There is nothing more passionate to a parent then their children. This passion has led to a TREMENDOUS debate within my son's school district. In my last post I explained about a controversy that has been on the desk of school officials, administrators and educators at the high school in my district. It has led to many many arguments. I just want to share with you a discussion thread from a local television station that has covered the controversy. A cookie to whomever can guess which discussion poster I am. And I ask you, what's your take on this?
Regarding: The South Glens Falls High School assistant principal who is disciplining students for wearing provocative bracelets is at the heart of a controversy surrounding some provocative photos.
William J OBrien
Watervliet, NY
Please!!!!!They are wax figures. Don't we have better things to do with our time than second guess people...Especially when their conduct is not in violation of the law.
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Jango Davis
The school was right to suspend that little punk. He could care less about the disease, he just wanted to say "boobies" in a school setting and justify it. My sister is struggling with the disease and I don't need some little zitface creep cheapening the fight, nor an ignorant mother who has no idea of what is appropriate in a public school setting and what isn't.
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SGF Parent
Greenwich, NY
Has anyone determined, including the Post Star or WNYT, if these photos were directly posted on Mr. Lis's facebook page, OR were they posted on his friend's page whom then tagged him in the photos? I don't think it's right to possibly condemn him for something he might not have done? Where did you acquire the photos from?
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jeffrito alliendo
Albany, NY
am i the only one who gets it that facebook is just a tool of social control and marketing
NEVER post anything real on there!
Our forefathers fought for PRIVACY for a very good reason. Keep your life to yourself dummies
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SGF Parent
Greenwich, NY
Kyle Lis is an outstanding administrator, and a MUCH needed backbone for the discipline of South High. It's amazing that the first thing a parent does when their child gets into trouble is blame the school! It seems like this all stems from a few parents who are angry because their kids got in trouble for wearing an article of clothing, these bracelets, that are against the school's dress code. Have you read the school's dress code? It doesn't ask for much. I think the first thing these parents should have done when their kids got in trouble was to DISCIPLINE your kids. Stop making the school districts RAISE your children! Why should your child's school be the first place they learn how to speak without swearing, be respectful to other people and adults, and dress appropriately???
I am in no way condoning the fact that Kyle had his Facebook open so that everyone could see it. That was a misjudgment on his part. The page has been taken down though. I would hope these parents are policing their own kids social networking pages as much as they are cyber stalking the school administration. I know for a fact that one of the parents, if you link to her own kids pages they have pages where they are a fan of drinking games (her daughter who is UNDERAGE), and the F-Bomb is clearly abundant.
"Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone"
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Truth
Mechanicville, NY
People, look at the facts and you’ll see the truth. I have the distinct ‘pleasure’ of being a neighbor to these people in addition to having a child in the school with him. I’d like to fill in some of the blanks.
He WASN’T disciplined for the bracelet. He was disciplined for swearing at the teacher after he was asked to turn it inside out.
For those that see him as a rebel for standing up against authority, ask yourself why we pay high school taxes? Is it so teachers and administrators can deal with disruptions in class like this or should they be free to focus on the education process. I want my child to have as much time allocated to his/her education as possible, rather than time spent on distractions like this.
Speakijng of which, if the mother was soo concerned about her son’s education, why would she even allow the possibility of such a distration? It’s called parenting. She is only disseminating this sense of entitlement on her children.
If he was such a social do-gooder, why wouldn’t he have bought a bracelet that supported NOT FOR PROFIT Breast Cancer research, such as the Susan G. Colman foundation rather than one that simply raises ‘awareness’? Why? Because it didn’t say “Boobies”.
Now we find the same mother exploiting every angle to get some vindication from the school and their administration. I chose to enroll my children in this particular district because the awards and accolldes for their staff have received for years. Look at this from my point of view, now my children have to deal with this unruley, undisciplined and disrespectful child. Thanks for taking away from my children’s education!
Take a step back and think about what this is teaching her children. What a Mom!
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SLANDER LAWSUIT
Mechanicville, NY
Dear the "TRUTH:"
I do not even know where to begin. First, let me say that EVERYTHING you say is a outright lie!
1. My son was disciplined for wearing the bracelet. I have the referral! He did not swear, he was not rude or disrespectful. If he had been then there would have been swift ramifications and he knows this. Should you continue to publicly make such allegations you too should be prepared for the ramifications!
2. We had NOTHING to do with this situation with Mr. Lis. While he did exhibit inappropriate judgement it is a matter for the school. We had no part of the face book account or publicizing these pictures!
3. Keep a breast is a NOT FOR PROFIT 501 company with MANY international awards! Do your homework! The Keep A Breast Foundation™ is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. "Our mission is to help eradicate breast cancer by exposing young people to methods of prevention, early detection and support. Through art events, educational programs and fundraising efforts, we seek to increase breast cancer awareness among young people so they are better equipped to make choices and develop habits that will benefit their long-term health and well-being."
My son chooses to wear this bracelet because people ask him about it and he has the opportunity to explain what it means and what it stands for! He is passionate about this and I support that!
Get your facts straight and please by all means let me know who you are and I will be happy to serve you with the slander suit personally!
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Dawn
Queensbury, NY
South Glens Falls Has/Had the Highest drop out level and I can give you some stories but I wont be mean... and If the time comes I will state what Mr. Lis said to my daughter a previous student!!!!! Mr. Lis is not a professional person!!!!!!
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SGFMOM
Schuylerville, NY
They were posted on Kyle's page and NOT tagged like you said. He had a lot of pictures in his "Vegas 2010" album. Was he tagged in all of them too? NO. I went to the page and saw for myself. When you are tagged in pictures that are posted by someone else, they don't go into an album with a specific name they go into your general pictures. They would have also said "Your name here was tagged in a photo" and they would have been shown individually on his wall. This was not the case. The point of this whole thing is, the student wanted to support Breast Cancer, offered to turn the bracelet inside out so the wording could not be seen. This was in honor of a relative who has/had breast cancer. As for the young man not wanting to do this for breast cancer, you need to get your minds out of the gutter and realize that not everyone is like you in that respect. My children went to this school and I know how the administration works. Do as I say not as I do is not a lesson to be taught to our young people. Mr. Lis was wrong, do I think he should lose his job? Maybe a few days off without pay would work. This school district has a lot of issues right now, part of the bullying in this district is done by the facility and administration as well as some of the students. Mr. Mulholland did gather the facts correctly. Maybe you need to check your facts before you listen to what you have been told and not seen for yourself.
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SGF Parent
Greenwich, NYSGFMOM wrote:
My children weren't angels and I know that. The administration does not have the right to stop a child's freedom of speech. Remember learning that in school?
The only right your child has in school is the right to a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment: the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (504 Plan).
Student's do NOT have the right to freedom of speech in school...see Morse v. Frederick, 551 U.S. 393 (2007) which states that students do NOT have freedom of speech where it undermines schools' educational missions. The US Supreme Court has said public school officials can't censor you or your children UNLESS officials have a "reasonable expectation" that your expression will cause a material and substantial disruption of school activities. Disrupting class, well that's practically the definition. NYS Dept of Education has defined it's laws and regulations regarding codes of conduct on school property and clearly states every school district shall adopt and amend, as appropriate, a code of conduct for the maintenance of order on school property, including provisions regarding conduct, dress and language deemed appropriate and acceptable on school property. The bracelet was against the school dress code-thereby going against the school's code of conduct, simple as that. I am in no way stating that the student was attempting to incite a riot, but he wasn't organizing a political rally either.
Secondly-if the student who wore the bracelet were that active in breast cancer research-what else has he done BESIDE wear the bracelet? Has he participated in any Susan D Komen events? Has he walked in the Avon Walk for the Cure? Has he encouraged his fellow students to "Give a click @ the Breast Cancer Site"? Has he participated in an American Cancer Society events at all??? If the only thing the student did was beg his mother to spend $3.95 on a bracelet, he supports his cause with the lack luster that most adults do when they give $1 at the local supermarket for the charity du jour.
Thirdly-I agree that SH needs to do something about Bullying. This I stand behind you 100%. All schools need to take a more proactive stand to stomp out bullying. I don't see the bullying you speak of by the administration though, and I've been very active in this district. Most of the hype from administration bullying comes from the parents of students who happen to frequent administrator's offices. Instead of questioning the administration's motives, maybe those parents should be questioning what their children are doing to land themselves in their offices numerous times? Maybe we should nip this sense of entitlement our kids have in the butt and start teaching them how to have character and respect at home, instead of landing that responsibility on the shoulders of our educators.
Lastly-to the contributor who blindly states that SGF High School has the HIGHEST drop out rate, you should do your homework. South High experiences a drop out rate far below the state average of 5%. I have a friend who is a teacher across the river in GF High School who states that their drop out rate is skyrocketing. You CANNOT say that about South High. Check the school's state report card before you go flinging accusations like that around. I moved TO this district from a larger higher profile school because of the awards, teaching experience, accolades and dedication of South Glens Falls' teachers. I've done my homework.
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SGFMOM
Schuylerville, NY
To: SGF PARENT
My children attend this school district and I was one of the few parents that supported the punishment my children received IF THEY DESERVED IT! If my children were wrong then they had to deal with the punishment at school and then deal with us at home. If my child was in the right, which honestly happened a few times, I stood behind them 100%. How about a child being suspended for 3 days with the threat of expulsion because an Assistant Principal accused him of having a "6" Hunting Knife with a wooden look handle"? When I went to the school to retrieve the "Hunting Knife" it turned out to be one of those small silver gadgets you put on your key chain with the hook to clean your nails. My child went through hell because we did own a hunting knife and we couldn't find it. We believed the AP because why would she lie? What did she have to gain? The AP lied to us!!! She as well as another administrator routinely bullied my son any chance they got. My son was far from being an angel but, the routine targeting of students is ridiculous!
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The Real Truth
Saratoga Springs, NY
Dear Slander Lawsuit, you may not have intentionally wanted this issue to go this far, but it has, and you are the one that has caused it all. We discuss people who bully etc, but is that not what you are doing with "tell me your name" dont you think this has gone far enough ? How many more people are you going to try and destroy over this ? Here are my facts:
1)Mr Lis did not suspend your child for the braclett, the child was suspended for what he responded to the teacher. Mr Lis was doing his job as an AP, please dont support your child with disrespecting a teacher.
2) Slander lawsuit, you bet, but it is going to be against Candy Funk as she and she alone created the facebook page, and emailed and called everyone over pictures that Mr Lis did not even put on facebook himself. If you are truly concerned for children, you dont call them, email them and tell them to log into it.
3)I really and truly believe your heart was in the right place with the breast cancer issue, I just believe the way you put it out there was not appropriate for kids.
I think at this point you need to lead the cause to stop what is happening with this and help get the district back to focus on education and suicide and all the very bad things that happen today. You are an attorney correct ? Then you of all people should know right from wrong. We have no way of knowing what else could spin from all of this, its now into destroying the reputation of a good person, what would happen next, I only hope it is not violence against someone. Start doing the right thing and do not feed anymore into the wrong behavior of the Funk family. You are better than that !
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SGFMOM
Schuylerville, NY
2) Slander lawsuit, you bet, but it is going to be against Candy Funk as she and she alone created the facebook page, and emailed and called everyone over pictures that Mr Lis did not even put on facebook himself. If you are truly concerned for children, you dont call them, email them and tell them to log into it.
FYI Mrs. Funk did NOT do the facebook page!
Mrs. Funk did not alert the media!! I DID!!!
Again, the pictures WERE on Lis's page. THEY WERE NOT TAGGED PICTURES!!!
So much for your facts!!!!!!!
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Really
Saratoga Springs, NY
SGF Mom, the ip address has been tracked, and Candy Funk is tracked on all news station blogs telling everyone to log in. The Post Star says she admits she did it. Her daughter is telling my children as well as others that have finally got Mr. Lis and they got him fired. hmmmm ! Correct the pictures wer not tagged, but they were not added by Mr Lis. Someone in his household did not have an account and she put them on so her family in Las Vegas could get to them. As she did not have an account she did not know that you had to go in and make them private. Mr Lis found out after the fact, but Candy Funk had already started. All the truth will come out in the courts ! I am sure someone could make an honest mistake or dig up something on you if they tried, how do you think you would feel ? As far as the Funks go, you dont find it her daughters facebook offensive ? It is much worse than any picture in a wax museum !
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SGF Parent
Greenwich, NY
If you visit the WNYT, WRGB or WTEN facebook pages, Mrs. Funk has posted the following message:
"Candy Hargett Funk: Kyle Lis...go to his wall you don't have to be his friend. He is the assistant principal of our High School and he is sending kids home because they are wearing a "boobies" bracelet. This is public access. On his wall look at his Vegas 2010 pics. The entire student body can see this. I guess he loves boobies too"
This is not only posted by her on the news stations, but her daughter is posting it on all their friend's pages:
"Brittany Funk: Kyle Lis...go to his wall you don't have to be his friend. He is the assistant principal of our High School and he is sending kids home because they are wearing a "i ♥ boobies" bracelet. This is public access. On his wall look at his Vegas 2010 pics. The entire student body can see this. I guess he loves boobies too"
These are on their Facebook pages, it is public access, for everyone to see. What kind of example is this parent showing her child, and she has the audacity to point fingers? Mrs Funk...people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
