Disobedient South Carolina Students Face Criminal Records, $1000 in Fines Under Controversial Law
It used to be “Tommy stop that! Go see the principal!” Now it’s “Tommy stop that! Go straight to jail!”
A controversial South Carolina law called the “Disturbing Schools Law for South Carolina” has made it a misdemeanor to “interfere with or to disturb in any way or in any place the students or teachers of any school or college in this State”. Sound vague? Wait there’s more. “to loiter about such school or college premises or to act in an obnoxious manner thereon; or For any person to enter upon any such school or college premises or loiter around the premises, except on business, without the permission of the principal or president in charge.” Just wow!
So in South Carolina it’s illegal to be an obnoxious kid that hangs out after school. WTF? Who the hell wrote this? That “any place” part is scary too. Does that mean if a student is obnoxious to a teacher at a county fair outside of school they are guilty? The law is so incredibly vague it’s almost laughable.
More and more we’re seeing laws like this that force children to conform to standards they can’t possibly meet and ignores the reality of troubled children simply disregarding their rights. This ridiculous law actually brandishes these troubled kids criminals and they might not even be troubled in the first place, according to the vague wording of the law they could just be obnoxious and missed the bus or waiting to talk to a friend on school property. Don’t forget that “up to $1000” fine. They’re literally banking on that one. Where exactly would that money go by the way? Always talks of fines in cases like these and never a mention of those funds reaching the actual “victims” which there aren’t any in this case unless you count the actual child facing the wrong side of this law.
Truly appalling if you ask me.
Not appalled yet? OK. How about this. From 2010-2011 around 9,500 children and teenagers have been affected by this law. That’s a whole lot of “up to $1,000” fines. That’s a whole lot of court time too which equals tax payer money and keeps judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys in their jobs with extremely easy cases against children that don’t really do much to help society as a whole in my opinion. Probably really screwing up a lot of troubled kids and families facing financial hardships in my opinion. We won’t mention that this law affects primarily kids from minority families.
No fear! Federal justice is… here?
Oh yeah, a federal judge just shut down four cases of rights violations brought against the school system, the state, over a dozen sheriffs, and Attorney General Alan Wilson. That’s right, District Judge C. Weston Houck said that the court lacked the “subject-matter jurisdiction to hear their claims” and that the plaintiffs failed to show constitutional grounds for the suit.
Silly me. I was under the impression we weren’t allow to pass laws legislating children’s attitude.
My bad.
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