It has come to our attention that on November 9, 2016, the day after the United States presidential election was decided, a student was singled out by staff at George Walton Comprehensive High School for wearing the words "America Chose Hate." The administration claimed those words were causing a disruption and asked for the clothing to be removed or covered up, or otherwise face in school suspension (ISS). The administrator also brought in the school police officer. By choosing this course of action, while allowing other students to wear politically charged attire without retribution, the school displayed their lack of impartiality and disregard for protecting free speech.
We expect the administration and staff at our schools to protect the First Amendment rights of our students. The right of free speech is indivisible: when one of us is denied this right, all of us are denied.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
November 16, 2016
November 11, 2016
The volume of support has reached a level that necessitates a formal meeting with the district board. I am currently finalizing a letter to the superintendent to demand a written explanation of the administrative protocols used during this incident.
Reached 100 supporters
November 9, 2016
127 Comments
All speech is protected under Amendment 1, not only speech that supports the status quo. To be a truly comprehensive school, you have to allow (and teach students to allow) for all perspectives. There is a line between free speech and hate speech, and this is not it.
We are all protected by the Constitution. This actions of the school administration were discriminatory. They abused their authority to bully other Americans, a student and her family.
If any other political messages are allowed in the school, this one should be as well. I understand that schools need rules and guidelines, but they must be fairly applied if we are to train our youth how to be responsible adult members of a constitutional nation.
My children attended Walton in the 90s and 2000s, and my grandchildren may soon. If the school has a clear policy which is presented in advance and EQUALLY meted out to all sides, so be it. But that doesn't seem to be the case. I had hoped for better in our little, more-educated pocket of Redneckia, but I see that I hope in vain.
I live in the Walton High School district, and I pay taxes in Cobb County. Our schools should be a place of learning, and that includes learning to listen to ideas that may make us uncomfortable. Selectively threatening students for peaceful exercise of speech is intolerable.
Immensely proud of this family's stance in support of freedom of speech. Walton HS has a variety of serious issues when it comes to how they treat the student community. As another commenter pointed out, they are totally grade oriented and not in the service of students. The administration should take a serious look at its ineffective policies. And it is time for the Principal Ms. McNeil to be let go. The buck stops at the top and it is time for a change.
Walton does it again!
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It has come to our attention that on November 9, 2016, the day after the United States presidential election was decided, a student was singled out by staff at George Walton Comprehensive High School for wearing the words "America Chose Hate." The administration claimed those words were causing a disruption and asked for the clothing to be removed or covered up, or otherwise face in school suspension (ISS). The administrator also brought in the school police officer. By choosing this course of action, while allowing other students to wear politically charged attire without retribution, the school displayed their lack of impartiality and disregard for protecting free speech.
We expect the administration and staff at our schools to protect the First Amendment rights of our students. The right of free speech is indivisible: when one of us is denied this right, all of us are denied.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
November 16, 2016
November 11, 2016
The volume of support has reached a level that necessitates a formal meeting with the district board. I am currently finalizing a letter to the superintendent to demand a written explanation of the administrative protocols used during this incident.
Reached 100 supporters
November 9, 2016
127 Comments
Shame on you Walton. Not that I'm surprised. The same thing happened to me as a former student there, except back then it was over religious beliefs. I am pagan and our ignorant principal at the time thought that meant I was a satanist. He made me prove that I was not and explain my religion to him ...
All speech is protected under Amendment 1, not only speech that supports the status quo. To be a truly comprehensive school, you have to allow (and teach students to allow) for all perspectives. There is a line between free speech and hate speech, and this is not it.
We are all protected by the Constitution. This actions of the school administration were discriminatory. They abused their authority to bully other Americans, a student and her family.
If any other political messages are allowed in the school, this one should be as well. I understand that schools need rules and guidelines, but they must be fairly applied if we are to train our youth how to be responsible adult members of a constitutional nation.
My children attended Walton in the 90s and 2000s, and my grandchildren may soon. If the school has a clear policy which is presented in advance and EQUALLY meted out to all sides, so be it. But that doesn't seem to be the case. I had hoped for better in our little, more-educated pocket of Redneckia, but I see that I hope in vain.
I live in the Walton High School district, and I pay taxes in Cobb County. Our schools should be a place of learning, and that includes learning to listen to ideas that may make us uncomfortable. Selectively threatening students for peaceful exercise of speech is intolerable.
Immensely proud of this family's stance in support of freedom of speech. Walton HS has a variety of serious issues when it comes to how they treat the student community. As another commenter pointed out, they are totally grade oriented and not in the service of students. The administration should take a serious look at its ineffective policies. And it is time for the Principal Ms. McNeil to be let go. The buck stops at the top and it is time for a change.
Walton does it again!
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Shame on you Walton. Not that I'm surprised. The same thing happened to me as a former student there, except back then it was over religious beliefs. I am pagan and our ignorant principal at the time thought that meant I was a satanist. He made me prove that I was not and explain my religion to him ...