MrRant 0 Report post Posted February 4, 2004 PITTSBURGH — A second-grader was suspended for a day for telling a classmate he would go to hell for saying, "I swear to God." Brandy McKenith, 7, was suspended for swearing for saying the word "hell," but her family says she was referring to the biblical location of fire and brimstone. She served the suspension Tuesday. The Pittsburgh Public Schools' (search) student code of conduct prohibits profanity, but doesn't provide a definition, spokeswoman Pat Crawford said. The school would not comment further. Brandy's father, Wayne McKenith, said when he learned about the suspension, he thought perhaps his daughter had said something worse, so he called the teacher for details. He was told another student overheard his daughter say the word. "I said, `Hell? She got suspended for that?"' McKenith said. He said he asked the school to evaluate its profanity policy. "`Hell' is like the least of the words in school today," McKenith said. "You go home and turn on the TV tonight and tell me how many times you hear the word 'hell.' And I mean network TV, not even cable." Without a clear definition, the district could run into problems enforcing the policy, said Witold Walczak, legal director of the Greater Pittsburgh chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (search). "The school's policy says 'no profanity' and that's not further defined," Walczak said. "How should this little girl know that `hell' is not allowed?" "It's questionable whether `hell' is even a profanity, and it certainly isn't in the way that she used it," he added. McKenith, a suburban Pittsburgh police detective, said family members aren't "religious fanatics," but there's a healthy respect for the Lord, so he accepts her daughter's explanation. "She's under the assumption that good people go to heaven and ... bad people go to hell," he said Wednesday. OMG!! TOOL OF THE...UMM...DEVIL? 2004LOLZ? Such a lovely world we live in when we are suspending 2nd graders for pretty much nothing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Firestarter 0 Report post Posted February 4, 2004 Telling a second-grader that he or she is going to burn in "fire and brimstone" for all eternity is "pretty much nothing?" Some goddamned Christian tried to say anything of the sort to my daughter and she'd be getting much, much worse than a suspension, regardless of age or sex. The profanity charge is nonsense, but a damn good spanking sure as hell (excuse me) wouldn't be a bad idea. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrRant 0 Report post Posted February 4, 2004 She said he would go to hell for saying probably the Lord's name in vain thing. She doesn't need a spanking as that is what she was taught. Regardless of age eh? What if a preschooler said it? Would you be beating the preschooler too? Teach your child that that isn't true if you don't believe it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Krazy Karter Report post Posted February 4, 2004 This reminds me of that incident a few years back where a first grade boy kissed a girl in his class and was suspended for sexual harassment. World's been getting WAY too politically correct over the past decade. Kids are turning into giant pussies. And it's not their fault. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MikeSC Report post Posted February 4, 2004 Telling a second-grader that he or she is going to burn in "fire and brimstone" for all eternity is "pretty much nothing?" Some goddamned Christian tried to say anything of the sort to my daughter and she'd be getting much, much worse than a suspension, regardless of age or sex. The profanity charge is nonsense, but a damn good spanking sure as hell (excuse me) wouldn't be a bad idea. The school board used a really bad reason for the punishment. Should've gone under harrassment rather than obscenity. "Hell" is barely an obscenity at all. They'd have a MUCH better case for harrassment. -=Mike Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C Dubya 04 0 Report post Posted February 4, 2004 Better yet, educate your child, but don't force any religion on them. Share your beliefs, but don't prevent your child from developing their own. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dynamite Kido Report post Posted February 4, 2004 or just teach them to say "fuck" repeatedly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest SP-1 Report post Posted February 4, 2004 Better yet, educate your child, but don't force any religion on them. Share your beliefs, but don't prevent your child from developing their own. And it said they forced anything on the kid where? Oh, right. She's a second grader. Growing up in the values of her home. She's not old enough to have investigated the wide array of religions and philosophies in the world. Her parents have raised her with their system of values and beliefs and she's interpreted them as best as she can. That's a pretty bold assertation you're making, under the circumstances. As for the article itself, suspending her for saying "Hell" is a little extreme. If the school has an In School Suspension program or something, sure. Maybe keep her from recess for a day or two. But outright suspension is stupid. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Firestarter 0 Report post Posted February 4, 2004 She said he would go to hell for saying probably the Lord's name in vain thing. Yes. She doesn't need a spanking as that is what she was taught. Christians in general need to be taught the difference between free speech and harassment. Regardless of age eh? Yes. What if a preschooler said it? Would you be beating the preschooler too? Yes. Teach your child that that isn't true if you don't believe it. Oh, I would. And if anyone threatened my child in any way he'd be in serious trouble. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Firestarter 0 Report post Posted February 4, 2004 The school board used a really bad reason for the punishment. Should've gone under harrassment rather than obscenity. "Hell" is barely an obscenity at all. They'd have a MUCH better case for harrassment. -=Mike Agreed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C Dubya 04 0 Report post Posted February 4, 2004 Better yet, educate your child, but don't force any religion on them. Share your beliefs, but don't prevent your child from developing their own. And it said they forced anything on the kid where? Oh, right. She's a second grader. Growing up in the values of her home. She's not old enough to have investigated the wide array of religions and philosophies in the world. Her parents have raised her with their system of values and beliefs and she's interpreted them as best as she can. That's a pretty bold assertation you're making, under the circumstances. I was actually responding to the person who said "Teach your child that that isn't true if you don't believe it.", not to the general article. Unfortunately three people responded while I was typing. As far as the article goes, I don't really think you can put any blame on the little girl. And i think it's a real lame reason to suspend a 2nd grader. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrRant 0 Report post Posted February 4, 2004 Harassment? Repeatedly pulling hair is harassment. Saying because you took the Lord's name in vain and you will go to hell for doing so isn't harassment. Let's play "Look at the Definition": ha·rass ( P ) Pronunciation Key (h-rs, hrs) tr.v. ha·rassed, ha·rass·ing, ha·rass·es To irritate or torment persistently. - bold.. just in case you miss it. To wear out; exhaust. To impede and exhaust (an enemy) by repeated attacks or raids. And I don't even believe in the Lord's name in vain stuff. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Metal Maniac 0 Report post Posted February 4, 2004 This is ridiculous. She's in the second grade. I doubt she's wise enough yet to know that not everyone wants to hear about christian religon. I think, instead of a suspension, they would've done much better to have just taken the girl, sat her down, and explained to her why she shouldn't tell her classmates what will or won't send them to hell. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted February 4, 2004 Why can't people keep their damn religion in their damn house? Over the top pyschos turning their children into disciples of TBN. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrRant 0 Report post Posted February 4, 2004 Why can't people keep their damn religion in their damn house? Over the top pyschos turning their children into disciples of TBN. How the fuck is that over the top? She isn't going around trying to convert kindergardeners. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kahran Ramsus 0 Report post Posted February 4, 2004 Why can't people keep their damn religion in their damn house? Over the top pyschos turning their children into disciples of TBN. That includes atheists. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted February 4, 2004 Why can't people keep their damn religion in their damn house? Over the top pyschos turning their children into disciples of TBN. That includes atheists. Agreed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JMA Report post Posted February 4, 2004 "Keep thy religion to thyself." - George Carlin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrRant 0 Report post Posted February 4, 2004 "Keep thy religion to thyself." - George Carlin It's a freakin' 7 year old. Christ. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JMA Report post Posted February 4, 2004 "Keep thy religion to thyself." - George Carlin It's a freakin' 7 year old. Christ. Dude, I was just kidding. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NYU 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2004 People today are so uptight, it's sickening. When I was in third grade, we had to make our own books. Write our own stories, draw our own pictures....it was entirely our own. I wrote a book about a boy that had a time machine and went back in time. And where was one of the places he went to? Why, he went to Bethlehem to watch the birth of Baby Jesus in the manger. *gasp* See, the thing is......at that time, the book was no big deal at all. My teacher didn't have a problem with it - she thought it was cute. The other kids didn't have a problem with it - they thought the picture was nice. And I'm assuming the parents of these kids didn't have a problem because I never once heard a negative comment about it. It was treated as if it was normal, because I was a young kid and had no idea about the separation between church and state. I can only imagine what the reaction would be if I was in third grade in 2004 and had just made this book. These kids don't know any better. They go by their beliefs, they go by what their parents have taught them, they go by what they believe is right - and they're punished for it. The idea that a second-grade child is refused any slack for repeating her religious belief is unacceptable and inexcusable. Unfortunately, it's a foregone conclusion that this trend will continue because many parents today are just too feeble-minded and weak-hearted. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smell the ratings!!! Report post Posted February 5, 2004 Brandy McKenith, 7, was suspended for swearing for saying the word "hell," but her family says she was referring to the biblical location of fire and brimstone. so is there another meaning for the word "hell" that I am unaware of? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slayer 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2004 Mrs. McKenith: So, what did you learn about today? Brandy: Hell. Mr. McKenith: Brandy! Brandy: But that's what we learned about. I sure as HELL can't tell you we learned about HELL unless I say HELL, can't I? Mr. McKenith: Well, the girl has a point. Brandy: Hell, yes! Mrs. McKenith: Brandy! Brandy: *singing* Hell, Hell, Hell, Hell... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Highland 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2004 "....and the world has become a pussy-whipped Brady Bunch version of itself...." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Toshiaki Koala 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2004 Brandy McKenith, 7, was suspended for swearing for saying the word "hell," but her family says she was referring to the biblical location of fire and brimstone. Shouldn't that make it, uh... worse? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2004 I really don't think the kid should have been punished but for crap sake, come on. A second grader saying you will go to hell for taking the lords name in vain??? A SECOND GRADER??? Also, a second grader using "I swear to god"??? Second graders now use this term? I know how the kid meant it, but I didn't know they now use it that young. Least the kid didn't believe in throwing stones at the offender or this could have been worse. I've never had troubles with religion till it gets pushy. A kid drawing a book and in it he visits the birth of Baby Jesus, that's sweet and fine. A kid telling another kid they will be going to hell, that is going a little overboard. But I don't believe the kid should be punished for it, but talked to about why that shouldn't be said to another would be good enough. If they want to teach their child all of the religious teachings, I'm cool with that. They want the kid to pray in school, fine by me. But they should also make it clear to their child that expressing your beliefs in a negative manner towards another child isn't exactly the best idea in the world. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted February 5, 2004 I got in trouble for swearing more times in elementary school than I can count. I curse fluently and loudly, and have done so since I was about that age. Although I just had the principal yell at me, or I got kept inside for recess a few times. Once he called my mother, who proceeded to say "So?" when she was informed that I had uttered the word "shit" in reference to some dog shit that was near the schoolyard. Principal Trout was really quiet for a few seconds, who then put me on the phone with my mother, who informed me that the principal was a dumbass, and to just say I was sorry and it'd be fine. Rural public schools own. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2004 Don't worry crusaders of common sense, this issue is causing quite the uproar in the Pittsburgh area. Man, if the Pittsburgh city schools suspended every student for saying "hell" or worse there would be NOBODY attending class... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest tSlater Report post Posted February 5, 2004 My opinion on this: I'd like to see the school board there receive the sock-o treatment. "hell"... wtf *shakes head* Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Danny Dubya v 2.0 Report post Posted February 5, 2004 I condemn you to heaven for being so satandamned well-behaved, tSlater! If hell is a curseword, they should at least ban heaven with it too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
