Need help with student rights fast!

[ericofnyc]

Hello...since this is a student rights forum...i would like to ask about student rights.
I live in New York City and I have a problem. I am currently involved in this acting class and the teacher said to form a group and make up a scene. I am a big fan of the Movie, the Matrix and my friend is an activist. Everyone would make a scene about lovers cheating on others but we decided to be creative. My friend wrote "I will blow this damn school up". The teacher read it and showed it to the vice principal. The cops then came to my house and said that they were concerned and they would want to speak with my parents and they did. We didn't know that something like this would ever happen. This scene was just a scene and will always be only a scene. Now there might be a possibility that i might get expelled from the school. Is there any way i can prevent this from happening? Are there any laws they are breaking if they do? There is always freedom of speech. Why is it okay for proffessional playwriters to write about these topics but not us students? Are adults always smarter than students? Something happened a couple years ago...the Columbine Incident. It was a tragedy. I understand that most of the people that commit the crimes are adults. 2 Students mess up once and everybody is scarred for life? I think that the only law that is broken is that the authorities of this school are prejudice. Just because we're students, they think we are stupid.

 

[racer72]

With current zero tolerance policies in effect in our nations school systems, I would have to say the school did the right thing. Anything that can be even remotely perceived as a threat will be acted upon swiftly and harshly. Claiming free speech rights will not work either. The schools today have a huge responsibility to provide a threat free environment. Professional can get away with it because they are not students at the school and are not subject to the rules and regulations of the school district. Your best bet would be to distant yourself as far as possible from the controversy. This may sound like a cop out the the courts have been backing the schools 100% in these types of cases.

 

[ericofnyc]

So this is it for me? there's nothing else I can do? It was intended to be scene and will always be...just a scene. If I go to ACLU and ask for help, you think they could make a difference? I understand the zero tolerance policy but it has been 2 years since the Columbine Tragedy. This seems so farfetched. It was only one little scene.

 

[racer72]

It isn't just Columbine. Just last week a student at a high school in Washington state brought a gun and 2 bombs to school. I contacted a local office of the ACLU and asked what their policy is concerning the rights of free speech versus a school districts zero tolerance policies. They believe students have the right to voice their opinion concerning school matters but they should not cross the line if it involves the safety of the student body. But the gentleman I talked to also told me he is a father with 3 of his children in public schools and he would expect the schools to react swiftly if there was anything that could be considered a threat to his childrens safety. You crossed that fine line between free speech and school safety and will have to suffer the consequences. Your local ACLU chapter may disagree, you have the right to contact them and find out.

 

[ALawyer]

What do your PARENTS think about this? If they support your position, let them get a lawyer for you.

I think the school was acting responsibly, and if they had any concerns about you or your friend before, it would have been irresposible NOT to call the police in. Don't make a Federal case out of this, but learn from it. Most of us have been where you are too.