Thread: Schools Punish Students for MySpace Content

There has been a recent rash of schools that have begun to discipline students for information that exists on their MYSpace.com websites. Do you believe that the school has the right to control a student's behavior outside of any approved school function?
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/...familyfilter=1
http://www.infowars.com/articles/pol...dministra.html

Absolutely not. The school has no standing to control what a student does outside of school property or function. If they find something illegal, it needs to be reported to the parents and a proper authority.


Unfortunately, because so many parents dump their children on the schools and expect the schools to raise them, I'm not surprised by this. We really need to start holding parents accountable for their children's behavior.

Originally Posted by pramjockey

Absolutely not. The school has no standing to control what a student does outside of school property or function. If they find something illegal, it needs to be reported to the parents and a proper authority.


Unfortunately, because so many parents dump their children on the schools and expect the schools to raise them, I'm not surprised by this. We really need to start holding parents accountable for their children's behavior.

The only reason that schools are doing this is because we allowed them to take on responsibilities that didn't belong in schools. Sex ed, school lunch, anti-drug programs, anger management, diversity and healthcare are all areas that a school has NO business being involved. Once we allowed schools to become surrogate parents, we lost power as "real" parents.

I'd disagree. I'd say that the schools were forced into the role because the economy no longer allows a parent (either one, don't care) to stay home. I don't know that the schools wanted to be the surrogates; they got stuck with the job.

Originally Posted by pramjockey

I'd disagree. I'd say that the schools were forced into the role because the economy no longer allows a parent (either one, don't care) to stay home. I don't know that the schools wanted to be the surrogates; they got stuck with the job.

I'm guessing that you're not very familiar with how school districts function. Schools LOVE taking on extra programs. Uncle Sam pays top dollar for them to do so. Think of it as "easy overtime pay".

Originally Posted by pramjockey

Absolutely not. The school has no standing to control what a student does outside of school property or function. If they find something illegal, it needs to be reported to the parents and a proper authority.

You don't think schools have the standing or authority to suspend students from school far causing harm to the school or others at school, just because the damage is being done by off-campus activity?

I'm wondering, have you ever gone to school in your life? If you had, you know it's standard and universal practice for school to discipline for illegal activity without making a federal case out if it. A student gets in a fight, suspension rather that assault charges. A student disrupts class, detention rather than disorderly conduct charges.

We're talking about minors, and the schools are surrogate parents. And, the schools are obligated to protect the environment of the school.

Schools have no right to discipline students for anything which the kids might be putting on those pages. That's the parents responsibility. Too many parents though are forgoing their responsibilities, which is the problem.

Originally Posted by jpsartre12

I'm guessing that you're not very familiar with how school districts function. Schools LOVE taking on extra programs. Uncle Sam pays top dollar for them to do so. Think of it as "easy overtime pay".

Actually, I was a teacher. I have first-hand experience with how the school districts (dys)function.

In my experience, the funding wasn't there. Uncle Sam actually contributes only a small portion of the education budget; most comes from state dollars.

Originally Posted by Philip

You don't think schools have the standing or authority to suspend students from school far causing harm to the school or others at school, just because the damage is being done by off-campus activity?

I'm wondering, have you ever gone to school in your life? If you had, you know it's standard and universal practice for school to discipline for illegal activity without making a federal case out if it. A student gets in a fight, suspension rather that assault charges. A student disrupts class, detention rather than disorderly conduct charges.

We're talking about minors, and the schools are surrogate parents. And, the schools are obligated to protect the environment of the school.

Once again, Philip, since your memory seems to be remarkably short: I was a teacher at a poor, inner-city high school. I have first-hand experience of how the schools run.

A school (and a teacher) is actually required to report illegal activity to the police and to the parents. Failure to do so exposes the school and the teacher/administrator involved to civil and criminal penalties. Obviously just being a disruptive student in the classroom doesn't qualify as a criminal act.

However, that obligation ends when the student leaves the school. The schools cannot be responsible for students 24/7. The parents need to take responsibility once the student is away.

No. They shouldn't be able to penalize the kids for this.

That being said, some kids should be slapped around for the shit they put on there.