Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (ABC Local 24) The Cordova High School principal placed on administrative leave after a controversial video is now suing Shelby County Schools, accusing the district of violating his First Amendment and contractual rights. $(document).ready(function () { After complaints about the video, the district said they were working with staff to address controversial subjects through the office of Equity and Access. You think about McCarthyism,' he said. He worked within the Shelby County School system for a little over 19 years this approaching fall would mark his 20th year. Daniel Suhr, managing attorney at Liberty Justice Center appeared on C-SPAN's Washington Journal to discuss the vaccine mandate challenges being heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 7. The audio of Thornes remarks, which lasts a little more than nine minutes long, was obtained by WREG-TV. Like her students, she switched from room to room during the day. Almost 36 acres off of Raleigh LaGrange Road, near Shelby Farms Parks, is the site where the first Memphis Shelby County School system's first high school in a decade would be built. As much as Brown loved learning when she was a student, teaching was her second career choice. How to Login and Use Google Classroom. Im taking action because I meant what I said: Free speech is critically important and is under threat. This is a disgrace. Click the following link to access over 50 free, educational resourcesfor e-Learning for grades K-12. Former Arizona State Student Appeals Conviction for Distributing Constitution Copies Liberty Justice Center filed an appeal on behalf of a former Arizona State University student who was convicted of trespassing when he handed To schedule an interview, contact Chloe Edwards at. Three Loudoun County parents say the school districts student ambassador program, meant to combat systemic racism, discriminates against students based on their race and viewpoints. Thorne v. Shelby County Board of Education, Newsmax: Daniel Suhr and former ASU student Tim Tizon discuss appeal of unlawful conviction, Former ASU Student Appeals Conviction for Distributing Constitution- Newsmax, New Lawsuit: Albuquerque vote to give taxpayer funds to Planned Parenthood violates New Mexico Constitution, Virginias Discriminatory Ambassador Program Courthouse News Service. var encodedEmail = swrot13('orneqw1@fpfx12.bet'); "I don't know of too many people that are going to be okay with what happened. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [emailprotected]. The comments come at a time when SCS is working to help staff realize theres a right way and wrong way to address political beliefs and ideas. Lindsay Kristin Anderson, 41, of Apex, was stopped by a trooper with the N.C. State Highway Patrol on Friday, according to Raleigh/Wake City-County Bureau of Identification. Michael Lowe, with the districts Office of Equity and Access, said sometimes people need to temper back their comments in emotionally charged situations. I know that is not a lot, but I also know that not everyone is comfortable with saying something, wrote Thorne. They dont care that this is how Detroit ended up in the sewer and he is taking them down that path as fast as you can say See My Fried Chicken?? He warned students that these days, anyones voice can be canceled for any reason at any time by a small group of people and school administrators have proved him right.. WebPrincipal Barton Thorne was suspended in mid-January by administrators for Shelby County Schools, the school district that governs Cordova High School. I dont care what side you agree with, we dont practice sedition, we dont attack our legislature., Free speech was being threatened, he alleged, by the actions of privately held social media and tech companies such as regulating users and applications being made without oversight of a publicly elected body. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. Thorne compared regulation by the companies to McCarthyism, a term coined for U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy, who in the 1950s sought to expose allegedcommunist ties within the U.S. government. The district confirms Cordova High Principal Barton Thorne is on paid leave while his comments are under review. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A Shelby County School principal is suing the district after his suspension last month. Attorneys first sent a letter to the Superintendent, Director of Professional Standards and General Counsel, but there was no explanation for the continued leave or any movement to reinstate Principal Thorne. The principal at Cordova High School has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the review of the comments that were made, district spokeswoman Jerrica Phillips told the news station. More photos of the school's athletes and band members are scattered in the main areas of the school. He warned students that these days, anyones voice can be canceled for any reason at any time by a small group of people and school administrators have proved him right, said Daniel Suhr, senior attorney at the Liberty Justice Center. }); Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. The cancel culture taking foot in America has now reached our schools, and I will not stand for it.. Amazon Web Services, which hosted Parler, made a similar statement when it announced it would suspend its services to the app, which had also been removed for downloads by Apple and Google. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Prior to the incident, Thorne had been the principal at Cordova High School for well over three years. Cordova High School Principal Barton Thorne was placed on administrative leave by the district in January after expressing concern to students over the way unregulated tech and social media companies have the power to control conversations and shut down discussions online. The Commercial Appeal reviewed a recording of the speech posted online, where Thorne is sitting in what appears to be an office space wearing a shirt with the high school's name and logo. 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Memphis-Shelby County Schools offers educational and employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, creed, age, disability, national origin, or genetic information. District officials have refused to answer questions from Thorne or his attorneys about when he will be allowed to return to school, or why he is being punished for speaking about the First Amendment. InThorne v. Shelby County Board of Education, Liberty Justice Center is representing a Memphis-area high school principal suing his school district after he was placed on administrative leave for speaking with his students about the importance of free speech. Virginia parents argue school ambassador program is discriminatory. var encodedEmail = swrot13('perafunjpe@fpfx12.bet'); Someone from Shelby County that believes in freedom not free stuff. In a nine-minute speech Monday, Cordova High School Principal Barton Thorne spoke to the school about free speech. Companies that suspended the president and the social media app did so in the days after deadly riots at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Im taking action because I meant what I said: Free speech is critically important and is under threat, Thorne said in a statement. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Memphis-Shelby County Schools offers educational and employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, creed, age, disability, national origin, or genetic information. 3.Exhibits A-III-I through Exhibits A-III-VIII Funding and Expenditure Report for Accountability by Program. My second year, I got a classroom, and I got to know the kids a lot better. $('span#sw-emailmask-2915').replaceWith(''); They claim district officials have refused to answer questions about when he will be allowed to return to school, or why he is being punished. The companies deny anypolitically motivated censorship. In recent days, Twitter suspended 70,000 users that had shared information from QAnon, an extreme conspiracy theorist group whose theories have been increasingly mainstream and now have representation in Congress. Parent Survey: Please take our parent survey by clicking, In accordance with the education accountability law, Code of Alabama, Section 16-6B-7, the Walker County Board of Education provides the following information via its website (. "Math was my favorite, but I'm glad now that I didn't teach it. In his remarks, Principal Thorne expressed concern about the ways social media companies are shutting down debate on critical issues of the day and encouraged students to talk with their parents or teachers about the ramifications of these actions on the First Amendment and free speech. Email: You will now get into hot water for telling kids about free speech. We are so proud of them. They also helped beautify our campus by cleaning up around the perimeter. Virginia parents argue school ambassador program is discriminatory. Shelby County Schools placed Thorne on paid administrative leave the day after his video was circulated. Some resources included were from PBS, Southern Poverty Law Center, and the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE). I don't care what side you agree with, we don't practice sedition, we don't attack our legislature.". Now, Thornes attorneys have filed a federal lawsuit against the district for violating his First Amendment and contractual rights for placing him on administrative leave for discussing current events and free speech with students. A high school principal has been relieved of his duties at least temporarily after he criticized social media censorship to students this week. Thorne warned that oppressive countries like China and North Korea restrict and eliminate the free exchange of ideas, thereby controlling their citizens. All Rights Reserved. She has also looked for ways to let the school's lunchroom staff and custodians know they are appreciated, whether by bringing them sweets or asking their opinion on a matter. Prior to the incident, Thorne had been the principal at Cordova High School for well over three years. They also didnt confirm or deny withThe Starthe involvement of the Office of Equity and Access in the investigation. Vivian Jones is a contributor to The Center Square. Principal Thorne was suspended from his job for preaching the virtues of free speech and tolerance, Liberty Justice Center attorney Daniel Suhr said. The strength of the wolf is the pack. $('span#sw-emailmask-2737').replaceWith(''); At some point, anytime that we allow a group of people to tell another group of people, You cant think this, you cant say this, you cant write this, and you cant go to places where it is talked about, then thats just one step away from now that happening to you, asserted Thorne. In his comments to the school Monday, Thorne told students that a marketplace of free exchange of ideas was at stake, and that students should be concerned that there is not elected accountability for the social media and tech platforms and only financial power from users. Almost 36 acres off of Raleigh LaGrange Road, near Shelby Farms Parks, is the site where the first Memphis Shelby County School system's first high school in a decade would be built. Carbon Hill Elementary and Junior High School, Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). Over the last month, attorneys from the Liberty Justice Center have reached out to school officials numerous times to rectify the situation with no success. Biden Administration Releasing Hundreds of Illegal Aliens into American Towns, Untested for Coronavirus, TechLife: CEO of SalesNexus Craig Klein Offers 50 Percent Off to New Customers Looking to Escape Salesforce CRM Censorship. Brown took the group to local housing complexes as well as more rural parts of the community where internet service is not available, which gave the teachers a new perspective on how students would have to struggle to complete assignments that require internet research. Brown was hired as a science teacher at Cordova in 2002 and served as assistant principal for several years before being named principal this summer. This man should be commended not persecuted!!! Cordova High School Principal Barton Thorne was placed on administrative leave by the district in January after expressing concern to students over the way unregulated tech and social media companies have the power to control conversations and shut down discussions online. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Home; About Us" Administrators; Family & Community Engagement Assistant Principal, 10th Grade. What happens when you do not have dissenting opinions, when you do not have an exchange of competing ideas? Unless there is input from more traditional groups as well in developing what children are taught, then we have indoctrination and an intentional suppression of ideas. I dont know of too many people that are going to be okay with what happened. WebPrincipal Barton Thorne was suspended in mid-January by administrators for Shelby County Schools, the school district that governs Cordova High School. A Shelby County Schools principal is under fire after remarks he made about social media days after social accounts for President Donald Trump were suspended. var encodedEmail = swrot13('wreqraq1@fpfx12.bet'); }); Email: Almost 36 acres off of Raleigh LaGrange Road, near Shelby Farms Parks, is the site where the first Memphis Shelby County School system's first high school in a decade would be built. C.School Safety & Discipline A copy of the most recent Student Incident Report, which was submitted to the ALSDE in June 2020, is provided. These individuals must be neutralized, especially in the field of education. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Corinne Murdock is a reporter atThe Tennessee Starand the Star NewsNetwork. He warned students that these days, anyones voice can be canceled for any reason at any time by a small group of people and school administrators have proved him right, said Daniel Suhr, senior attorney at the Liberty Justice Center, the release. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. Thorne also drew broad comparisons to 1990s federal standoffs in Ruby Ridge, Idaho and in Waco, Texas among the Branch Davidians andDavid Koresh. "That was ignorance at the highest level," he said in the nine-minute speech. She also showed them places where the kids gather for fun, such as the neighborhood where trick-or-treaters from all over the city descend each Halloween and go door-to-door, and provided popsicles for them to give away to children they met on the field trip. InThorne v. Shelby County Board of Education, Liberty Justice Center is representing a Memphis-area high school principal suing his school district after he was placed on administrative leave for speaking with his students about the importance of free speech. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A Shelby County School principal is suing the district after his suspension last month. Anyone opposing this sharing of ideas, is the problem. An equity officer for the school also gave an interview to the news about Thorne. The district confirms Cordova High Principal Barton Thorne is on paid leave while his comments are under review. Two detained, then released, after loudly confront Tennessee Gov. Its a sad day for Shelby County Schools (and all of the U.S. for that matter) when a school principal cant speak out in favor of freedom of speech without being accused of being political. While Throne was critical of the riots at the Capitol, he objected to actions taken by several social media platforms. The tour was meant to give them an understanding of what life outside of school is like for their students in a community where more than a third of residents live in poverty. The principal of Cordova High School in Memphis, Tennessee, is suing his school district and its superintendent for suspending him after he taught students about big tech censorship in the wake of the January 6 riot on Capitol Hill. I try very hard not to trespass into political or religious issues in my official capacity, and that was not my intention this morning. Congratulations,DECA students and teachers! Contributor to the Center Square mid-January by Administrators for Shelby County School principal has been relieved of duties. Had been the principal at Cordova High principal Barton Thorne is on paid leave while his are! In mid-January by Administrators for Shelby County School system for a little more than nine minutes long, was by... 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