Earring gets 8th graders expelled from Clinton Middle School

Earring gets 8th graders expelled from Clinton Middle School

November 17, 2004

By STEVE GEHLBACH
6 News Reporter

CLINTON (WATE) -- Three eighth grade boys can no longer attend Clinton Middle School after administrators said they violated the district's zero tolerance policy on weapons. The weapon in this case is an earring.

Around noon Tuesday, after Alan Vanhuss put an earring in his right ear his science teacher sent him to the principal's office. "They told me it was considered a dangerous weapon and I wasn't allowed to pierce my ear in school and it's zero tolerance."

However, both of the Vanhuss' ears are already pierced and it's not against the rules to wear earrings at school.

"He just hadn't been wearing an earring in that one ear and checked it yesterday for some reason at school to see if was growed up," Teresa Vanhuss said.

Harold Jackson and another student helped. All three have now been expelled for one calendar year, the minimum punishment for violating Anderson County Schools zero tolerance policy.

"I came over to make sure it was all the way through and I touched it to make sure it was all the way through and she caught us and whatever," Jackson said.

The principal at Clinton Middle couldn't talk about the specific case or punishment but told 6 News the policy on weapons includes anything that can inflict injury, even a pen, pencil or earring.

The students' parents say the boys did nothing wrong and the punishment is too harsh. "It's not right. There's something going on. They didn't even let the boys explain what was going on," Stephanie Reeder said.

The parents plan to appeal the expulsions. They were told by the district Wednesday morning it could be up to 10 days before a hearing date is set. They have to go in front of a disciplinary board to argue their case.