Girl Dismissed From Lifting Class Sues

[Buxom Wench]

I guess it's the times we live in.
When I was in HS, I lifted weights, I was the only girl in the class, and I never had a problem with the guys or the teacher. In fact, they were a real help, making sure I lifted right and didn't injure myself.
It's really sad that we have to think about this the way the principal saw it.


Girl Dismissed From Lifting Class Sues

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2662972&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

Tennessee Girl Dismissed From H.S. Weightlifting Class Over Rape Fears Sues
The Associated Press
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - An Anderson County teenager has filed a lawsuit over her temporary dismissal from a weightlifting class by a principal who feared male students might try to rape her.

Anderson County High School has asked a federal magistrate to dismiss the $1 million sex discrimination suit by student Ambrea Phillips and her father.

"There's no dispute she was removed," school attorney Arthur F. Knight said at a hearing Thursday. He contended Phillips was reinstated within days and suffered "no academic detriment whatsoever."

Phillips' attorney, Roger L. Ridenour, said stress from the incident caused the student to become physically ill. He said the handling of the situation by then-principal Bob McCracken is part of a pattern of mishandled sex issues at the high school.

Phillips was an honor student and a track team member when she signed up for the class, where she eventually earned an A. She has since graduated and is in college.

McCracken said in a deposition that he was afraid Phillips might be sexually assaulted in the class.

"Having a female with 35 or so male students in an isolated area from the school, it sets a very liable situation in my opinion," McCracken said in the deposition.

Three days after kicking Phillips out of the class, McCracken changed his mind and reinstated her.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Clifford Shirley asked Knight if the principal was wrong in removing Phillips from the class.

"She is up there with a bunch of football players, a 24- to 25-year-old coach, the only girl there is a safety issue there. It was a hard call for the principal to make," Knight answered.

When the judge again asked Knight if McCracken made the right decision, the attorney said he hadn't found another court case that would have given McCracken good guidance on what to do.

The judge said he would rule later on whether the lawsuit can continue.

[Bean]

Okay, I'm all for the "an ounce of prevention" argument, but come on people!!! It was a CLASS, with a TEACHER. I was the only girl in a class at my high school, not weight lifting, but still. Any why was the class "in an isolated area from school"? Last I knew the weight rooms were near the gyms. Do we now have satellite buildings at high schools?

[Buxom Wench]

Our weight room was close to the gym, but not connected to it.
Maybe that made a difference in that girl's school?

[surlywench]

Okay, I'm all for the "an ounce of prevention" argument, but come on people!!! It was a CLASS, with a TEACHER. I was the only girl in a class at my high school, not weight lifting, but still. Any why was the class "in an isolated area from school"? Last I knew the weight rooms were near the gyms. Do we now have satellite buildings at high schools?


Depends on the school. Some H.S.'s are starting to represent college campuses. Alternately, it could have been a trailer-type outbuilding by the sports facilities.


AND HELLO!!!!!! WHY didn't the princ. just ASK AN ADULT FEMALE TO BE PRESENT????????

for the love of god....SERIOUSMOOSE!!

[Alianne]

Back in the late 70's when I was the only girl who went to lift weights during gym class (a small weight room, so it could hold maybe 10 people at the most), no one blinked an eye about it. The teacher wasn't even there all the time -- he'd pop his head in once per class to make sure the guys weren't goofing off.

The weight room wasn't connected to the gym, either -- it was an add-on next to the football field -- maybe a 150 foot walk from the main building and gym entrance -- the building it was added to held a few garages for a couple school trucks and snowblowers along with the football field's snack stands.

This principal is just loony.

[SpeedKnight]

The principal is a hose job.

That said... $1MILLION?!?! You gotta be kidding me!

[Ysobelle]

Yikes.

I commend the principal in trying to be proactive about the safety of a female student. Yay.

But Jesus Christ! In one fell swoop, he's told every single boy in that class, and their parents, and the whole community, and now the rest of the country, that they're potential rapists. He's tried to look out for the safety of the girl, but he's done it in a way spectacularly guaranteed to get the most-- and the worst-- publicity possible. He's knocked the bottle off the fence with a cannon.

Shouldn't there be a teacher in there in the first place, if he's so worried about safety? These kids aren't playing with Nerf weights, after all.

[Buxom Wench]

Shouldn't there be a teacher in there in the first place, if he's so worried about safety? These kids aren't playing with Nerf weights, after all.

He was also worried about the teacher, as said teacher was male.

If that was the case, was there something in the teachers background? Were there prior complaints of sexual harassment? I think we need more info on the school and the people involved.

[verymerryseamstress]

by a principal who feared male students might try to rape her.

To me, that sounds like, "Well, gentlemen, you simply cannot be trusted with females. You're male, and because of that, you're a potential rapist."

Good grief! What an insult to the MALES in the class! Maybe THEY should be suing!

That said, I'm not wild about the overly-litigious society we live in, but seriously - the principal really didn't discriminate when it came making sure he insulted EVERYONE, did he?

[Bux]

So..

Does that mean if one male wanted to say...be in an all female cooking class because he has hopes of being a professional chef he will (learn how to fold in egg whites properly to make a perfect souflee, braise a beef that you would swoon over, have the flakey-est pie crust)....or 'turn' into a homosexual.

Sweet jesus.

[Margaret]

Hubby's response to:

"How would you feel as a male student in this lifting class if the reason the principal gave for removing the only girl is a fear she may get raped?"


"Kind of would make me feel like a dirt ball. What a dumbass statement."

[verymerryseamstress]

Does that mean if one male wanted to say...be in an all female cooking class

If you followed the principal's "logic," he would be in danger of being raped by a mob of sinister cheesecake-baking women.

[SpeedKnight]

If you followed the principal's "logic," he would be in danger of being raped by a mob of sinister cheesecake-baking women.

That's not rape... that's bliss!

[daBaroness]

Good heavens. At North Kansas City High School where my 14-year-old is a freshman and my older son graduated from, weight training and conditioning is an officially offered, co-ed course. With so many girls participating in competitive sports it just makes sense to do conditioning to both build stamina and strength and also as a tool to prevent injuries. The teachers (male) are certified trainers who've had coursework in the proper way to do athletic training. The boys and girls all love the class and help each other all the time. That principal must be a narrow-minded, perverted SOB.

[Cyranno DeBoberac]

Yikes.

I commend the principal in trying to be proactive about the safety of a female student. Yay.

But Jesus Christ! In one fell swoop, he's told every single boy in that class, and their parents, and the whole community, and now the rest of the country, that they're potential rapists.
His name isn't Principal Dworkin, is it? *rotfl*


My take is that if you feel your male students can't be trusted to be alone in a weight room with a female, perhaps the male students are the ones who should be banished from the gym.

[MaidMarion]

First off. I’m going out on a limb and assuming the principal's heart was in the right place here and that he was genuinely concerned about the girl’s safety, not just being a sexist dog.

In my day job away from faire, I am an official for high school and middle school sports. I am around adrenaline pumped high school athletes nearly every day of the week.

That being said, I don’t think a comparison can be made between a cooking class and a weightlifting class. Once people get too pumped up, things can get too emotional and out of control. Especially with teenage boys.

About a year and a half ago, I had an incident, (juts and FYI, I’m 24, but look very young.) A high school boy, (maybe 15 or 16, but looked about 30 and was much bigger than me.) was obnoxiously trying to flirt with me after an event. There was an attempted grope which ended quick once I threatened him.

About a week later I heard some rumors, apparently someone was going around saying they were thinking of calling the cops on me for being with an underage student. I went to the officials association to discuss this with my superiors, they say they’ve never received any reports about me, so I guess it was just gossip. My guess is, this kid probably bragged to his locker room buddies about scoring with the ref chick.

The point to that story is that, while I’m not saying every high school boy is a potential rapist, they need to be kept an eye on. I really don’t think it’s unreasonable to not allow one lone girl in the class. But pulling her out mid semester is a little late. In my opinion, what should have happened is, there should have been a disclaimer during class sign ups “if we don’t get at least X number of girls, then it will just be a boys class”. The idea of having an adult female present is, also a good idea, but if this is a public school. that would probably mean having to pay a teacher’s aid. Which most school won’t want that expense.

*HUGS*

K.J.

[Bean]

Snip

what should have happened is, there should have been a disclaimer during class sign ups “if we don’t get at least X number of girls, then it will just be a boys class”.


Isn't this why women fought so hard to get Title IX in schools?

[LdyJhawk]

So wait, I'm about to betray my gender.

She was removed for THREE..DAYS. That's right, three days. She got an A in the class. She was not permanently removed.

The EMOTIONAL TRAUMA of being removed from a class for three whole days is worth 1 million dollars? No goddamn wonder people laugh at americans and joke that we're going to sue for everything.

Tell you what, if she was that traumatized I want to see her psych bills and they can pick up the tab for that.

[rosefaeries]

Well, I might be inclined to agree with you if it was only just about the three days. However, we don't know anything else that may have happened because she was pulled out. Was the reason the principal pulled her out announced to the class? Or known throughout the school? If so her life could have been made hell because of taunting. (eg. OOOO better watch out or you'll get raped in class.) This could have then been done in all of her classes. I could very easily see how a million dollar lawsuit could have been filed.

[Ysobelle]

Well, WE all know about it.

[DoñaNina]

Ummmm.. I lifted in high school. So did four other girls. Not that big a deal. And we came from the most dangerous school in Maryland!

[Mistress Lisette]

His name isn't Principal Dworkin, is it? *rotfl*
:lol:

Yeah, but Dworkin did have a seriously abusive past that most likely led her to be so militant...

My take is that if you feel your male students can't be trusted to be alone in a weight room with a female, perhaps the male students are the ones who should be banished from the gym.

Exactly.

[Bonnie Strangeways]

Okay, I'm all for the "an ounce of prevention" argument, but come on people!!! It was a CLASS, with a TEACHER. I was the only girl in a class at my high school, not weight lifting, but still. Any why was the class "in an isolated area from school"? Last I knew the weight rooms were near the gyms. Do we now have satellite buildings at high schools?


Yes, there are a good majority of High Schools that are set up not unlike a college campus, with multiple buildings.

Mine was exactly like this, the gym was quite a distance from the S.U.B.. I was a weight-lifter, but for enjoyment, not as a class. I went early in the mornings, and our room was open to the public. However, there wasa a teacher present the entire time, and my spotter was my R.O.T.C. Commander. I was the only female in there, but never did I feel unsafe.

What an idiot. (Principal) I don't think this case deserves a *lawsuit* and certainly not for the damages they're looking for, but I do think that the Principal should be reprimanded.

[Margaret]

I was the only female in there, but never did I feel unsafe.




*er* BonBon, I've heard stories. I think anyone who laid a hand on you without your permission would have ended up very suprised. And, quite possibly, in the ER. ;-)

[Bonnie Strangeways]

*er* BonBon, I've heard stories. I think anyone who laid a hand on you without your permission would have ended up very suprised. And, quite possibly, in the ER. ;-)

Bloody nubs my sweet.... *lol*

[aspen]

I have decided that, for women, a perception of being in danger is almost as damaging as actually being in danger.

How many times have you been told, "Don't go into the parking lot/stairwell/garage/down the street at night alone"? And yet you do it, and nothing bad happens to you. Or something bad maybe happened to somebody in your town, or something bad definately happened to somebody in another state, and suddenly all women everywhere are told that they can't travel without an escort.

If something bad does happen, one of the primary responses is, "She was alone at night. What did she expect? It's not safe!" instead of the rightous anger the situation deserves.

It never occurred to me to be frightened at night until I heard about Take Back the Night marches. I think being told, "it's always dangerous to be alone at night/in the stairwell/in a room with boys" prevents a woman from learning to make an accurate assessment of her actual risk. Instead she learns that rapes happen in parking lots at night, not in her dorm room from somebody she knows and likes.

It's not healthy to live in fear all the time. It's counterproductive for the only reaction to potential danger to be, "Stay away!"

Aspen, incoherently