Elonka wrote:
] I have my own thoughts on the efficacy of the statement, but
] I'll leave it to you to make up your own minds.

[ Unless his *goal* was to get expelled, in order to draw attention to the issue or force his parents into bringing legal action, i'd say the statement was *ineffective*.

Whether it was correct is a more complex question. That high school is an often oppressive environment for certain types of intelligent and progressive students is inarguable. There are millions of stories like this one - thoughtful but impulsive kids whose idealism subjugates their survival instinct. In the grand scheme, the things he did were trivial, but they were also kinda foolish. It seems like by the time he was telling a friend how to circumvent school policy (and facilitating the circumvention via HIS proxy), his two prior infractions should've indicated that the school administrators are not reasonable in this area, which should've invoked a degree of caution.

Is the school being a bit draconian? Hell yeah, and most are. Lots and lots of schools refuse to keep "radical" literature in the library and probably all of them censor their web access. Some, such as this one, it seems, go as far as to limit your ability to read certain things even on your "free" time. Unfortunately, flaunting your refusal to comply does not effect positive results. Alas, at some point, you have to learn to play the game, even if your goal is to change the rules... not something i've been particularly good at accepting, but nonetheless a fact of life.

As Decius wrote, the key is to convince people that you're not a threat, and that you'll be more politic in the future. Idealism must be tempered by perspective. -k]

RE: Statement from Student Expelled for Recommending Web Proxy at School