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Hi, I'm Stuart Shepard. This is Stoplight.
If someone at your child's school called someone a, a say a wine guzzling vagrant and a precocious
socialist, should that come under the schools bullying policy?
What if I told you that line was used to describe Jesus. You may have heard about this story
out of New Hampshire. Bedford High School student Jordan Henderson objected to that
description of Jesus in a book he was required to read called "Nickel and Dimed."
It also calls people from Kentucky hillbillies. Hang on just a second! (exasperated) What
- where does it say that?
Jordan had his mom and dad read the book then they alerted the school board to the objectionable
language in the book - stuff they felt was not appropriate for high schoolers.
The school board looked it over and said this is so wrong - bullying is always wrong - we
will drop the book immediately.
Okay, okay - I was just kidding...
What they actually said was "The book provided valuable insight into the circumstances of
the working poor and an opportunity for students to demonstrate mastery of the 'Financial Impact' competency."
They also said they'd offer an alternative book which is to say "this book is just fine
for all the popular high school students but not the really, really sensitive students
who just aren't as cool."
Doesn't the school have a bullying policy? They do, in fact they just surveyed nearly
every student in nearly grade about bullying. Has it happened to you? Has it happened to
anyone you know? Where did it happen? In the hall, on the bus, in the cafeteria and what
did they say "exactly?" And they came up with prevention strategies.
I have my legal analyst here. Bruce I know you're not a criminal attorney but in the
right context would wine guzzling vagrant qualify as fighting words? It depends.
(sarcastically) Thanks.
So imagine what would happen if, using the book as a guide, a student called another
student a wine guzzling vagrant in the hallway? Or use that language to describe a teacher
on her Facebook page.
Or if they went to a school board meeting and said "I'd like to have a work with all
of you precocious socialist." I don't think it would go very well.
But if it's Jesus...aaaah, that's okay. But you know what? It's not the first time Jesus
has been bullied.