Louisiana public school principal apologizes after punishing student for dancing at a party
Louisiana public school principal apologizes after punishing student for dancing at a party
A Louisiana public school principal has apologized and requested leave for punishing a student and questioning her religious beliefs after he saw a video of her dancing at an off-campus party.
The 17-year-old student government president and scholarship candidate was videotaped dancing at an off-campus party following Walker High School’s Sept. 30 Homecoming festivities. A hired DJ took the video and posted it on social media. Three days later, Jason St. Pierre, principal of the public high school near the state capital of Baton Rouge, told the student she would be removed from her position with the student government association and that he would no longer recommend her for college scholarships.
At a meeting in his office with the assistant principal, St. Pierre told the student she wasn’t “living in the Lord’s way,” her mother said, according to The Advocate. He printed out Bible verses with highlighted sections and “questioned who her friends were and if they followed the Lord,” the news outlet reported.
In a statement published Sunday on the Livingston Parish Public Schools district Facebook page, St. Pierre reversed course. Citing the significant public attention the episode had received and more time to consider his decision, the principal apologized to the student’s family and undid his previous disciplinary plans. He also addressed his invocation of religion.
The rest of the article:
“Finally, during my conversation with (the student) regarding the dance party, the subject of religious beliefs was broached by (the student) and myself,” St. Pierre wrote. “While that conversation was meant with the best intentions, I do understand it is not my responsibility to determine what students’ or others’ religious beliefs may be – that should be the responsibility of the individual.”
The student and her mother said St. Pierre brought up religion, not her. The mother and daughter have also said the deadline for her scholarship application was on Oct. 3, and questioned whether St. Pierre could have reinstated his scholarship endorsement sooner, The Advocate reported.
In a statement Monday, district officials said St. Pierre had requested to take leave for the remainder of the school year.
“Walker High School Principal Jason St. Pierre has requested to take leave for the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year,” said Livingston Parish Public Schools Superintendent Joe Murphy. “The district office is awaiting his paperwork to process his request.”
Fuck this guy for bringing his religion into school administration, and infringing this student's 1A rights with it. Hopefully his leave will become a resignation.
I want to see him fired, not terminated. He’ll probably be allowed to resign, but that doesn’t look as bad on his resume.
My gut tells me that there's some behind-the-scenes going on that we're not aware of. I find it highly unlikely that someone who so brazenly punishes a public school student on religious grounds would reverse course so completely without some more sensible person in a position of authority doing a "U fukn wot m8?"
Somebody grabbed that guy by the collar and told him exactly what he was going to do next: take the blame, apologize, and gtfo.
He brought up religion; he had pre-printed some scriptures to back up his argument that she was displeasing to God and morally corrupt. Also told her she was going to suffer in her afterlife.
She may have responded to him, but he 100% brought religion into the conversation. By phrasing it the way he did, he was trying to slough off responsibility.
Apparently other students have come forward to say this is NOT the first time he's used his religious beliefs to discipline.
Apparently other students have come forward to say this is NOT the first time he’s used his religious beliefs to discipline.
That was also my suspicion, though I have not read anything about that. Source?
He should be fired, and no retirement package.
It's a retirement or a paid vacation?
Hopefully his leave will become a
resignationfiring.A public firing with a legal opinion from the district lawyer outlining all the laws he broke and a public recommendation for other districts not to hire him because of his illegal behavior would do nicely
We really need a movement anti religion. Enough is enough. No, i dont want to erradicate religion, I want religion out of day to day decisions.
Lmao. My friend showed me a TikTok of some dingbat Christian Lady talking about how hard it is to be a Christian since they're being persecuted so much. Like bitch, it has literally never been easier to be a white Christian in the US with how we're barreling down to good ol' theocracy land
"Citing the significant public attention the episode had received"
Yeah there it is.
Well, i just didn't think anyone would care! You're telling me none of you have ever destroyed a bright young woman's future for having fun?!? But won't you think of The Lord???
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
"Oh no. It's the consequences of my actions!"
Yeah there it is.
Sorry I got caught...
Religious nutjob on power trip backs down because his bullshit is called out and his power is shattered. More of this, please
Get a lawyer and sue for damages done to her character
Ah yes, time to squeeze the citizens for more money to punish the these abusers
"I'm sorry I was caught."
The nerve of this asscunt to impose his feeblemindedness on this girl.
Not only that, but a girl who clearly has her shit together and is doing all the right things to be elected class president and scholarship candidate.
As a kid in the 80's I thought the premise of dirty dancing was a joke. 40 years later.........
Dirty Dancing or Footloose?
Yes.
Whenever I read such articles, all I can think is "Gilead moment." But the more I read US news, the more I feel like the country is actually starting to transition there.
GOP has been the party of Gilead for me ever since Roe and this crazy rage boner they now have for LGBTQ+, particularly drag queens and trans folks.
"starting"? I think we started with the gutting of Roe v Wade. Possibly earlier. I already fear for my friends and family who identify as female. And if the Republicans take the White House in 2024, I think it will just get worse and worse.
To be fair, I watch the country from across an ocean, so I don't have the same lived experience a citizen has. I have the naïve believe that there are better places in the country left!
I do admit, though, how incredibly dystopian Roe vs. Wade is and how it's not getting better anytime soon.
What's a Gilead moment?
I believe they're referencing The Handmaid's Tale
And why has he not been fired?
Because it’s Louisiana
What's wrong with you, America?
So, so much.
Republicans.
Religious fundamentalist. I mean, the country was founded by people who were such extremists no one wanted them around.
district officials said St. Pierre had requested to take leave for the remainder of the school year.
Bet you he gets an increased retirement package if he resigns at the end of the year, can't endanger that.