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Wednesday, October 5, 2005
Behind Sonny’s Decision
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What do you think about the story behind Gov. Sonny Perdue’s decision to ask school districts to shut down for two days to save fuel?
Diary Girl Back in the News
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Remember the Roswell High School student who got escorted from class by police for a story she wrote in her diary? If Get Schooled had existed back then … this one would have set the blogosphere ablaze.
In her story, a girl falls asleep and dreams she kills her math teacher. A teacher siezed Rachel Boim’s journal during class. School officials interpreted the girl’s comments as a terroristic threat and expelled her. National media attention and support from Georgia’s poet laureate led the school district to soften its stance, dropping the most serious charge and reducing her punishment to a 10-day suspension.
Now Rachel is a student at a private school, and her family is suing to have her disciplinary record cleared before she starts applying to colleges. They are seeking a dollar in damages. Here’s Mary MacDonald’s story.
So, Get Schooled readers, do you think the school district trampled on Rachel’s right to free expression? Are teachers and school administrators in a can’t-win situation trying to prevent another Columbine?
