News Links
Court Upholds COPA Decision
On March 6 a three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an injunction against enforcement of the Child Online Protection Act (COPA). A report found at <http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,57956,00.html> says the judges found the law “constitutionally infirm.”
“Under God” Rejected Again By Court
On February 27, the Ninth Circuit Court refused to reconsider an earlier ruling finding the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance to be a religious avowal, and the recitation of the Pledge (with those two words included) in public schools to be unconstitutional, amounting to government endorsement of religion. The ruling affects public schools in nine western U.S. states. The story can be viewed at <http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=17610>.
Senator Wants Daily Pledge
Just three days earlier, California Republican Senator William Knight had introduced legislation to mandate daily recitations of the Pledge in his state’s public schools, as reported at <http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=Nation/archive/200302/NAT20030224c.html>. California is one of the states affected by the Ninth Circuit Court’s ruling on the Pledge.
State Court Rules Against Curfews
On January 23 the State Supreme Court of Washington struck down a juvenile curfew ordinance enacted in 1999 in the town of Sumner, finding that such laws give police arbitrary power to arrest youth for activities “normally considered innocent” such as “walking, driving, going to the store.” An ACLU press release on the decision appears at <http://www.aclu.org/CriminalJustice/CriminalJustice.cfm?ID=11695&c=46&Type=s>; the majority opinion is online at <http://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/opindisp.cfm?docid=714517MAJ>.
School Plays Cause Controversy
Bang, Bang, You’re Dead, a renowned play about a school shooter, is being performed by St. Petersburg, Florida high schoolers in a drama competition, but according to <http://www.sptimes.com/2003/01/17/TampaBay/Is_student_play_unsui.shtml>, due to “sensitive” subject matter, school administrators won’t allow the play to be presented on its stage. And just three swear words in the script of the planned high school play Les Miserables brought complaints from Williamsport, Maryland parents, says the article at <http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/13103_bbparents.html>.
Students Tired of School Dance Hassles
Milford High School in Massachusetts cancelled a scheduled freshman class dance last night, since nobody was going to be there. Dance attendance has been dropping since rules and enforcement became more strict, explains an article at <http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/local_regional/milf_dance03092003.htm>. Dress codes have been tightened, more songs and ways of dancing have been prohibited, and attendees must be prepared to submit to random Breathalyzer tests.
Teen Defeats Chess Master
On February 23, 15-year-old Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan defeated Garry Kasparov, the world’s top-ranked chess player, at the annual chess tournament in Linares, Spain, reports <http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20030307_2146.html>. A rematch the following day ended in a draw.
Random Drug Testing—On Us?
After a recent arrest of a teacher for marijuana possession in Aspen, Colorado, the area’s district superintendant proposed that all teachers be subjected to mandatory random drug testing. The story at <http://www.insidedenver.com/drmn/state/article/0,1299,DRMN_21_1777606,00.html> describes the teachers’ understandable outrage at the suggestion.
Abused Girl Finds Relief in Testimony
On January 30, an 11-year-old Texas girl took the witness stand to tell about her adopted mother’s extreme abusive behavior, which caused the death of one of her brothers. The article at <http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/1760108> says she later called her day in court “the best day of her life.” The mother was sentenced to 75 years in prison.
Researchers Praise Video Games
Researchers from Loyola University in Chicago studied the video game Counter-Strike and found benefits to players. An article at <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2744449.stm> reports that the game allows players to safely try out social interaction skills and provides a harmless outlet for fantasies.
More Schools Realize They’re In Trouble
Articles at <http://www.parisbeacon.com/newsbuilder2/news/2003/March/NewsStories/Nochildleftbehindlawisque.html> and <http://www.wisinfo.com/newsherald/mnhlocal/277197916777474.shtml> tell of Illinois and Wisconsin educators becoming increasingly worried about their ability to comply with the “No Child Left Behind” act. And <http://www. communitypapers.com/dailycourier/myarticles.asp?P=730760&S=400&PubID=10422&EC=0> reports on one Arizona school exploring the possibility of re-zoning school districts to avoid being labeled an “underperforming school”.
Vocabulary Words Can Kill?
Two Canadian parents believe that knowing how to spell the word “gun” is dangerous for first-graders. An article at <http://www.jointogether.org/gv/news/summaries/reader/0,2061,556665,00.html>, their complaint prompted their child’s school to remove the word from its vocabulary list.
Professional Driver Collides With Teen
On January 23, 92-year-old Johnny Mauro, a former Indy 500 racer and founder of the U.S. Truck Driving School, died in a head-on collision on I-70 in Golden, Colorado. According to <http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Central/01/26/racer.killed.ap/index.html>, Mauro’s car veered across the center line into oncoming traffic. The crash killed 17-year-old driver Christopher Basinski and injured Basinski’s 16-year-old passenger.
Why ASFAR Needs Local Chapters
Maryland’s State Senate just passed its version of the “law du jour”—the “no underage passengers for teenage drivers” law—on March 8, says an article at <http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/bal-md.driving08mar08,0,4357623.story?coll=bal-local-headlines>. And on March 6, Georgia state representatives responded to public complaints by reconsidering a law revoking the license of any driver under 21 for a single speeding violation. According to <http://www.savannahnow.com/stories/030603/LOCGATeenDrivers.shtml>, the House voted nearly unanimously to change the law; if passed by the Senate, the strict penalty will apply only to drivers under 18!
Washington Bill Makes Priests Reveal Abuse
On March 8, the Washington State House passed a bill which would require clergy to report suspected child abuse; the bill now moves to the Senate. According to <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/134648726_priest08m.html>, the bill includes exempts information shared in confessions.
Florida Sex Offender Registry Questioned
An article at <http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/news/030903/Local/ST015.shtml> discusses how Florida’s online sex offender registry wrongly labels and condemns people for life.
Group Prepares Youth for Potential Draft
An article at <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/134649426_draft09m.html> describes a Port Townsend, Washington group formed to educate young people about the Selective Service, the history of the military draft, and how to declare oneself a conscientious objector.
Students Sue Over Police Round-Up
On February 22, 2002, police in Union City, California detained, searched, questioned, and photographed a large number of Logan High School students, mostly Hispanic and Asian, whom they suspected of gang membership. Now the ACLU has filed a lawsuit on their behalf; their press release at <http://www.aclu.org/StudentsRights/StudentsRights.cfm?ID=11733&c=31> alleges that the students’ data and photos were automatically entered into the police department’s “gang database,” regardless of whether any evidence of gang activity had been found. Another article on the incident appears at <http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/01/31/student.lawsuit.ap/index.html>
Bill Lets Kids Keep Inhalers
New Hampshire’s House of Representatives passed legislation allowing children with allergies or asthma to carry their own inhalers at schools or camps in the state; the Senate must now approve the measure. The item at <http://www.thewmurchannel.com/news/1947432/detail.html> says the bill was prompted by the death of a 14-year-old boy at a YMCA camp last summer.
State Health Officer Criticizes “Haphazard” Drugging
Ronald Preston, newly-appointed Secretary of Massachusetts’ Department of Health and Human Services, wants to develop state guidelines to stop the overprescription of psychotropic medication to children, according to <http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/03092003/south_of/16939.htm>.
Florida “Hockey Dad” With A Gun
A Tampa, Florida father who thought he was defending his son against bullies fired a gun at a crowd of teens, killing 14-year-old Jabbard Anthony. According to <http://www.austin360.com/aas/news/ap/ap_story.html/National/AP.V9156.AP-Teen-Shot.html>, the victim was actually one of his son’s friends.
Latest Abuse Stories
For the sad details of just a few recent cases, see <http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/012503_ns_basementkids.htm>, <http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/012503_ns_childchained.html>, <http://www.pilotonline.com/breaking/br0130fle.html>, and <http://www.gopbi.com/partners/pbpost/epaper/editions/sunday/local-news-e3a69ce3c176f055009b.html>.
