Has an Ohio School Overstepped Its Authority?

May 11, 2009

A high school student from northwest Ohio was suspended from school because he attended prom at another school. Is the incident another case of a school district overstepping its bounds, or has the student been punished appropriately? Read the story and decide for yourself.

For over 25-years, Heritage Christian School in Findlay, Ohio, has operated according to several statements of faith, including the belief that "the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, was given by inspiration of God" and that it is the only rule in matters of faith and practice. To wit, the fundamentalist Baptist high school's handbook contains several policies that are generally not found in similar rule books at nondenominational schools. Relevant to this particular case is a rule stating that rock music is banned because it "is part of the counterculture which seeks to implant seeds of rebellion in young people's hearts and minds." Dancing, hand-holding and kissing are also banned.

Students and their parents are required to sign a "statement of cooperation" at the beginning of the school year, indicating that they will follow the rules in the handbook. Among the students to sign the pledge was 17-year-old senior Tyler Frost.

Frost, who has attended Heritage since kindergarten, never had any problems abiding by the rules. However, that changed last week when his girlfriend, who attends nearby Findlay High School, invited him to her school's prom.

"Prom itself I don't see anything wrong with it," Frost said in an interview with keyc.com. "And I'm not going to change my viewpoints on something just because someone else doesn't like it."

Students who do not attend Findlay High School are required to have their principal sign a permission slip before they are allowed to attend the school's prom. Interestingly enough, Tim England, principal of Heritage Christian School, did sign the form; however, he also warned Frost about the potential consequences. Later, England took the matter before the school committee, which decided to threaten Frost with suspension.

"In life, we constantly make decisions whether we are going to please self or please God," England is quoted as saying by galioninquirer.com. "[Frost] chose one path, and the school committee chose the other."

Despite the warning, Frost attended the prom. He and his girlfriend enjoyed the night along with some 800 other attendees. Having caught wind of the conflict, several national news networks were on hand to film Frost's act of defiance.

In response to Frost's rebellious act, England sent a letter to his parents, which stated that he is suspended from school, is receiving an "incomplete" on all outstanding assignments, and is banned from attending the school's graduation ceremony that is scheduled to take place on May 24. If Frost wishes to obtain his diploma, England said that he will be allowed to complete his final exams the week after graduation.

England has not returned calls requesting a comment, but he did post a statement to the school's Web site in which he defends the decision. That statement reads in part:

"In the Old Testament, Joseph was in a place of temptation and he fled. Unlike this situation, he didn't put himself in that place. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life." II Timothy 2:22 says, "Flee also youthful lusts but follow after righteousness faith charity and peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." When the school committee, many years before I became the principal, set up the policy regarding dancing, I am confident that they had the principle of fleeing lustful situations in mind. The question as I see it is, should a Christian place themselves at an event where young ladies will have low cut dresses and be dancing in them? Isn't it contrary to the example of Joseph and the verses that I stated?"

Regardless of the school's policy and the reasoning behind it, Frost's stepfather, Stephan Johnson, wants the suspension and other punishments overturned because he does not feel the school's rules should apply outside the classroom. According to wtol.com, Johnson is planning to file a lawsuit against Heritage Christian.

Regardless of who is right or wrong, the media remains focused on the case. Earlier today, 92.5 KISS FM, a music station based in Toledo, Ohio, broadcast a live protest in front of the school. In addition Frost and Johnson are flying to New York later today, so that they can make an appearance on CBS's The Early Show tomorrow. The two have also been asked to appear on Inside Edition and ABC's Primetime.

It is interesting to note that some media outlets have already compared the story to the 1980s film Footloose, which has a plot similar to this story.

UPDATE
Prior to publishing this entry, Heritage Christian School posted a second statement to their Web site. It reads in part:

"At the beginning of the school year, every family must sign a statement of cooperation. Students in 7th through 12th grades must also sign it. It doesn’t say that you have to agree with them, but that we will all abide by them. What kind of a school would we be if we suspended a policy because it was convenient to do so? That would not be a Christ-like response ... This is a time for Heritage to shine as a light in this world. It isn’t easy, but it is right."

So what do you think? Does the school have the right to take this action, or has the committee overstepped its bounds? Vote in our poll and share your opinion on this case.

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Photo Credit: Getty Images

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Comments

[Adam]

I always look forward to reading any new posts on this informative and up-to-date blog. This particular post is interesting, however, I do not see the relevance of this story appearing on "Criminal Report Daily." There is no crime involved, only violation of a school's written policy.

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Edited by David Lohr to add: Sometimes its just nice to cover something a little different :)

[Fred]

Tim England should have some more FAITH
in his Students. There are always temptations around but the strong and Faithful can resist.
I am more concerned about people that
cant have any temptations around them.
Are they not strong enough to Resist.

[jenn]

I am appauld in the decsion of the school. It was way over stepping the boundaries and be thankful if that is the worst thing the child did!!!!

[tes]

No school has authority outside their own premises. I wonder if the boy can make a citizen arrest targeting the principal for abusing his human rights. It will certainly teach the principal a lesson about how abuse can go both ways.

[cheryl]

I cannot believe that this is an issue.

[JJ in OH]

Warning or not, if he didn't want the kid to go then he should have refused to sign the permission slip. Because signing the permission slip means just that, he's giving permission. You can't give someone permission then smack them down for it. I repeat, that principal is a #$%&*@.

[Richard]

Am I right in assuming that the Heritage Christian School is a private school? If so then they have every right to expect their students to follow their rules, like 'em or not.

While my two youngest children are still in school and attending public schools the majority of my son's education was private, at least until he was a junior in HS. There were plenty of things that we liked about it as well as those we didn't but we all understood when we enrolled him that he would have to follow their rules or be kicked out.

Filing a lawsuit like this seems frivolous and it all pretty much looks like the boy's fifteen minutes of fame are getting milked for as much as possible.

[Doug Scott]

The school has a right--even a responsibility--to enforce its established and published rules. While we may not agree with the rule, it is none of our business. If you can't accept and abide by the rules, don't join the church. But if you do join, don't whine and cry "unfair" when the rules are enforced.

[Missy]

For those saying the school has every right to suspened the boy, keep in mind that the event for which he is being suspended for did not happen on the Heritage Christian School's grounds! Therefore, it is not up to the school to punish him for what he did. The principal gave him permission to go, therefore, suspending him after the fact is not right, especially since he was even on the school grounds dancing.

[k]

No dancing? Seriously? I can't believe there are schools that have policies like this. I love how he just assumes that the girl will be wearing a
"low cut dress". I'm all about people having their own religious beliefs, but this is ridiculous.

[Jenny]

It's a private school and they have every right to enforce their rules, however petty they may seem to the rest of us. If this kid attended the school since kindergarten then he should know the code of conduct by now.

[Emily]

As I recall in our high school, if a student was, say, caught in posession of alcohol or a weapon outside of school, they could still be temporarily banned from sports or activities for the season, but they still came to school. Frost's offense is nothing like this.

The suspension is harsh, I believe, but the action to keep him from graduation and make him earn his diploma later is entirely unfair. The least they can do is let him walk.

[Michael]

I'm afraid that too many people are missing the point. This is not about arcane rules. It is about breaking the terms of a contract.

Tyler willfully signed a contract to abide by the school's rules. Then he willfully broke the contract by attending the prom, even after being told that he might be suspended.

He violated his end of the contract. Now he is mad because the school is upholding their end of it.

We've become a nation of selfish “entitled” whiners who will sue to get our way.

[pak31]

Okay, I am way too confused here. While I totally agree that rules are rules and like them or not, you must follow them or pay the consequences, I don't understand where it is that he broke a rule. It doesn't say what rule he broke. Is he forbidden to go to another school's prom? Someone help me here. He followed the other school's rule of getting permission to go to that school and his principal even gave him the go ahead by signing it, then he warns him with what? It doesn't say. Was given permission then told if he goes he'll get suspended? Christianity is important to me too but to ruin this kid's end of the year activities is a little harsh. It's not like he vandalized the school or something. Why weren't his parents warned prior to this occuring? He's still a minor. I just don't get this whole situation.

[Tara]

When we allow popular opinion to start governing our private institutions, such as schools, we might as well sign our children over to the "village" at birth.

I am not far right,in fact I voted for our current president - but I do send my son to private school with the understanding that they have rules that I may not agree with but to which we are bound (also by contract). I appreciate that and I appreciate that the other students are bound to these rules as well.

If I wanted my son's school to answer to the call of society, I would not pay double (my taxes as well as our tuition) to insure that he attends a facility that doesn't answer to that call.

That being said, Mr. England sounds like a jerk but he was well within his rights.

I fear for the day those rights are no longer protected.

Shame on you, Mr. Lohr, for even printing this story. I read you every day (every new article) and I wouldn't have guessed you to buy into this type of rabble rousing.

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Edited by David Lohr to add: Hi Tara, I have not stated my side on the matter. I took a neutral approach, presented both sides and offered readers a poll to vote in.

[Joy]

Even though we may not agree with it; the childs family signed the waiver. So the boy should have followed the rules. I think the boy knew what could happen, but didn't care. If there are rules, than he should have followed them; even if he doesn't believe them. This is a Christian school, so you have to think in a Christian mind state. It makes sense, proms are really raunchy and sexual these days.

[Jenny]

By signing the permission form the pricipal was allowing the student to make his own choice. Had he not, the other school would not have allowed him to attend the prom so the decision would have been made for him. He was told that there could be consequences for breaking the rules. I think this is actually a very good life lesson that the school taught him. You are free to make your own choices in life, but then you have to be prepared to deal with the consequences. Too many people nowadays want to sue whenever things don't go their way. He made his choice. I hope it was worth it.

[Ed]

Okay, so the kid and parents signed a contract... Contracts have limits, just because I have a loan for my house does not give the mortagage lender the right to tell me what to do or not do in it. If the contract states implicitly that it governs the childs actions 24/7 then the school can do what they have done. If it does not, it usually only pertains to the school setting. I know someone who worked at a Private School and was fired because she entered an establishment where alcohol was served and the Principal felt it was a violation of the ethics clause. Forget she went to a fine resturant to attend her mother's 80th birthday (how scandalous!! By the way she did not drink. She sued, she won... the school's Ethics Clause changed the next year.

[Steph]

A contract is a contract. If it was part of the contract and the contract was violated why are we talking about it? Back (in the Dark Ages) when I was in a (secular) public high school, all of our athletes were asked to sign a code of conduct. When someone violated the code, there were repercussions. I don't see the difference.

[Deb]

My son has attended several Christian conferences at which Christian rock was the music as encouraging and lifting up the young people. Would he (17 years old) be suspended as he attended this conference? Also, hand holding is regularly practiced when praying in a group - (We attend a Church of God which is pentacostal). I believe the penalty is dispropotionate to the offense - the article implies that this student has not been a disciplinary problem. Generally the law requires "progressing disciplinary action" even in employment issues. How do they monitor activities for which there is no authorization from the principal required? Do all the students attend the school's church? The lack of ability to uniformly enforce these specific rules should make the suspension invalid.

[Cranky'ol Koot]

This school/principle are wrong on so many levels. I will name just a few. 1st. even if, IF this kid did something illegal like drinking, drugs,etc, OFF school grounds, they couldn't suspend him. He committed no illegal acts. 2nd. If that is a private school, & the parents are paying tuition, the school is probably in breach of contract, & possibly guilty of theft of service.
3rd. And this goes out to anybody with the "a contract is a contract" opinion. The "statement of cooperation" this kid signed is worthless. A MINOR can NOT enter into ANY binding contract. PERIOD. Look it up. If you don't believe me, go lend an 8yo money, make him sign an IOU, then try taking him to court when he doesn't pay. See what happens. And before you start, if it was his parents that signed it, then it wouldn't be binding to HIM since THEY signed it. He signed it in 7th grade at age 12ish? Give me a break. Also there are limits to any contract. That contract is LEGALLY non-binding. IF it was, in matters pertaining to anything non-school related??? Get outta here!
Let me pull this topic to the side for a minute. The school doesn't like Rock'n Roll devil music. (By the way, who defines what constitutes "Rock", is there a "No-No" list of bands posted in the school cafeteria?) Can he be suspended for listening to "U2" in his basement? Or while on summer vacation in Myrtle Beach, holding hands with a girl he met there? Suspended for his first kiss? Get outta here. Finally, where does this school get off, thinking they can hold his grades, graduation and quite possibly his academic future hostage? This could ruin his GPA & chances for college. Just to be safe he should immediately transfer to another school as a precaution of this school trying to ruin his future....OVER A PROM!!!
I hope they sue this school right out of business. At there very least the school should be fined & or lose it's academic license based on the fact they are not providing this student an education...purposely. Perhaps THEY are in breech of contract there?

[Chelsea]

I think the punishment the school decided on was far too harsh, for one. Also, yes the student should abide by the rules, but in every day life as well as at school? This prom was not even at or for Heritage Christian School. Is the school planning to follow every student around wherever they go to make sure they dont dance or kiss or hold hands? That, on top of the fact that they're practically failing him! I don't see the Christ like action in that. God may want punishment, yes, but he is a God of second chances. I doubt God would want to potentially ruin the child's future. I'd like to see how God would deal with the principle of this school for doing such an outrageous thing...