Today in class we discussed a controversial sign Joseph Frederick, a high school senior made and displayed while attending a school function. It read "Bong Hits 4 Jesus." Clearly this poster would raise issues at a school field trip, but the question is what if any punishment should be issued. When this incident happened in 2002, he received 10 days suspension for promoting drug-use on school grounds. Now even though I am a student, I am siding with the principal. If I was running a school and a student pulled out that sign, I would be outraged. Of course I would have ordered him to put it away.
The main reason I have no sympathy for Frederick is because of the stupidity of the situation. He was going to the Olympic Torch Parade. This is an international tradition that America is honored to have. An idiotic prank like that reflects badly on America's youth. I also think his motives for making the banner are childish. He wanted to get on TV. He wanted to upset the principal because of a previous conflict. Bringing a poster like that would obviously get media attention. If I knew him, I would be embarrassed for him and his actions. If he was protesting something, I might take sides with him. But there was no legitimate reason why he displayed that poster other than selfishness. I don't mean to demean civil rights, but I think he turned a prank into a waste of time for the supreme court and everyone who put energy into the issue.
1 comment:
I definently agree with you about the punishment through suspention, and how incredibly rediculous it was for this case to get so out of hand. But I don't feel the kid was doing anything to hurt anyone, or to do anything other than to get attention. It wasn't really a prank, but more of some stupid kid trying to be funny with his friends. I don't really understand how something like this could be important enough to go the supreme court. I don't quite get where this crosses free speach and school rules...don't you think that free speach is free speach??
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