By Trend News Line 2024-06-05 05:27:03.
**Families Sue Tennessee Governor and School District Over Middle School Arrests**
In a shocking turn of events, two families have filed a federal lawsuit against Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and the Williamson County School District. The families claim that their middle school children were arrested, strip-searched, placed in solitary confinement, forced to undergo evaluations, and placed on house arrest after officials misinterpreted a Tennessee statute.
**Misinterpretation of Tennessee Statute Leads to Harsh Actions**
The lawsuit stems from two separate incidents in August 2023 where two middle school students were accused of making threatening speech. However, according to the lawsuit, the speech used by the students did not actually constitute a threat of mass violence as defined in Tennessee statute 39-16-517. This law, passed in 2021, requires districts to expel students for one year if they are found to have made threats of mass violence on school property.
**Incident involving 14-Year-Old B.N.**
In one incident, a 14-year-old boy, identified as B.N., was accused by a fellow student of making threats involving guns and bombs. B.N. denied these claims, stating that he had only relayed a conversation he had with another student about firearms. Despite this, B.N. was taken into custody, placed in solitary confinement, and later placed under house arrest. He also faced a 365-day suspension under the zero tolerance rules.
**Incident involving 13-Year-Old H.M.**
In another incident, a 13-year-old student at Fairview Middle School, identified as H.M., was arrested after a text she sent in a school email group chat was deemed a “Threat of Mass Violence.” The text, which was intended as a joke, sparked a chain of events that led to H.M. being strip-searched, placed in a cell, and questioned about personal matters. She was also suspended from school and ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation.
**Legal Challenge to Zero Tolerance Policy**
The families’ attorney, Larry Crain, has stated that the new Tennessee zero tolerance law is being used inappropriately against children engaging in innocuous conduct typical of teenagers. The lawsuit aims to declare the law unconstitutional as applied to these cases and seeks compensatory damages against the school district for violating its own policies.
**Criticism of Zero Tolerance Policies**
Everytown for Gun Safety released a report in 2022 calling for meaningful action against gun violence in schools. The report highlights the negative effects of zero tolerance policies, stating that they can create a threatening climate and disproportionately harm students of color. The report advocates for a more compassionate and intervention-based approach to school discipline.
**Conclusion**
The families involved in the lawsuit are seeking justice for their children and challenging the harsh actions taken by school officials under the zero tolerance policy. The case highlights the need for a more nuanced and compassionate approach to addressing threats of violence in schools, rather than resorting to punitive measures that can harm innocent students. The outcome of this lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for how schools handle similar situations in the future..
“Parents sue governor and school district in Tennessee over child punishment”
“Parents in Tennessee file lawsuit against school officials and governor for misinterpreting state law”.