An incident involving a Logan County Middle School eighth-grader, his suspension and arrest has sparked nationwide interest and controversy. The teenager wore a T-shirt depicting an AR-15 rifle, the NRA logo and the slogan “Protect your right.” A school staff member asked him to change the shirt. His refusal and subsequent events ended with his suspension and arrest.
The Logan County Board of Education has secured the services of an independent investigator to look into the circumstances surrounding the suspension. The investigator has completed interviews related to the situation and his report is expected soon.
Wilma Zigmond, superintendent of Logan County Schools, said the unusual step was taken because the Logan County Board of Education wanted to ensure a complete, objective evaluation of the situation was conducted. No school board members were involved in the initial decision to suspend the student, Zigmond noted, and they became aware of the situation only after the case received significant publicity because the student and family members talked to the media.
Although student privacy policies prohibit Zigmond from directly commenting on a specific case, she addressed general policies and resulting actions.
“Logan County school policies do prohibit certain kinds of attire, including shirts that promote drug-, alcohol-, or tobacco-related products that are prohibited in school buildings,” Zigmond said. “Students also are told they ‘will not ignore or refuse to comply with directions or instructions given by school authorities,’ in accordance with school policy.”
Contrary to some reports, Zigmond added, shirts that depict guns or promote the National Rifle Association are not expressly forbidden by school policy. In fact, on a recent Monday several students wore shirts promoting the NRA without any incident whatsoever.
“What students are not permitted to do, however, is disrupt the educational process,” she said. “That policy is in place to benefit everyone and ensure an appropriate learning environment for all Logan County students. I can say unequivocally that no student in our county has ever been suspended for wearing a t-shirt that promotes the NRA.”
Phyllis Adkins, president of the Logan County Board of Education, stressed that school board members support both the First Amendment and the Second Amendment.
“Our members understand the sensitivity surrounding this issue, but it should be made clear that board members have not taken any action regarding a student suspension,” Adkins said. “We are interested in ensuring that we have all the facts, however, which is why we hired an outside investigator. After receiving that report, we will determine whether board action is warranted. Our primary object is – and always has been – to ensure that our students receive the best education possible and that our staff members have a safe and respectful environment in which to work.”
Jack, before I reply…please take your medication!
The 2nd Amendment was created to protect the citizenry of colonial times from the despots of England. Our forefathers knew full well that the day would come the federal government would try to usurp power from the people. They had the prescience of forethought to realize somebody like Obama would arise. Unfortunately for many people such as you, it will be too late before we are sunk!
Jack, please read something other than the Huffington Post! I recommend the Drudge Report. It has links to the Huffington Post on occasion, but Matt Drudge tries to expose people to the truth.
If I might digress from this topic just for a moment: Jack…do you realize that Obama and his administration have blood on their hands? They cowardly let an ambassador and his colleagues die at the hand of terrorists. I will kindly give you and others like you a link to ABC news which FINALLY discusses the issue:
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/05/exclusive-benghazi-talking-points-underwent-12-revisions-scrubbed-of-terror-references/ . Did it ever occur to you why the message sent to the American public was scrubbed of all details of anything to do with terrorists groups? The reason was because Obama was in the middle of a campaign and did not want to sully his image. The truth of the matter is Obama is inept! He is the most incompetent president in history. I posit if Obama had the guts to release his grade transcripts (which he is a coward and won’t do), you would find mediocre grades! Everything that bung hole has was gotten by affirmative action! (By the way Logan Banner, “bung hole” is a legitimate word which means a hole in a barrel though which a fluid is pored.) I don’t think some of my posts are being printed. One would think everything I say would be in print because I am the only one who writes anything or has an opinion! However, I do respect the Logan Banner’s right to not print anything they feel might offend people.
OK…Jack, sorry for the digression! The Supreme Court understands the 2nd Amendment to mean ordinary people DO have the right to bear arms (The Supreme Court sees it as I do). What happened with the children getting killed was a tragedy; but the democrats need to stop trying to use it for political talking points. Did you know that each day many people are killed by weapons other than guns? Where do we stop? Will you also ban pocket knives? Of course not! People are responsible for their own actions! I will stop at this point. I hope and pray that someday you will see the light. Where your head is right at this moment there is only darkness!
Personally, I feel the teacher and all those associated with this need to take some kind of sensitivity training that opens their eyes to what the 2nd Amendment is about and why we need it today more than ever. Ron Gregory and people like him need to open their eyes to why these sacred documents were created, and why the NRA is protecting the 2nd Amendment from the grasp of Obama. To make this clear, Obama made the tragedy with the school kids getting killed a political talking point. I think the liberals are desperate and will use any means available to pass their agenda.
Obama was in Mexico saying that American guns were killing Mexicans…oops…he also forgot to mention his administration sold high powered guns to the Mexican Drug Cartel. Why? To be used against Americans so that his gun agenda would go through! The president is lower than scum on a rock at the bottom of a river! I have found over the years, there is no depth to how low Obama will go, or how low he will bow to get his leftist agenda through.
The Conservative/Republican Party and the NRA are lower than Whale $h!t at the bottom of the Ocean, the above Party and Association will go to no depth to bow down to their Right-Wing fringe.