Hello Daily Kos community!
I've been a member who has had many ideas, but for the usual (procrastination) reasons, tend to just enjoy reading your thoughts. It's less scary in a sense, as a defense to fellow lurkers.
Until now.
Because now I've got a paddle in this boat. Or however that goes.
My son is the kid that shot the video that is the subject of news stories in the the Northern Virginia-DC area involving a kid that ran down the sidelines of a football game at half-time in banana suit.
http://www.youtube.com/...
Harmless prank, right? Well, the kid got put in a cop car then suspended for 10 days.
At the time, I laughed it off, because the kid is a friend of my sons. He's not a hell-raiser, he's a good kid. As is my son.
I laughed, until things got really shitty.
My son and some of his friends went to school with t-shirts on that said "Free Banana Man". Long story short, my son was made to take off the shirt by the school administration. And when he asked why he had to take it off, he was given detention.
Now, I'm not as hippy as some here, and certainly not as hippy as my wife, but I know a need to raise up when I see one. And you know what? This is some bullshit.
Luckily, the local ACLU seems to agree with me. More to come, but this is a situation that while not dire, is something that needs to be watched.
As silly as it may sound, sometimes, it does start with a kid in a banana suit.
10:21 AM PT: * Update * It looks like Banana man gets to return to school on Monday. Good for him. Now what about my boy?
http://fredericksburg.com/...
6:42 PM PT: * Update 2 * Vindicated.
"Stafford County Schools Superintendent Randy Bridges issued a statement today regarding the banned “banana man” clothing at Colonial Forge. Here’s the statement:
“My staff, under my direction, has reviewed the recent actions at Colonial Forge High School relating to the wearing of yellow tee shirts and other activities in support of a student who had been recently disciplined. We have concluded that many of the actions that were taken by the school were inappropriate. We are sorry for any embarrassment or inconvenience incurred by the students who were appropriately exercising their freedom of speech and by the families of those students. This administration and the School Board fully support the First Amendment rights of our students.”
Colonial Forge High School student Bryan Thompson, often referred to as “banana man,” will return to school on Monday, his mom told me today. "
http://blogs.fredericksburg.com/...
Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 3:42 AM PT: Update 3 for those still tuned in
Whoah.
"Karen Spillman has resigned as Colonial Forge High School’s principal, the school division announced tonight.
Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education Lisa Martin will supervise the school until an interim principal is assigned. The division will conduct a search to fill the vacancy."
http://blogs.fredericksburg.com/...
Can't say I didn't see it coming. There's been a pretty huge campaign against her since the incident with some troubling public intoxication charges coming out.
So my little ole, VERY conservative, town has had a First Amendment fight with casualties. Good.
More please.