Tennessee teen suspended for posting ‘tongue-in-cheek’ memes about HS principal sues district

A Tennessee excessive schooler who was suspended for posting social media memes poking enjoyable at his principal is suing the district for violating his free speech — claiming he was punished as revenge by an embarrassed and “thin-skinned” administrator.

The 17-year-old — who is barely recognized by his initials “IP” — filed the federal lawsuit within the Jap District of Tennessee Winchester Division final week, practically a yr after being suspended for 3 days from the Tullahoma Excessive College campus, roughly 75 miles southeast of Nashville.

“This case is a couple of thin-skinned highschool principal defying the First Modification and suspending a scholar for lampooning the principal on the coed’s Instagram web page although the posts brought on no disruption in school,” states the 48-page lawsuit, which additionally named the principal and assistant principal.

The rising senior had shared all three photos of Principal Jason Fast to his Instagram story between Could and August of final yr exterior of college hours and off faculty grounds, the swimsuit claims.

One of many photos, which IP reposted reasonably than created, is of the typically-serious Fast making an unflattering, foolish face and holding a field of fruit and veggies — that was initially posted to Fast’s personal account — with the textual content “My brotha” and “like a sister however not a sister <33.”

One other depicts Fast as an anime cat with cat ears and whiskers sporting a costume, whereas a 3rd reveals the principal superimposed on a hand-drawn cartoon character hugging Mordecai, a personality from the present “Common Present.”

IP claims he had meant for the pictures to be “tongue-in-cheek commentary satirizing a college administrator” that was deeply unappreciated by Fast.

Fast and Assistant Principal Crutchfield reportedly slapped IP with a five-day, out-of-school suspension after leaning on a Tullahoma Metropolis Colleges district coverage prohibiting college students from posting pictures on social media “ensuing within the embarrassment, demeaning, or discrediting of any scholar or workers.”

The directors additionally relied on a imprecise, unregulated coverage that daunts college students from taking part in social media exercise that’s “unbecoming of a Wildcat,” IP’s legal professionals at The Hearth agency mentioned in a press release.

“Right here, Fast tried to make sure college students couldn’t satirize him ‘in any respect,’” the lawsuit states.

“Fast’s standing as I.P.’s Principal doesn’t permit him to override I.P.’s First Modification rights. I.P. brings this lawsuit to guard the core First Modification proper of Tullahoma college students to precise themselves and satirize these in energy.”

IP — who was being handled for scientific despair and anxiousness — suffered a panic assault in entrance of his directors as they handed down the punishment, which IP apprehensive would irreversibly have an effect on his educational profession.

The scholar’s five-day sentence was later lowered to a few days, which can also be the college’s punishment for a fistfight, his legal professionals identified.

In accordance with his legal professionals, IP was an in any other case stellar scholar that was undeserving of a disproportionate punishment — he boasted a 3.4 GPA, performed the trombone within the faculty band and was the Senior Patrol Chief of his Boy Scout Troop on the time of his suspension.

“I.P.’s accidents are ongoing as a result of Defendants’ suspension is a part of I.P.’s everlasting document and can possible impair I.P.’s capacity to obtain scholarships and acquire admission to prime faculties and universities as a result of colleges assess candidates’ educational and disciplinary information,” based on the lawsuit.

IP’s legal professionals cited the 2021 case in which the US Supreme Court sided with a highschool scholar — additionally represented by The Hearth — that had been kicked off her cheerleading squad for writing “F-k faculty f–okay softball f–okay cheer f–okay every part” on her personal Snapchat story.

The courtroom dominated that except a scholar’s off-campus expression causes “a considerable disruption” in school, the job of policing their speech belongs to oldsters, not the federal government.

“The First Modification bars public faculty staff from performing as a round the clock board of censors over scholar expression,” IP’s lawsuit states.

Tullahoma Metropolis Colleges didn’t instantly reply to The Publish’s request for remark.