Son punished for talking to mother

A boy was suspended for 10 days when he refused to end a cell phone conversation with his mother who is serving in Iraq. What a way to support the troops and their family members...

COLUMBUS, Georgia (AP) -- A high school student was suspended for 10 days for refusing to end a cell phone call with his mother, a soldier serving in Iraq, school officials said.

The 10-day suspension was issued because Kevin Francois was "defiant and disorderly" and was imposed in lieu of an arrest, Spencer High School assistant principal Alfred Parham said.

The confrontation Wednesday began after the 17-year-old junior got a call at lunchtime from his mother, Sgt. 1st Class Monique Bates, who left in January for a one-year tour with the 203rd Forward Support Battalion.

Cell phones are allowed on campus but may not be used during school hours. When a teacher told him to hang up, he refused. He said he told the teacher, "This is my mom in Iraq. I'm not about to hang up on my mom." Rest of the story

Sad.

Kitty at Progressive Society Blog has done something proactive about this injustice. Thanks, Kitty!

Update: John C. A. Bambenek has posted an update to this story. Kevin's punishment was reduced from 10 days to 3 days of suspension after public outcry forced the administration to reconsider their decision. Go, team!