Students get suspended for illegal drug use, insulting teachers, violating school rules and more, but should schools be allowed to suspend students for something they have done outside of school?
This is what happened to 21 students in Granite City, Ill. A student tweeted a sexual remark about a female teacher on Twitter, and he, along with those who “favorited” or “re-tweeted” it, received a five-day suspension.
After the school conducted further research, they found a tweet threatening to blow up the school. Students who “favorited” or “re-tweeted” this were suspended for 10 days and received an expulsion warning.
The NHS handbook states that inappropriate messages written on school property may result in a 5-10 day suspension, but does not mention the consequences of inappropriate messages written outside of school.
Assistant principal Jonté Hill says that since Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites are all blocked on school computers, the school does not get involved in most online or social networking issues.
“We try to eliminate [issues] here at school by blocking those particular sites,” Hill said. “Things that happen outside of school as far as social networking sites are things we typically don’t handle here at Northwood because they happen off campus.”
Although Northwood tries not to get involved with online issues between students, they may have to intervene if it causes a disruption during school hours.
“If it comes to school and creates a disruption or problem, then those are the issues that we will deal with here at school,” Hill said.
Most students do not believe the school has a right to hand out suspensions for their online activities.
“It’s outside of school and [we] have first amendment rights to freedom of speech,” sophomore Emma Caison said.
Other students agree with Caison.
“It’s more of a private thing, and it shouldn’t be a big deal outside of school,” junior Jeremiah Hartsock said.
Northwood does not get involved in cyber-bullying or comments made online as long as it is not brought to school.
Guidance counselor Telisa Hunter says that even if students cannot get in trouble for their actions online, the counselors will talk to the students to let them know what they are doing is inappropriate.
“If what students are saying online is impacting school in any way, shape or form, then those students can get in trouble,” Hunter said. “If it is brought to our attention, we will try to deal with it in the best way we can.”