A Catholic high school student is appealing a suspension he received after distributing a Valentine’s Day letter to classmates that praised women’s inner beauty.
“Real attractiveness comes from having a certain dignity,” wrote Paul Gomille, a 17-year-old student at Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School.
Initially, Principal Donna Modeste was on board with his idea, said Gomille, who wanted to deliver his message as a speech.
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But later, Modeste suggested some revisions to the address, in particular sentences where Gomille is “judgmental” and describes his audience as “the ones that don’t talk about people behind their backs, the ones that guys don’t flock to in droves, the ones that don’t dress in revealing clothing.”
Gomille didn’t comply with Modeste and ultimately decided to make 136 copies of his speech — the approximate number of students who sit in the cafeteria — and distribute them on Feb. 14, during lunch.
Hours later, he was summoned to the principal’s office and handed a two-day suspension for his “opposition to authority.” Gomille served his at-home suspension on Feb 15 and 16.
What was the offending passage?
The people this message concerns are the young women of this school, and of the world. In particular, it concerns the silent ones, the intelligent ones, the ones that don’t talk about people behind their backs, the ones that guys don’t flock to in droves, the ones that don’t dress in revealing clothing, the ones who would love to be in love, and the ones that are continually disappointed in their appearance because the only thing they have to compare themselves to are the women that have been put on pedestals by our society. This message also concerns those of you who may consider yourselves the so called “opposite” to the demographic I just described. The ones who do dress in revealing clothing, and the ones who try to fit in with the crowd.
Maybe there was an issue with compliance with authority.
Still, wouldn't detention have been enough? Writing an essay about why school authority should be respected?
A two-day suspension.... for this?
Oh yeah, nobody talks behind people's back in high school....
H/T: Concerned for Life
