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My kids were kicked out of Catholic school — after I behaved disrespectfully to the administration and aired my grievances publicly

essentialsaltes

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My kids were kicked out of Catholic school — after being too patriotic

A Southern California mom claims that her 13-year-old son was kicked out of middle school after being “too patriotic” in a speech he planned to deliver to his classmates.

On May 16, middle school student Jimmy Heyward was set to address his peers as part of his campaign for Commissioner of School Spirit and Patriotism at Saint Bonaventure Catholic School, a K-8 institution in Huntington Beach.

[First of all, why is there a 'Commissioner of School Spirit and Patriotism'? Oh, Huntington Beach. Anyway...]

When the school reviewed Jimmy’s speech, as was required of all candidates, he was asked to tone down language like the word “hate” in the context of talking about people who “hate” their country, as well as references to patriotism.

Jimmy’s mother, Hattie Ruggles, told The Post that he toned down the “hate” verbiage as requested, but refused to remove references to patriotism.

The school disagreed [that the problem was resolved]. The principal allegedly barred the boy from speaking, and, on Tuesday, Ruggles received a letter informing her that Jimmy, along with his 5- and 11-year-old sisters, could not return to the school in the fall.

From the letter:

This decision comes as a result of serious violations of the Christian Code of Conduct and the Parent Electronic Communication Policy, as outlined in our Parent Student Handbook and included below.

[The five bullet points all seem to clearly describe things the parents did, rather than the student.]

1718393782782.png


And so.... private school jettisons nightmare parents. Adios!
 

Zaha Torte

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My kids were kicked out of Catholic school — after being too patriotic

A Southern California mom claims that her 13-year-old son was kicked out of middle school after being “too patriotic” in a speech he planned to deliver to his classmates.

On May 16, middle school student Jimmy Heyward was set to address his peers as part of his campaign for Commissioner of School Spirit and Patriotism at Saint Bonaventure Catholic School, a K-8 institution in Huntington Beach.

[First of all, why is there a 'Commissioner of School Spirit and Patriotism'? Oh, Huntington Beach. Anyway...]

When the school reviewed Jimmy’s speech, as was required of all candidates, he was asked to tone down language like the word “hate” in the context of talking about people who “hate” their country, as well as references to patriotism.

Jimmy’s mother, Hattie Ruggles, told The Post that he toned down the “hate” verbiage as requested, but refused to remove references to patriotism.

The school disagreed [that the problem was resolved]. The principal allegedly barred the boy from speaking, and, on Tuesday, Ruggles received a letter informing her that Jimmy, along with his 5- and 11-year-old sisters, could not return to the school in the fall.

From the letter:

This decision comes as a result of serious violations of the Christian Code of Conduct and the Parent Electronic Communication Policy, as outlined in our Parent Student Handbook and included below.

[The five bullet points all seem to clearly describe things the parents did, rather than the student.]

View attachment 350134

And so.... private school jettisons nightmare parents. Adios!
Unless they signed some agreement claiming that they would never do what was listed - I don't see how this was justified.
 
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chevyontheriver

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Unless they signed some agreement claiming that they would never do what was listed - I don't see how this was justified.
If it's in the handbook for school policy the parents and the students are responsible for keeping to the policy.

I'm noticing that this is happening in California, a land where few have a tight grip on reality. So who can tell who is right and wrong in this case. But policy is policy and parents and children are in implicit agreement with that policy if they attend the school.
 
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Zaha Torte

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If it's in the handbook for school policy the parents and the students are responsible for keeping to the policy.

I'm noticing that this is happening in California, a land where few have a tight grip on reality. So who can tell who is right and wrong in this case. But policy is policy and parents and children are in implicit agreement with that policy if they attend the school.
I agree if such a handbook or agreement exists.
 
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chevyontheriver

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I agree if such a handbook or agreement exists.
From the OP: This decision comes as a result of serious violations of the Christian Code of Conduct and the Parent Electronic Communication Policy, as outlined in our Parent Student Handbook and included below.

I'm not picking sides because, well, it happened in California. But the handbook ....
 
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Zaha Torte

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From the OP: This decision comes as a result of serious violations of the Christian Code of Conduct and the Parent Electronic Communication Policy, as outlined in our Parent Student Handbook and included below.

I'm not picking sides because, well, it happened in California. But the handbook ....
There you have it
 
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CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN

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She put it on Facebook on May 16. And told people to share it. Then 3 days ago , they were kicked. And we're only getting her version. If it's anything, that I heard from family member on the right. It's no surprised, that the school wouldn't want such a speech.
 
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RileyG

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If it's in the handbook for school policy the parents and the students are responsible for keeping to the policy.

I'm noticing that this is happening in California, a land where few have a tight grip on reality. So who can tell who is right and wrong in this case. But policy is policy and parents and children are in implicit agreement with that policy if they attend the school.
Sadly very few Catholic schools are authentically Catholic anymore.
 
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chevyontheriver

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Sadly very few Catholic schools are authentically Catholic anymore.
That's why I'm not taking a side on this one.
 
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Nithavela

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If it's in the handbook for school policy the parents and the students are responsible for keeping to the policy.

I'm noticing that this is happening in California, a land where few have a tight grip on reality. So who can tell who is right and wrong in this case. But policy is policy and parents and children are in implicit agreement with that policy if they attend the school.
I agree if such a handbook or agreement exists.

[Off Topic, but.. apparently, parents need to leave their fingerprints? Is that normal for US schools?]
 
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Zaha Torte

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RileyG

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chevyontheriver

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No - but it is a private school. I have never been to one - but they may each have their own standards.
It may be that they need a security check to be a volunteer at the school. I did have a background check done on me (no fingerprints though) before I could serve as a chaperone for a school trip. Catholic institutions act very paranoid now about sexual abuse
 
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Tinker Grey

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It may be that they need a security check to be a volunteer at the school. I did have a background check done on me (no fingerprints though) before I could serve as a chaperone for a school trip. Catholic institutions act very paranoid now about sexual abuse
My spouse's church does background checks on all their workers. No fingerprints, AFAIK.
 
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RocksInMyHead

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Sadly very few Catholic schools are authentically Catholic anymore.
What does that even mean? It's a diocesan school - run by the Diocese of Orange. While I didn't go to St. Bonaventure, I did attend another school in the same diocese (albeit 20+ years ago) and my parents are still members of a church in the diocese.
 
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RocksInMyHead

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It may be that they need a security check to be a volunteer at the school. I did have a background check done on me (no fingerprints though) before I could serve as a chaperone for a school trip. Catholic institutions act very paranoid now about sexual abuse
Yes, the fingerprinting requirement is only for parents wishing to volunteer or chaperone.
 
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RileyG

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What does that even mean? It's a diocesan school - run by the Diocese of Orange. While I didn't go to St. Bonaventure, I did attend another school in the same diocese (albeit 20+ years ago) and my parents are still members of a church in the diocese.
Many schools are no longer faithful to Church teaching.
 
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BCP1928

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Many schools are no longer faithful to Church teaching.
We don't know what the boy's message was, but we are given the words "patriotism" and "hate." On CF, those words generally involve condemning the Left for "hating America" or "hating the Bible." Such slander has no place in a Christian institution.
 
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