Student loses suit over graduation ban

When you're fighting the Masters of the Universe who control America's schools, it's always an uphill battle.

In McKinney, Texas, a high school senior - a straight-A student - was effectively barred from her own graduation for an offense she didn't commit. Recently, school administrators accused her and several friends of drinking alcohol before the prom. All indications are that the accusation is false. But she was punished by being forced to attend an alternative school for a month - which caused her to miss her graduation ceremony.

The student sued the school system - but she lost. The reason the judge gave is downright preposterous. Collin County District Court Judge Mark Rusch said courts can't get involved in a school punishment unless the student is expelled or denied a diploma outright.

What???

If a court can't remedy a school's lies and injustice, then who can? Are schools above the law? Yes. This is just another story that shows schools can make up shit with impunity. Kind of like when Brossart made me pay for a textbook that didn't exist that they accused me of ruining.

Plus, students have a right to attend their graduation ceremony. Our schools seem to have forgotten this basic fact. Each year, you see stories pile up about how schools have used some excuse to deny students this right.

Also, while the school's code of conduct mandates alternative school if a pupil "possesses, uses, or is under the influence of alcohol", how would it apply even if she was guilty of drinking before the prom? Schools can regulate what students do at school activities - but they can't go after somebody for drinking if they do it away from a school function.

This story is a perfect example of why Occupy needs to step up its campaign against the "zero tolerance" thought police and the school-to-prison pipeline.