Student Gets Suspended for Stating Truth

The Toronto Star reports that a Saskatchewan student was suspended for talking about marijuana and being involved in a protest outside the school. Kieran King, a 15-year-old grade 10 student, attended an anti-drug presentation and was surprised at the lack of facts presented. Ironically the anti-drug presentation encouraged King to look up facts on marijuana and was shocked to find the truth, that marijuana has legitimate medical uses and has never caused a single death due to overdose.

The school board of course claims the student was suspended for not obeying an order to remain in the school and attending the protest instead. I don’t know about you, but when I was in highschool there were many protests, and some of them even caused the school to order all students not to attend, however many students disobeyed the order and attended, they did not get suspended. If King skipped class for this reason give him a detention like you would any other truant and return to business as usual. The punishment handed out does not fit the crime considering that King could not write his exams due to the punishment.

Kieran’s mother had been called into the school to discuss Kieran passing out information about marijuana in school before and she took great offense to an apparent implication that Kieran could easily be a drug dealer. The school maintains that Kieran’s discussing marijuana was inappropriate as it was condoning marijuana use. Since when is stating facts condoning use? If I say that it can be perfectly safe to jump a motor cycle through a flaming hoop over 15 busses, am I condoning that everyone do so? King simply pointed out that marijuana was relatively safe, and this is considered condoning the use. The school might have a case if he handed out a pack of zig zags and a list of local dealers, but he wasn’t doing that, he was discussing facts.

Thanks to the discussion boards over at cannabisculture.com I downloaded the Wawota Parkland School Code of Conduct and after reading it I think the school is in direct violation of their own code. Examine the following quotes from the code:

“At this school we value each other, our thoughts, our feelings, our troubles and our triumphs.”

From the Anti-Bullying Policy Objectives:
“To encourage people to stand up for themselves and for others in a positive, and constructive manner.”

From the Positive Rules to Live by:
“Be respectful of each others differences and opinions.”
“Set a good example for others; teach people how to treat you.”

The school did not respect King’s opinions, and instead of encouraging his attempt to stand up for himself they quashed it. This does not set a good example and certainly did not value King’s thoughts or feelings.


LINKS:
Kieran's King's post on Cannabis Culture Forum