Mom Calls Child From Iraq - Student Suspended (from ATSNN), page 1

posted on May, 8 2005 @ 11:03 AM

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A student was in his Cafeteria for lunch when his mother, a soldier, called from Iraq. Even though cell phones are not allowed to be used in school, the child (naturally) answered the phone and talked to his mother who is in a war zone on the other side of the world. The lunch monitor told the child to hang up. The child refused. The child was suspended. Hundreds of angry phone calls rained upon the school. The school has reduced the punishment.

www.newsday.com...

School Reduces Suspension Over Iraq Call
By Associated Press
May 8, 2005

COLUMBUS, Ga. -- Following hundreds of angry phone calls and e-mails, school officials in this Army base city have reduced a suspension imposed on a student who wouldn't give up his cell phone while talking to his mom -- a sergeant on duty in Iraq.

The angry calls about the boy's suspension got so bad at one point that secretaries had to take their phones off the hook, assistant principal Alfred Parham said.

Kevin Francois, a 17-year-old junior at Spencer High School, was suspended for 10 days for disorderly conduct Wednesday after a teacher told him to give up his cell phone outside the school during his lunch break and he refused, the teen said.

The boy said he had not expected the call from his mother, Sgt. 1st Class Monique Bates, who left in January for a one-year tour.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

I understand wanting to keep discipline, but there has to be common sense as well. The child didn't expect the call. The mother is in a war zone and probably can't call at just any time. The common sense thing would have been to allow the call. I understand the child reacted badly to the authority demanding that he hang up the phone, even after the situation was explained. The child is upset because his mother is away and in a dangerous place, and then he has to deal with an unsympathetic adult without common sense.

I was glad to see that the school reduced the punishment. The correct thing would have been no punishment, his school records set straight, and both the child and the adult having some time spent with the guidance department. Some sensitivity training needs to be done here.

[edit on 5/8/2005 by FlyersFan]

[edit on 5/8/2005 by FlyersFan]

Zipdot

posted on May, 8 2005 @ 11:05 AM

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This story is a repeat of www.abovetopsecret.com...'

Zip

FlyersFan

posted on May, 8 2005 @ 11:06 AM

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Okay ... must have missed that. Sorry.

deesw

posted on May, 8 2005 @ 06:33 PM

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Who cares if it's a repeat, you've got a thousand threads on here, this one just happens to be where some people can find it.
The school system owes that boy and his mother an apology.