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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina faculty district stated a ninth grader strolling in a hallway was stopped throughout a second of silence and never the Pledge of Allegiance, as the scholar had stated in a lawsuit filed final month.
Marissa Barnwell stated she was pushed in opposition to the wall by a instructor at River Bluff Excessive Faculty when she didn’t cease to recite the pledge as she walked to class in November, in keeping with her household’s lawsuit.
You are reading: District responds to student’s Pledge of Allegiance lawsuit
A lawyer for Lexington Faculty District 1 stated movies from the hallway reveals the instructor touched Barnwell’s shoulder to get her consideration however didn’t push her.
It additionally reveals the confrontation didn’t happen till after the top of the Pledge of Allegiance — which state legislation says college students can refuse to recite if they don’t seem to be disruptive — and the beginning of a second of silence.
Barnwell was not silent, arguing with the instructor till she walked away, the district stated.
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“There could be no prohibition on the varsity requiring college students to cease doing no matter they’re doing, together with strolling down the corridor, and to stay silent in the course of the second of silence,” faculty district legal professional David Lyon wrote.
Barnwell informed reporters this month she was humiliated and feared she was in hassle.
“I used to be utterly and completely disrespected,” the 15-year-old stated. “Nobody has apologized, nobody has acknowledged my harm.“
The district stated whereas the principal did focus on the incident along with her, a full investigation decided neither she nor the instructor ought to face self-discipline.
The district stated it reviewed all footage from the hallway and never simply the clip launched by the scholar’s mother and father. The household’s legal professional and fogeys have been additionally proven all movies.
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Police additionally did their very own investigation and didn’t file fees.
Together with the instructor, the teenager’s household is suing the principal, faculty district and state training officers, saying they violated the scholar’s civil rights and her First Modification rights to each free speech or to not communicate in any respect.
In a press release, Lexington Faculty District 1 stated each its staff and Barnwell are getting “extraordinarily hateful communication.”
“District leaders strongly condemn this inappropriate conduct. We take care of all of our college students and staff and remorse that these concerned on this scenario have been the goal of merciless messages,” district officers wrote.
