Student suspended for taking call on cell phone from mom in Iraq

[Amelia]

Student suspended for taking call on cell phone from mom in Iraq

05/06/05

Rome News Tribune

COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) — A high school junior has been suspended for the rest of the school year for refusing to end a cell phone call to his mother who is a solider in Iraq. Kevin Francois, a 17-year-old at Spencer High School in Columbus, was suspended for disorderly conduct Wednesday after a confrontation that began when he was told to give up his cell phone at lunch during the call, he said. His mother, Sgt. 1st Class Monique Bates, left in January for a one-year tour and serves with the 203rd Forward Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. ``This is our first time separated like this,'' said Francois. Since her deployment overseas, Francois has been living with a guardian in Columbus. Francois got the call from his mother at 12:30 p.m., which he said was his lunch break. He said he went outside the school building to get a better reception. A teacher who saw Francois on his phone told him to hang up. He refused. According to the Muscogee County School District Board of Education's policy, students are allowed to have cell phones in school, but cannot use them during school hours. ``They're not supposed to use them for conversing back and forth during school because if they were allowed to do that, they could be text messaging each other for test questions,'' said Alfred Parham, assistant principal at Spencer. Francois said he told the teacher, ``This is my mom in Iraq. I'm not about to hang up on my mom.'' Parham said the teen's suspension was based on his reaction when he was asked to give up the cell phone. ``Kevin got defiant and disorderly,'' Parham said. ``When a kid becomes out of control like that they can either be arrested or suspended for 10 days. Now being that his mother is in Iraq, we're not trying to cause her any undue hardship; he was suspended for 10 days.''

[Dr. Shane]

These guys try to make up for what they don't get in pay, in ego. I am glad I don't have to deal with jerk teachers yet.

[Nicodema]

This is a perfect example of why public schools in America are in the TOILET these days. My son has also had to deal with jerk teachers like this and as a result it has left him unable to respect or see any sense in "the system" because the "system" he has been exposed to is full of senselessly pushy, bossy, hyper-paranoid idiots who can't tell the difference between a kid with a legitimate reason for something and a kid being defiant, nor can they tell a difference between a kid blowing off steam to cope versus a kid who poses a real threat or danger. If there is any way you can avoid sending your kid to public schools, do it.

[james423]

Two reactions:

1. Wonder why the teacher didn't verify that the teen was indeed receiving a call from his mother?

2. It was probably the second section of the reply that sent the teacher through the skies. It would seem, however, that the administration would have had more sense than to impose a 10-day suspension.

It is hard - and always has been hard - to be a teacher in our public school systems dealing with all the pressures that students and parents and society can bring to bear on you. Perhaps the teacher had had his/her fill that day although that does not excuse him/her.

[bevin]

You almost never hear the truth about an incident like this in the media - probably some important details have been dropped

/Bevin

[Guest]

Awwwww....isn't that just toooooooooo baddd?

I can see it now....

Let's say I am part of the cell phone cop group in church and a conference offcial receives a call from the GC president..

In the bulletin it says for cell phones to be turned off ..

am I supposed to say...

"well...we have extenuating circumstances here..."

How many students are at that school who do nothing but enjoy giving the teachers trouble?

Hey everyone...WAKE UP!!! It is no longer Ozzie and Harriet of the 50's

As it was in the days of Noah.....the thoughts of man were only evil continually