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2014 commit: ATH Blake Dennis


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I would hope there is more to the four day suspension than just an artistic expression.
Not sounding like it.

Here is what Rittman principal Brett Lanz told WJW in a statement:

"[The student] wrote a mean and disrespectful poem about another student and our athletic director/head coach. [it was] hazing, harrassment."

Does a mean-spirited poem read out once in a public classroom really constitute hazing? Neither Andre or his mother think it does, and one prominent Cleveland civil rights lawyer agrees with them.

"The breadth of expression, even in public schools, is virtually limitless," Cleveland-based lawyer Avery Friedman told WJW. "Unless speech is creating material disruption to the educational process, which certainly isn’t here."

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Not sounding like it.

Here is what Rittman principal Brett Lanz told WJW in a statement:

"[The student] wrote a mean and disrespectful poem about another student and our athletic director/head coach. [it was] hazing, harrassment."

Does a mean-spirited poem read out once in a public classroom really constitute hazing? Neither Andre or his mother think it does, and one prominent Cleveland civil rights lawyer agrees with them.

"The breadth of expression, even in public schools, is virtually limitless," Cleveland-based lawyer Avery Friedman told WJW. "Unless speech is creating material disruption to the educational process, which certainly isn’t here."

Imagine if this student was running for a student government post and called his opponent an Atheist in religion and a Fanatic in politics. Would he get suspended? Alexander Hamilton used those exact words to describe Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson somehow managed to survive this attack and go on to become President. Should Hamilton have been required to wear his uncomfortable wool clothing for four days without the soft undergarments they used to wear because of his hazing and harassment of Jefferson? The only issue here is the hypersensitivity of people.

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One thing that is getting lost in all of this is the assignment. I think it was a great assignment from the teacher. The poem itself, if you want to call it that, was below average. I'll give it a D. The only thing saving it from being an F is the kid actually turned in something.

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