It disturbs me - to the nth degree - that an educational institution has the right to punish students...who disobey certain rules...when those pupils are not on school grounds.
I surely am not one who condones the consumption of alcoholic beverages or the use of marijuana or other illegal drugs by teenage boys and girls. However, if a student is caught drinking beer or smoking pot at a party, which is not anywhere near the property of his or her high school...nor is the gathering connected - in any way - to an event sponsored by or associated with any entity whatsoever involving the school itself...or its clubs, sports programs or other extra-curricular activities... then the school should not be able to discipline or penalize the student.
A municipality's board of education does not have the right - or at least should not have the right - to control the behavior of one or more of its students...when those individuals are not on the school's campus or are not participating in a school function.
Teenagers are the same as all other American people...the same as any American adult...in the sense that ALL United States citizens have the freedom - within the guidelines of state and federal laws - to do as they please. Of course with teenagers...they also have to abide by the rules set forth by their parents. But no school system should be able to dictate how teens...who attend their schools... should behave...when not seated in their classrooms...or when not engaging in a school-related activity.
And how are the schools learning about the students who are partying with beer, liquor and drugs...or - for that matter - who are doing anything that is against the "Code of Conduct" at a particular educational facility - whether public or private? Well...in many cases...school officials are monitoring kids' actions on social media. Facebook, Twitter and other Internet avenues are unfortunately the students' pathways to punishment by their principals. Social media sites are not only giving teenagers a way to share their innermost private secrets with friends, but since they are posting their thoughts "on line" for the masses to read - especially on Twitter - then numerous schools throughout the country have become "high-tech hall monitors" and school officials are literally spying on the children of America. Some schools are even hiring private technology firms to comb through the cyber-lives of students. My opinion is - that's an abhorrent disgrace.
Now understand me clearly. I am talking about the schools here...not a child's parents. It is the responsibility of mothers and fathers to be aware of actions being performed by their teenage sons and daughters. And if Mommy and Daddy catch their kid making reference to getting drunk...stoned on weed...or high on whatever else may be their drug of choice while at a party... then - by all means - I support those parents and I applaud them for doing what is right by protecting their teenage children so that they are not involving themselves in illegal activities that could also possibly harm them... or harm someone else. And if a parent grounds their kid...takes away his or her privileges...and punishes that teen...those moms and dads are being responsible parents.
Furthermore...it is a no-brainer that parents NEED...and MUST communicate with their children. They must talk with their children...and they must pay attention to what their sons and daughters are doing when they are not in the presence of their family guardians. Those mothers and fathers should - in every sense of the word - "monitor" their kids. But - as for the schools - that is a violation of privacy...and no school should have the right to suspend...expel...or chastise in any way...a student...for something the teenager has done...when the kid is not on school time...school property...or at a school event.
The big question is - can schools legally "throw the book" at a student... for something the teen has done...outside of the classroom...or outside the time when a child is involved with a school function? And not only does this concern such activities as the drinking of alcoholic beverages or other substance abuse...but with anything that the school opposes. For example... some schools have expanded their "Code of Conduct" - which they require students and parents to sign - to include..."respect." That clearly is unconstitutional. For instance...if a kid goes on Facebook or Twitter and says that his or her math teacher is "an idiot" - which perhaps he or she truly is - that's freedom of speech...and ALL - that's right, I said ALL - Americans... including children and teenagers...are protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Therefore, no school should be able to reprimand a student for making...what the board of education believes...is a disrespectful comment about a teacher - especially when that remark was made when the teen was not at school.
It's very true that with technology today...nothing is private. And if a teenager posts "on line" that he or she got drunk at a party over the weekend or on "spring break"...and the kid's mom or dad happens to read what their son or daughter wrote...so be it. After all...the teen did stupidly post the comment in a public forum. Therefore, the parents of that teenager have every right to scold their child...or - more importantly - discuss the situation and hopefully teach the teen why he or she should not be drinking alcohol. But the kid's school should have no authority over parties unrelated to the school itself...and therefore...no school should have the right to punish a student when the youngster was hanging out with friends...and their party was in no way tied to the school or any school affair.
Zero tolerance is totally troublesome to me when it affects teenagers' activities that are not at all linked to a school. Tracking a student's day to day movements on social media is absolutely against a teenager's civil rights...and no school should be permitted to do so. After all...the information could be shared...years and decades later...and such action by a high school...could detrimentally impact a person's future when applying to college...when seeking an employment opportunity...or when doing anything else throughout the rest of his or her life.
Student surveillance by schools - outside the school - is wrong. Plain and simple...it's wrong. Schools that do so...are overstepping their bounds. Principals and other school officials are not judges who have been appointed by a state governor or by the President of the United States...nor have they been voter-elected. But some of them are sticking their noses where they don't belong. It's invasive...and should not be allowed. Tweeting, texting and posting messages on Facebook or other social media Websites are the wave of today and - most likely - for many, many more years to come. But when it's being done by teenagers... beware, kids...because "big brother" is watching. And I don't mean the government...or the police...or your parents. It's your schools who have their eyes focused on your every move. And although I don't agree with what some of you may be doing...I do defend your civil rights...which apparently some schools don't. So to the teenagers who may be reading this commentary...be very careful when bragging about your partying and what you think is fun. You could end up...in big trouble.
And that's The Controversy for today.
I'm Gary B. Duglin.
"We'll talk again."
The Controversy is a publication of GBD Productions. Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B. Duglin.
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well stated, Mr. Duglin.
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