LAUSD’s Inner Nazi

This last week two incidents highlighted the district and its administrators’ disregard of freedom of speech.

First, 15 8th graders at Liechty Middle School were denied their diplomas when they turned their backs on their graduation keynote speaker, LAUSD Board President Monica Garcia. They were protesting increased class size and teacher layoffs.  As they demonstrate in the video, they silently turned their backs.  In their seats.  Didn’t even stand up.  No shouting, chanting, booing, etc.  It’s what I’d call very civilized dissent.

But not allowed.  Ban them!  Take away their diplomas!

Now, today’s LA Times tells us that 18 year-old Aurora Ponce, class valedictorian at the previously well-regarded but recently more tumultuous Accelerated Charter School, has:

1) been barred from giving her speech at commencement and

2) lost her summer tutoring job.

Why?  Because she participated in a sit-in to protest increased class sizes and teacher layoffs.

Off with her head!

Out of control kids?

I think NOT.  Kids should protest.  It’s part of democratic engagement.  And it’s a good cause.  These kids aren’t jumping around asking for More Junk Food Now! or We Want 360 Days of Vacation! or Freedom to Text in Class!

They’re looking at the situation they’re in, seeing that it really and truly sucks, and they’re finding their voices as future (and present) citizens.  They are participating in participatory democracy.

It’s the administrators who are out of control. How can you not brook the slightest dissent? How do you become so threatened and literal-minded that you enforce obedience and discipline at all costs?  How do you find your inner Nazi?

And is it legal?

The Supreme Court gives mixed signals on this front.  In Morse, et al. v. Frederick (2007) the Court ruled that it was okay for an administrator to suspend a student for unfurling a pro-marijuana banner.  But today in Safford USD v. Redding, the Court ruled (8-1–hurrah!) that an Arizona administrator was out of line when he had a 13 year-old girl strip-searched because he suspected her of hiding prescription-strength ibuprofen (the equivalent of 2 Advils).

I’m not a lawyer, but I hope these kids find a good pro bono attorney who will take on the constitutional issues involved.  I found a great page that delineates the free speech rights of students and how they’re more restricted than the free speech rights of citizen-adults.   Unfortunately, the page focuses on high school and college students, when, increasingly, it’s the middle schools that are leading the way in strange administrative behaviors.  I guess it’s all part of teenagers growing up faster and faster.

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