Thread: Judge refuses to bar school from punishing students over pro

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... 04-ON.html

Judge refuses to bar school from punishing students over immigration protest

Associated Press
Oct. 4, 2006 10:00 AM


RIVERSIDE, Calif. - A federal judge has refused to block a school district from disciplining students who skip class to protest anti-immigration legislation, rejecting a request by parents of a teen who committed suicide over the punishment.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Stephen G. Larson didn't address arguments that the discipline violated students' rights to free speech.

The Ontario-Montclair School District had disciplined students who were absent to participate in walkouts and rallies in March to protest federal legislation that would impose harsh punishments for illegal immigrants.

An injunction against the practice was requested by the family of 14-year-old Anthony Soltero, a De Anza Middle School student who committed suicide in April after he was threatened with harsh discipline for leaving school during the protests.

The judge denied the motion in a Sept. 28 written ruling, saying at least one plaintiff would have to be a student at the school.

Soltero family attorney R. Samuel Paz called the ruling a "technical denial" that left open the possibility of further action.

School district lawyer Calvin House said finding students disciplined for participating in the walkouts still might not meet the judge's requirement.

"That does not show that right now there is an immediate threat (to the students' rights)," House said. He also noted that it isn't improper for the district to discipline students for skipping class.

I agree with the Judge's ruling.
Talk about an idiotic law suit! No punishment for skipping school?
I suppose it is supposed to be okay to skip school if they are going to
a pro illegal protest.
So what harsh punishment are they talking about ? Detention? Have
to make up the work they missed? Nothing unusual about that.
Just plain common sense and trying to teach kids responsibility for
their actions.

I agree with the judge as well. There's a time and place for things. Another thing I don't quite get is "their rights". These are underage students. They have the right to leave I guess......but with that right, you have to face the consequences. I have the right to walk off my job for a protest and my boss has the right to fire me. I walked out of school for a protest when I was young and they gave all of us a 3 day suspension. We knew the consequences. No one left the school grounds and it was very peaceful. We even had teachers join us. But we still all got suspended anyway.

Absolutely NO STUDENT or adult, for that matter, would commit suicide over this. That's ridiculous & flies in the face of common sense!!!

What OTHER problems did the student have? What are these parents like who would use their child for money and politics? Sounds like this kid had a huge rock on his/her shoulder which just might have been put there by good old mom and dad!!!

How disgusting