone insulting you behind your back..no, well neither the principal

Answer 4

I think your friend needs to learn to watch her language.

Nobody should have to "inform" students that they aren't allowed to call their principal a bad name in public or anywhere else. The student should have enough sense to know that. And, it isn't SCHOOL policy, it concerns laws reguarding harassment, libel and slander.

Public forums and message boards are just that - the public reads them and the information put on those boards can be distributed to anyone, anywhere, anytime. Good idea to watch what you say.

Answer 5

I smile at them - look them interior the attention and smile at them, allowing the smile to coach in my eyes. i do no longer provide insults returned and nor do i react to insults - i wont practice them that i'm injury/indignant etc. each and every so often i do the smile element, turn and walk away, different cases i'll do the smile element and say see you later. each and every so often i'll declare somewhat sneaky fact, even though it relies upon on the situation and the insult. I wont be impolite, i wont insult and that i wont practice that i felt the insult in any way, yet each and every so often i'll make a cheeky or sneaky fact after the smile before i walk away basically to get them questioning.

Answer 6

Absolutely fair! She should perhaps be sued for her comments. It is curious how the uninitiated think that the Internet is outside the law. I hope her principal brings the full and total forbearance of the law against her.

Answer 7

Sorry, but your sister was out of line. It doesn't matter where she typed it from it ended up on a public message board. You need to see it from the teachers point of view. It's embarrassing for her, probably personally hurtful and it undermines her authority with the other students.

Answer 8

It's totally fair, the suspension should have been longer, or additional consequences should have been given as well. She was totally out of line, and very damaging. There is something totally wrong with her! Hopefully your parents are dealing with her at home as well. As your older sister, you shouldn't be condoning her behaviour, but supporting the fact that it was totally wrong, disrespectful and slanderous.

Answer 9

Yeah.. I think it's unfair.. what she does at home is her and her family's business.

Just out of curiosity how did the school track her down? Was she daft enough to leave her real name and use the full name of the principal. I find it hard to believe that the school spent any money tracking her down.

But for what it's worth my cousin got suspended for dying her hair bright pink.

Answer 10

She broadcast it on a public forum. She deserved it. Once you connect your computer to the Internet you are in the public realm. It would be no different than your sister standing out in front of the school saying the same thing.