This is a prime example of why tort reform is needed for lawsuits against schools both public and private.
Down here in Georgia, like in other parts of the country, parents attempt to have their kids in a better environment by sending them to Christian private schools. Well what happens when some of the kids stop acting like Christians and someone is removed from the school, to try and preserve an environment with high morals? You guessed it, the sinful kid’s father sues the school!
LOGANVILLE — A former Covenant Christian Academy student who was expelled for kissing another girl filed suit Friday against the school.
Jessica Bradley, who now resides in Pennsylvania, was expelled in April 2005 for kissing one Covenant student at an off-campus sleepover and having a relationship with another female student. She and her father, Ron, are suing the school for $1 million, alleging invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress and breach of contract.
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Principal Emmaline McKinnon disciplined Bradley for allegedly violating the school’s code of conduct by having “an inappropriate relationship with another student,†according to the discipline record. Bradley denied that her actions violated school rules.
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David Clark, the Lawrenceville attorney representing the family, criticized the code of conduct for being unclear as to what constitutes inappropriate sexual behavior.
“It’s too vague and it’s unfair to the students because they don’t know what they can do to get themselves expelled,†Clark said
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(source)
HELLO!!! This is a Christian school. If Lesbian activity is not “an inappropriate relationship”, then nothing is.
Now I think ultimately the court will side with the school. But that’s not my point in this post. My point is that lawsuits like this take up a school’s time and money. It is the reason why public schools have become so weak kneed in regards to enforcing many rules. Because they have faced so many lawsuits. Now with more parents opting to use private schools the lawsuit-mania is hitting them too. While the school may win this lawsuit, just the expense involved will probably cause them to make costly changes and scare some other private schools into removing any such rules to avoid a lawsuit. Like with the ACLU’s efforts to rid the world of Christmas, gays and their sympathizers are attempting to rid the world of any moral standard. As DL Foster has chronicled on his blog and I’ve even mentioned at my own, there is an effort under way to have the world revel in sin! And in this case the attack is on an institution that separated it’s self from the public school system for the cause of Christ!
Now I’m sure some gay sympathizers are reading this saying, “oh see his post is not showing love, Jesus would want him to show some love”… Jesus wants me to speak the truth. And the truth is that I refuse to sit idle while workers of iniquity attack the body of Christ! The Jesus in me is not foolish enough to mistake that love also involves rebuke when appropriate. And these kinds of attacks against Christian schools must be swiftly rebuked. If I fail to rebuke it, then my Lord will be sure to rebuke me. As it is written:
Revelation 2:12-16 (New King James Version)
12) “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:
13) “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
14) But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
15) Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
16) Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
Having said all of that, I feel the best protection that schools could have against these costly attacks would be to institute tort reform for cases involving schools of any type. That tort reform should consist of the following:
- Loser pays all court costs.
- Any monetary relief will not exceed $10,000 over and above any money awarded for tuition refunds and other out of pocket expenses.
- All school expulsion cases must go to binding arbitration.
My third item is included because I feel the real source of problems in education is bad parents. If schools have an easier means to remove bad kids (who usually have bad parents), then it will be easier to teach the remaining students who want to learn.
The Independent Conservative takes full responsibility for the content of this post. If you don’t like it, don’t blame La Shawn.
For my fellow Christians that feel I’m being “too harsh”, I wonder if you would say that if this post involved heterosexual immorality? I cover that over at my blog too! As I’ve mentioned before on my own blog, while God views all sin the same, it seems some Christians feel that certain sins should be treated with a softer hand. Sorry, but I’m not one of those Christians.
Update 12/4/2005: I should point out that the case I’ve mentioned here is taking place in GA and is not this other similar case taking place in CA.
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This is a very curious case. It seems pretty obvious that a Christian school should be able to expel a student for such behavior.
A more interesting case is one out of Southern California where a court has ruled that a minor student can sue her principal and public school for revealing her lesbianism to her family. Should government, through the public school system, insert itself into the family in such a way as this?
Now I’m sure some gay sympathizers are reading this saying, “oh see his post is not showing love, Jesus would want him to show some loveâ€â€¦ Jesus wants me to speak the truth. And the truth is that I refuse to sit idle while workers of iniquity attack the body of Christ! The Jesus in me is not foolish enough to mistake that love also involves rebuke when appropriate.
You speak for me, IC.
Hence why so called “Christian” schools should be very strict on who they let in and what they believe. Christian schools should be like a real biblical church…only for believers. What do we expect when you just let any child in not knowing their belief or their families belief (but then this is a problem in most churches also..more worried about numbers of butts in the pews and less worried about if they believe the truth of the Lord or not)…
To quote La Shawn… Another reason to HOME SCHOOL!!!!!
I have to admit, this story conjures up a mental picture that isn’t exactly as stomach turning as any given episode of “will and grace”. But in some ways, that is part of the problem with our culture. Most guys in their right minds regard male homosexuality as the nastiness that it is, but at the same time, view young, attractive lesbians in a whole different light. Although lesbianism is certainly not natural, there is something about liking it that comes naturally for many guys. What they fail to realize, (and often don’t care about) is the fact that this sort of thing is just as much of an abomination as male homosexual activity. Only, I think it’s more dangerous because a lot of guys don’t pay any mind to the fact that they’re being pulled under by something they know is very wrong.
…And my guess is that these girls aren’t even good looking. Lesbians who would be attractive by normal, heterosexual standards are usually nothing more than a mental creation of the perverts who infest Hollywood and don’t exist in real life. Why would any girl good looking enough to have a guy get with a girl anyway?
La Shawn:
The GA lawsuit is just one of many staged to take advantage of the South’s seriousness about Christianity. Does any serious person believe that this Christian school would approve overt lesbian behavior?
Likewise, some child’s mother sued when the teacher told her that “lesbian” is a bad word, when she told another child that she had “2 mommies”, and eplained what a lesbian is. This occured in South Louisiana. Again, these activists tried to use the police power of the State to interfere with personal matters.
These two cases, as well as the sodomy case from Houston, are no doubt “STAGED” – it’s just too obvious.
Likewise, in a recent case from Edmonton AL Canada, 2 leabians planned a wedding at a Knights of Columbus hall when the Knights cancelled their wedding reception. Does any sane person believe that this overtly Catholic orgainzation would approve of their Gay Marriage? Again STAGED. Plani and simple, using the police power of the state over what should be a personal matter.
Why isn’t this girl receiving some Christian council? So if a Christian school find one of the students sinning then they are kicked out? So I am assuming all the other kids in the school are perfect just as Jesus is perfect? Including the teachers and principal right? I’m not condoning what she did, it is a sin. Just like the lie you told yesterday is a sin or the evil thought you thought is a sin or the lustful thought you have is a sin. We all sin that’s why need Jesus Christ. Just because you are a Christian doesn’t mean that you immediately become perfect. That girl could be confused or mislead. She need someone to guide her and pray for her not kick her out and condemn her. Remember the woman Jesus forgave that everyone was ready to throw stones at? The one perfect man that could’ve condemned her, forgave her! Jesus’ grace doesn’t stop when you become a Christian it just begins.
Why isn’t this girl receiving some Christian council? So if a Christian school find one of the students sinning then they are kicked out? So I am assuming all the other kids in the school are perfect just as Jesus is perfect? Including the teachers and principal right? I’m not condoning what she did, it is a sin. Just like the lie you told yesterday is a sin or the evil thought you thought is a sin or the lustful thought you had is a sin. We all sin that’s why need Jesus Christ! You feel compelled to tell the truth huh? How about telling the truth for yourself. Just because you are a Christian doesn’t mean that you immediately become perfect. That girl could be confused or mislead. She need someone to guide her and pray for her not kick her out and condemn her. Remember the woman Jesus forgave that everyone was ready to throw stones at? The one perfect man that could’ve condemned her, forgave her! Jesus’ grace doesn’t stop when you become a Christian it just begins.
Telika – Was the woman at the well conducting her activity in an institution built for the glory of God? Christ response to the money changers was much different.
What you fail to understand is that in the case of the woman at the well she was already getting condemnation and remorseful. The money changers had no remorse for their actions.
In the case of this girl, her and her father have no remorse and still feel they did nothing wrong. She engaged in repeated acts of inappropriate behavior. Behavior she and her father feel is right. They do not want counseling, because they do not feel anything was done wrong.
There is a point where those doing wrong must be removed for the good of the rest. If she was sorry for her actions then some counseling might help. Grace is given to those who repent! Condemnation is for those who refuse to do so. Jessica Bradley and her father have a reprobate mind. They have become heretics to the Gospel, in thinking that sinful activity is approved by God. The child’s removal was appropriate.
One problem with these type of cases is that common sense never seems to prevail. With the defendant being a Christian school, one can be pretty much assured that this will hold true again.
Telika has made the best point. We all fall short. We all sin by word, thought, and deed. Who among us does not have some particular snare where we fall repeatedly? Sin is sin.
To paraphrase IC, while God views all sin the same, some Christians feel that certain sins should be treated with a harsher hand.
My view is a much more secular one, although I do agree with IC’s religious perspective.
This is not a privacy issue at all. Homosexuals play both sides of the fence for political purposes. When they want “privacy” they scream about the government being in their bedrooms. When they want publicity, they hold “coming out” days.
The girl’s parents knew she was openly lesbian and so did the school. So where’s the privacy violation? This lawsuit is an insane misuse of the justice system. This is really just another tactic by gay activists to further intimidate schools into unquestionable catering to gay whims.
My second question is did the school do the same thing to her kissing buddy?
DL, I’m thinking if the other students were not removed it probably was because they did not respond like this particular student. Their parents may have shown some level of remorse. Also, those other girls probably were not promoting the behavior and probably did not have repeat offenses.
What some folks (not you DL) seem to be missing about this case is that Jessica Bradley and her father are defiant, that she did nothing wrong. This is not a case of someone falling into a snare that they have trouble dealing with. They enjoy the snare and feel others should as well.
Based on the information in the article, no behavior was witnessed by adult representative of the school. It appears that the information was first contained in student conversations and followed later by adult questioning.
If the school is really intent on maintaining ABSOLUTE biblical strictures regarding human sexual activity (no homosexuality and no unmarried heterosexual intercourse), first the school laws should explicitly state BOTH of these rules. From there, the school might then institute regular virginity testing for females and lie detector testing for males.
DL, I’m thinking if the other students were not removed it probably was because they did not respond like this particular student. Their parents may have shown some level of remorse. Also, those other girls probably were not promoting the behavior and probably did not have repeat offenses.
C’mon IC, that’s an awful lot of shoulda, woulda, coulda, maybe, if, probablys. It’s more credible to reserve judgement on the other students until you’re in posession of the facts, rather than make up facts to fit your opinion. But then again, that wouldn’t be very entertaining, would it? It’s easy for me to lob stones cuz I don’t have that blank blog page staring at me. That’s entertainment!
I just read the news report and as all news stories go, we only get part of the story. I am curious regarding the “questioning” by the school officials of this girl before she was expelled. At that time did they inform her lesbian relationships were against school policy and did she assert she was a lesbian and openly defy the policy? In other words, was she given a chance to ask for and receive forgiveness? Is she really a lesbian, or just a teen acting out? Don’t get me wrong. I respect the rights of Christian schools to have policies…I think they should have these policies, but I also think it’s right in many cases (not all) to give a second chance if a person is genuinely remorseful. I also believe many of these type incidents are staged (as others have said) to draw publicity and sue (ACLU favorite tactic) I’d just like to know the whole story before judging it.
It’s a private school, they make the rules and they decide how they are enforced. I think that’s all we need to know.
A private institution that the public can’t control. Oh the agony of it all
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You stole my thunder with your last comment IC. That is the bottom line. All the discussion about what is right and wrong, what is Christian and what is not is irrelevent. This institution has the right to enforce their rules as they see fit.
This student and her parents have the right to find a new school, or go back to public school for free.
Other than standing up for the rights of this PRIVATE institution to enforce its rules, this case is not for outsiders to condemn or approve.
(Covenant’s student handbook says any behavior “either on campus or away which indicates that a student has disregard for the spirit of the school standards would be sufficient reason to ask for him/her to withdraw from Covenant Christian Academy.â€
David Clark, the Lawrenceville attorney representing the family, criticized the code of conduct for being unclear as to what constitutes inappropriate sexual behavior.)
Jessica can say she does not understand how her actions show a “disregard for the spirit of the school standards.” And her lawyer can say that “what constitutes inappropriate sexual behavior” is “unclear.” And they have.
They are clearly in the bottom one percent of sentient human beings who can’t figure out what differentiates a Christian academy from your local progressive experimental school for students with aversion to societal norms.
The school acted appropriately in culling Jessica out from the midst of the flock. Perhaps she can reform, atone and petition to return, but that is for another day.
Why is the question of whether or not the school policy was explicit in defining what inappropriate sexual behavior is or is not in question? Such a point is ridiculous, we all know, including those who are not Christians, what is inappropriate and what isn’t in regards to male/female relations. If you say you do not you lie, period.
Our own conscience tells us that.
Lets not play semantics with such ideological, multi-culti, PC foolery. The school doesn’t have to state exactly what inappropriate behavior is beyond the usual premise of heterosexual conduct.
Any such behavior that goes beyond heterosexual bounds is not only automatically deemed inappropriate but should be considered outrageous and immediately condemned. The school was within its rights and did what was right. I applaud them for it.
I have not read all the comments posted so far, so this argument may have already made it’s way to list.
Take the homosexual element out of this argument and it’s STILL inappropriate behavior for school children, regardless of the age. I don’t care of they are exhibiting heterosexual or homosexual behavior, kids should not be allowed to exhibit this behavior in school.
Regarding the inappropriate sexual conduct, wouldn’t any sexual conduct be inappropriate in a high school setting, especially a religious one? It shouldn’t matter whether it is heterosexual or homosexual if it’s sexual behavior it’s inappropriate, period.
You’re right. Sexual conduct between unmarried heterosexual teens, especially those calling themselves Christians, is wrong. But IC is focusing on this particular girl who kissed another girl at this particular school.
Virginity tests?
Really, what do you want the school to do, become its own mini-Taleban?
Don’t get me wrong.
I’m all for upholding standards in schools, even bringing back standards to public schools.
But I think the comment about virginity tests is quite over the top.
Not to be graphic for the sake of being graphic, but unless the girl still has a hymen, (which may not exist if the girl has ever been physically active, or even engaged in a little exercise), there’s no way to test whether someone is a virgin.
And lie detector tests?
That can be gotten around too.
I think the commenter was joking. Maybe.
– Admin
The real irony is that if this was a case of a boy and girl engaging in “PDA” at a private Christian school and they were busted, any case made would be tossed out. (It probably would not even be considered for trial.) And there probably would be no debate here either. Christian schools have always had strict rules in this regard and everyone accepted it.
But since Jessica Bradley and her dad feel “nothing wrong” was done by her kissing with girls, it’s suddenly a million dollar court case. Regardless of if the school wins, this whole mess is a costly expense to confirm the obvious.
As continue bringing up stupid cases brought against schools, over time more people will probably see my point. That our educational system is messed up because of bad parents, that forced schools to discontinue good discipline via legal threats and weak kneed judges.
If this private school loses this case, it would be a major loss for all private schools and any rules they attempt to enforce. In time private schools would lose their ability maintain their own conduct standards. Which would be VERY bad.
While there is the “homosexual” aspect in this particular case, it is just one of many various cases against school discipline.
Sodom and Gomorrah, coming to a school near you!
And you know, once upon a time strict morality rules were the norm in PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Something good that was lost!
How was it lost? Bad parents that decided their “baby” could do no wrong and ran to court.
Are you telling me that “Dad” approves of his daughter’s seemingly sexual misconduct? Are there any laws that protect against frivolous lawsuits in GA?
she is sick and wrong and just doesnt deserve ANY of the money.. she broke the rules.. thats her problem and no one elses.. i personally knew her and i rlly didnt like her.. so shes getting what she deserves.. our school just doesnt have that kindof money to give to some broke lesbian! End of discussion.
Ok. If this act did NOT happen on school property, which seems to be the case, what’s the problem? Is the school also going to keep tabs on heterosexual relationships outside of the school- such as kids having sex before they are marrried?
On the other hand, I believe private schools have the right to allow or not allow which students attend their school.
Robert F – Yea it seems her dad is A-OK with it. To the point of suing a school that disagrees. We do have new laws on the books regarding medical lawsuits, but nothing I know of for frivolous non-medical cases like this.
AirborneVet – The school’s rules include conduct outside of school. Her father agreed to those rules when he enrolled her. The Christian walk does not end at the end of the school day. Her and her father embrace a view of the faith that is counter to that of the school’s and most other Christians. So it’s best that she was asked to leave. 2 can’t walk together in disagreement.
Those damn lawyers are everywhere are,nt they? we need to end these frivlous lawsuits
The real irony is that if this was a case of a boy and girl engaging in “PDA†at a private Christian school and they were busted, any case made would be tossed out. (It probably would not even be considered for trial.) – IC
That’s an excellent point, IC. I wonder how many heteros the school has tossed out for pre-marital sexual conduct.
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