On Wednesday, Leon County high school principals sent out emails to parents and students addressing the consequences of demonstrations addressing the national controversy over ICE enforcement of federal immigration laws.
The email (shown below) recognized the students’ constitutional rights to free speech but noted that “district’s primary responsibility is to maintain safe, orderly schools and to protect uninterrupted teaching and learning for all students. Actions that disrupt the instructional day, interfere with school operations, or compromise campus safety are not permitted and will be addressed in accordance with the Leon County Schools Code of Student Conduct and School Board policy.”
The email concluded, “Disciplinary consequences will be applied when behavior infringes upon the learning environment or the rights of others.”
The email comes after reports on Tuesday indicated that The Florida Department of Education sent a letter to school districts saying: “Florida’s public schools must remain focused on teaching, learning and student safety. Therefore, we encourage you to have conversations with your students about the importance of not allowing civic engagement to detract from time in the classroom.”
In addition, Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas said on the social media platform X, “We will not tolerate educators encouraging school protests and pushing their political views onto students, especially ones that disparage law enforcement.”
TR has been made aware of ICE demonstration being organized by students at Leon High School and planned for February 13th.
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Dear High School Parents and Students,
Leon County Schools recognizes students’ constitutional rights to free speech as defined by School Board policy and applicable law. However, the district’s primary responsibility is to maintain safe, orderly schools and to protect uninterrupted teaching and learning for all students. Actions that disrupt the instructional day, interfere with school operations, or compromise campus safety are not permitted and will be addressed in accordance with the Leon County Schools Code of Student Conduct and School Board policy. Disciplinary consequences will be applied when behavior infringes upon the learning environment or the rights of others. Leon County Schools will continue to enforce expectations that ensure schools remain focused on safety, order, and academic purpose. Interruptions to the daily school routine will not be accepted.
Leon County Schools
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@ Donna: “We will not tolerate educators encouraging school protests and pushing their political views onto students, especially ones that disparage law enforcement.”
That’s it in a nutshell. Most of these students do not possess the understanding of the issue. They are brainwashed by lunatic zealot teachers, the biassed media, social media misinformation trolls, etc.
The LCS system has NO BUISNESS supporting these walk-out/protests in any way, either during OR after school. Schools should NOT encourage students to protest anything. Your job is to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic, etc. They are NOT political ideological indoctrination systems.
If you “walk-out” of the classroom to protest some political position you’ve been manipulated into believing, you should be punished according to school attendance protocols… full stop.
Your job is to teach students how to read and write, not how to radicalize and hate.
They should allow an organized protest for after school hours. The school should encourage students to demonstrate their 1st amendment rights. I am glad to see they want to stand up for what they believe is an atrocity to human life’s. I am sure if they feel that strongly they may not care about the punishment.