Well, my take on this is the kid was suspended for

used profanity when taken to the office.

Regardless of the situation it sounds like the kid lost his temper. If school policy is to suspend them for this kind of behavior, he got what was coming to him.

Sorry, I feel for the kid having his mother off in Iraq and obvious danger, and can even understand his reaction, but regardless, if he was truly that badly behaved over the situation discipline should be enforced.

I feel sorry for the kid's situation but think the school did what they had to do.

What kind of message is it to the kid?

That one is expected to behave in a civil manner at school?

Sorry, but I think the school is right on this one. The issue only began over the student's cell phone use in school (cell phones shouldn't be used in school, in my opinion anyway), but it escalated over the student's disrespect for the school staff.

I can't argue that the kid lost his temper, but would they suspend him if it had been a phone call telling him his dad just died and he had been "out of control" for a few minutes?

I guessing No they wouldn't

The judgement for the suspension is somewhat case based, I think they sould have used a little liency in this case

The school stated that in cases like this, they have the option of having the student arrested or suspending them for 10 days, and they chose the most lenient option.

Personally, I would not have ended the call either. When my husband was deployed, I took my cell with me everywhere and if he called while I was in church service or at the dentist office or a friends house, I answered the call. If he called while I was at home and I was on the phone with tech support or grnandma or whoever, I let them know that I had to take the call. Most deployed service members have very limited access to phones, so it's imperative that the call recepient be available when the service member calls.

But...he also has to realize that in making the choice not to end the call, he was also making the choice to be reprimanded by the school because he was not following the school code of conduct. If he rarely hears from his mother and is concerned for her safety, then the punishment is "worth it" to get to speak to his mom.

Point blank, he lost my sympathy when he went out of control became "defiant and disorderly." I have a feeling that the outcome would have been much different had he been respectful when confronted by his teacher.

I have a feeling that the outcome would have been much different had he been respectful when confronted by his teacher.

I suspect the same.

I agree with TW on this. But also want to add that the school should probably think about making some sort of accomodation for students with parents serving overseas. Maybe a special room they could go to, or something like that--those calls are important (more important that most realize), and if I were the kids, I wouldn't have hung up for anything.

That said, if a teacher kept coming after me after I said I wasn't hanging up--and interferred with my ability to talk to my parent--I'd probably have some choice words for them too.

Emotions run high when you are dealing with deployed family members--the school should show a lot of sympathy and care.

Justice MUST be tempered with mercy.. for crying out loud his mom was on the phone and she is risking life and limb so these school nazis can be safe here while handing out suspensions jerks.

Well, it looks like I fall in with the majority on this one. The kid was definitely in the wrong for swearing at them. The article didn't make it very clear whether "out of control" was merely the swearing, or if he started throwing things.

On the other hand, the school officials didn't seem to care what the kid did or not. One of their precious rules was being violated, and come heck or high water, they were going to enforce it.

What I don't see here, is the school giving a flying flip for the kid himself. When the kid was confronted (which was appopriate to do), and the facts were learned, couldn't the teacher have walked the kid to a room where he could talk with his mother?

This would have maintained the intergrity of the rules and accomidated the kid and his mother. At the same time it would have averted a situation where the administration's hands were tied by the kid's over reaction.

Wow, is it that hard to think? ;~D

But also want to add that the school should probably think about making some sort of accomodation for students with parents serving overseas. Maybe a special room they could go to, or something like that--those calls are important (more important that most realize), and if I were the kids, I wouldn't have hung up for anything.

This is one of the many ways that children/families of Active Duty service members have an easier time with deployment than children/families of Guard and Reserve service members. My oldest child goes to school on base, and while the school is not a DOD school, there is an understanding of the military life there that is very beneficial to the children. In fact, many of the teachers are married to Soldiers and are experiencing the deployment right along with the students.

Families of Guard and Reserve Soldiers are basically required to be an island. They are living in the civilian world, and they do not have the same access to the resources that help with deployment that Active Duty Soldiers' families do.

This incident really demonstrates that fact.

When the kid was confronted (which was appopriate to do), and the facts were learned, couldn't the teacher have walked the kid to a room where he could talk with his mother?

That would have been the most rational thing to do.