Isn't this Illegal?????????

[Praetorian]

In MA, students have been punished for either booing or refusing to shake the hand of the Governor?

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2003/12/06/students_punished_over_snub_of_governor/

"On Wednesday, Romney went to Winchendon, a north central Massachusetts town about 70 miles from Boston, as a show of support after the state Board of Education last month declared Winchendon schools underperforming. He addressed more than 900 students, school officials, and town leaders in the Murdock School's gymnasium. He also met privately with parents and teachers, offering the state's help in turning around Winchendon schools. While principal Patricia A. Washburn said that the majority of students had behaved appropriately, she said a "small handful" had booed the governor, refused to shake his hand, or carried protest signs. Those students were "not being respectful to our guests in the building," Washburn said, and face consequences. She declined to provide details. "There is a proper protocol and decorum these students are supposed to have," she said. "Almost everyone has it, but unfortunately, there were very few that didn't, and we dealt with those situations. We dealt with them Thursday morning, and we're back to focusing on what's important."

[trumad]

1. Patricia A. Washburn should be fired

for not understanding the basic tenets of the Constitution!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Students, like soldiers, have fewer rights

than the rest of us (of course, THOSE rights are quickly being eroded). I could see booing as being inappropriate, but signs and refusing to shake the hand of someone you loathe should be your right as a citizen, even if you are a student.

[Muddleoftheroad]

3. Stupid, but I think it's legal

Principals have wide lattitude to keep students under control and to prevent a disturbance.

[nuxvomica]

5. I don't think so. She indicated inadequate grounds, IMHO

The senior who refused to shake Romney's mitt was told he was suspended for that and not punching a hole in the wall. I don't think the handshaking refusal is adequate grounds for anything. This principal was, yes, stupid, to use that as a reason, and ultimately, I think, without legal basis to do so.

[Muddleoftheroad]

8. Booing is certainly disorderly

You might be right about the handshake, depends on the school rules. Some have rules about bringing embarrassment to the school or some such.

[Brucey]

4. Perhaps they should be given the death penalty, to assure

that they won't do it again. What a country! They hate us because of all our freedoms!

[Eric J in MN]

6. The Supreme Court ruled during the Vietnam era that students

The Supreme Court ruled during the Vietnam era that students had a right to wear black arm-bands to protest the war against their pricipal's wishes.

Carrying a sign during a governor's visit, which is even more clearly "petitioning the government for a redress of grievances" should also be considered free-speech protected by the first amendment.

[Eric J in MN]

7. Later in the article, it implies students were NOT suspended for signs.

"Some students who protested during Romney's visit said they were not chastised or suspended. But Murdock senior Jacob Whitney said he was given a three-day suspension for refusing to shake Romney's hand, a gesture he said he meant as a joke.

Whitney, 18, said he offered a hand to Romney when the governor met students after his speech, but pulled it away when Romney extended his own hand. He said he then patted Romney on his shoulder and said, "Just kidding," and the two laughed.

That evening, Whitney said, the school's vice principal called him and informed him of his suspension. Whitney and his mother, Timi, met Washburn the next morning, and the principal stuck by the punishment, they said. The youth admitted that he punched a hole in the wall of the school office in anger, but said he was suspended for what happened at Romney's speech, not for his later outburst."