Another fine product of our public school system, I suppose. On Thursday, there was a bit of a dust-up at Logan Middle School in Logan, West Virginia, which was probably overshadowed by all the other news taking place. 14 year old Jared Marcum went to school that day as usual, but thingsquickly took a turn for the worse.
When 8th grade Jared Marcum got dressed for school on Thursday he says he had no idea that his pro-Second Amendment shirt would initiate what he calls a fight over his First Amendment rights.“I never thought it would go this far because honestly I don’t see a problem with this, there shouldn’t be a problem with this,” Jared said.It was the image of a gun printed on Jared’s t-shirt that sparked a dispute between a Logan Middle School teacher and Jared, that ended with Jared suspended, arrested and facing two charges, obstruction and disturbing the education process, on his otherwise spotless record.
Let’s take a look at the horrible, offensive shirt which caused such a disruption.
It’s a rifle and an NRA logo. As the article goes on to point out, school dress code policy has restrictions on clothing with images of violence, racism and the usual list of prohibitions, but there is nothing about images of guns. His father, Allen Lardieri, had to leave work to rush over and pick his son up and is now trying to figure out how a kid with a perfectly clean record is suddenly facing criminal charges over a shirt. Meanwhile, after three days passed, the school still has nothing to say.
From the moment 13 News first broke this story on 13 News at 11 on Thursday, emails, Facebook posts and phone calls from people all across the country have been pouring in. Despite all of the attention, Jared Marcum and his family say they’re no closer to a resolution than they were when it all began…Lardieri says his questions for the school district remain unanswered.“I’m still confused, thoroughly confused,” he said. “They school didn’t even make a statement to the news agencies, much less myself.”After several attempts the only comment 13 News received from the Logan County School District was no comment.“They gave me no paperwork, all they said to my mother was not to bring me back to school the next day,” Jared said.
I wouldn’t be terribly shocked to see this story if it were taking place in New York, Connecticut or San Francisco, but this is all unfolding in West Virginia. Something has gone pretty seriously off the beam here, and it looks like the problem is coming from their school district. Obviously, gun control and Second Amendment rights are an important and current topic in the country and if schools aren’t going to foster an environment where students can learn about both sides of a constitutional question, what sort of education are they receiving?
The family plans to work with their attorney to get the criminal charges dismissed and off the boy’s record and then may pursue a civil suit against the school if appropriate. Of course, it would be nice if the school could at least say something to let the parents know what’s going on rather than going in to radio silence.
So much is wrong here let me count the ways....
ReplyDeleteGiven the recent school shootings, this kid should have known better.
ReplyDeleteon the contrary ....
DeleteIt's sort of like going to Boston and wearing a tee shirt showing a cute drawing of a pressure cooker bomb isn't it?
DeleteHow about a shirt with the motto "Bombs don't kill people, people kill people"? Or "They'll have to pry this pressure cooker from my cold dead hands"?
DeleteMay they should not teach the US Constitution either as that could prove to be "inappropriate" too.... Life goes on and facts are facts and rights are rights...
DeleteAngie, I agree, rights are rights, and the Constitution is the law of the land and cannot be subverted. However, almost every school district in this country enforces a dress code for students. No court has ever questioned that right. Students who violate the dress code are sent home and get an adverse report entered on their record. That's the way the system works.
DeleteThat stuff is always thrown out of court. THe real purpose is to intimidate people.
ReplyDeleteThe case will be thrown out of court because there is no law against juvenile stupidity.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand the image of the murderous Che Guevara graces tee shirts on many American school properties.
ReplyDeleteA picture of a rifle attached to a few initials never harmed anyone. Che the communist slaughtered many.
How many American school children did Guevara kill?
DeleteWell, a lawyer I'm not, but this hardly has anything to do with the horror in Boston. Sounds like voicing support of the 2nd amendment to me, yes?
ReplyDeleteJean
I contend that the NRA, of which I used to be a member, has nothing to do with the 2nd amendment. Rather they are a lobbying organization for the arms and ammunition industry, in the business of buying politicians.
DeleteLobbying happens to be a legal occupation. As are the production of arms and ammunition.
DeleteBuying politicians is illegal. Any organization proved to be doing so should be prosecuted.
Mick,
DeleteThe NRA gets 5% of their operating budget from mfrs. The rest come from individual members like me. Please check your facts before typing leftist drivel.
Something sounds a little fishy in that gotta. If annual membership fees are $35, multiply that by 4 mm and it should be about $140 mm. If the annual budget is between say $250 and $300, that leaves a lot of money to be collected elsewhere. There are the outright donations of gun manufacturers AND clip manufacturers and then there is money pulled in from ads in their magazines from, you guessed it, manufacturers. You will likely disagree, but I believe the NRA is becoming much more then simply an organization that is about it's members.
DeleteBut, I need to channel some Saul Alinski here. The left needs to quite bitching and get organized. If they truly, truly want to make congress concede to their demand that there be background checks, then they need to gather enough members and collect enough outside money to outbribe the lawmakers owned by the NRA. It's that simple. The Tea Party gets it and so does the NRA. It is about money and being able to threaten a lawmaker to outspend them at election time.
Max,
DeleteThey mail weekly to members for special campaigns seeking donations above and beyond my membership dues. I have one on my desk right now asking for a media campaign contributions. Anything above $48.00 and you will be sent a "Stand and Fight" t-shirt with the NRA logo. The check will be in the mail later today. Advertising dollars don't count IMHO because it would be the same ad if it ran in say Guns and Ammo or The Shotgun News. Also, some manufacturers and distributors will donate to the NRA based on purchases at their sites or products.
Fair enough, enjoy your t-shirt as a reward for buying our government. My second para is my bigger issue.
DeleteThe left needs to quite bitching and get organized. If they truly, truly want to make congress concede to their demand that there be background checks, then they need to gather enough members and collect enough outside money to outbribe the lawmakers owned by the NRA.
Delete-------------------------
So you are alright with "buying our government" if it fits your agenda to take away gun rights, but you are against me "buying our government" to protect my rights?
Did Saul mention hypocrisy?
No, I'm not alright with the fact our government is for sale. You aren't denying it's been bought, you are simply trying to call me a hypocrite so you can skip rational debate. In general, I can live with what a majority wants. In this case, having background checks is something that appears to have enormous support and it's being shut down because of a well organized and well funded minority. That's what I don't support. In this case, what I am supporting is the majority getting their way and I don't see any way for them to get their way unless they outspend the minority you belong to. Saul mentioned hypocrisy plenty but he never let it get in the way of an objective and when it comes down to it, neither do any of the political people you support.
DeleteWell gotta, you can't elect anyone to national office who has not been nominated by one of the two parties, no matter how many write-in votes you try to gather. And, in order to be nominated, a candidate has to have many millions of dollars. That money comes from donors, largely through PACS, which are controlled by a relatively few fat cats. One extimate I read says that 0.05% of the population controls who will run, and who won't. Our government is broken, perhaps beyond repair, as long as campaigns are privately endowed. Right, Left or Indy, doesn't matter. Our government has been bought and sold, just like any other commodity.
ReplyDeleteBullshit............
DeleteIn the primaries for our Senator I voted for John Brunner as our State Senator. The DNC did everything they could to run campaigns picking Todd Akin. Todd Akin was the weakest candidate to run against the corrupt Claire McCaskill. Once Akin stuck his foot in the mouth, it was over.
Mick, a.k.a. "the professor" your profile says "independent", but you are in the pocket of the socialist/communists that I think are disgusting.
Your taxpayer retirement will come back to haunt you one day when the hard working taxpayers realize how bad you have ripped us off.
Hey Mick, how long do you think it will take for Jean to come in and point out your typo just to let us know she is smarter then us?
DeleteGotta, you didn't really refute anything Mick said after calling bullshit. The fact the DNC did as you said is pretty much the point Mick is making. I highly doubt the people in your state wanted McCaskill, but because of money and two party dominance, voters were stuck with choosing between corruption (in YOUR opinion) or a dumbass who helped to further cement a view that Republicans are misogynist assholes.
Why are you so obsessed with communism?
Obsessed with communism? Who, me???? Akin is an asshole for his comments, but I still rather have an asshole represent me than a socialist like Claire the corrupt bitch. Do you know how corrupt Claire is? Google her tax avoidance and private airplane scandals widely known in the State of Missouri.
DeleteShe thinks she is holier than thou. Furthermore, you know my position on unions, but even my old UAW buddies trashed her when she showed up to the Chrysler mini van plant in the fall of 2008 to show support of saving the plant and the UAW in a friggin Toyota.