South Carolina faculty district responds to scholar’s Pledge of Allegiance lawsuit

A South Carolina faculty district stated a ninth-grader strolling down a hallway was detained throughout a second of silence and never through the Pledge of Allegiance, as the coed claimed in a lawsuit filed final month.

Marissa Barnwell stated a River Bluff Excessive College trainer pushed her in opposition to a wall when she did not cease to recite the pledge whereas strolling to class in November, in response to her household’s lawsuit.

An legal professional for Lexington College District 1 stated hallway movies present the trainer touched Barnwell’s shoulder to get her consideration, however didn’t push her.

It additionally reveals that 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 aren’t disruptive, and the start of a second of silence.

Barnwell didn’t keep silent, arguing with the trainer till she walked away, the district stated.

“There could be no faculty ban that requires college students to cease no matter they’re doing, together with strolling down the corridor, and stay silent throughout quiet time,” wrote faculty district legal professional David Lyon.

Barnwell advised reporters this month that she felt humiliated and feared she was in bother.

“I used to be completely and completely disrespected,” the 15-year-old stated. “Nobody has apologized, nobody has acknowledged my ache.”

The district stated that though the principal mentioned the incident along with her, a full investigation decided that neither she nor the trainer ought to face disciplinary motion.

The district stated it reviewed all the hallway footage and never simply the clip posted by the coed’s mother and father.

The household’s lawyer and fogeys have been additionally proven all of the movies.

The police additionally did their very own investigation and didn’t press costs.

Together with the trainer, the teenager’s household is suing the principal, faculty district and state training officers, saying they violated the coed’s civil rights and her First Modification rights to each free speech and freedom of expression. not speak in any respect.

In a press release, Lexington College District 1 stated each its workers and Barnwell are receiving “extraordinarily hateful communications.”

“District leaders strongly condemn this inappropriate habits. We care about all of our college students and workers and are sorry that these concerned on this state of affairs have been subjected to merciless messages,” district officers wrote.