Full-time Teacher, Tasheba Crane (Head Coach) Excerpts from Principal Thornes Jan. 11, 2021, message to students: Case filings are available here:Thorne v. Shelby County Board of Education, Complaint, Feb. 25, 2021 Transcript of Principal Thornes Message, Feb. 25, 2021 Liberty Justice Centers Demand Letter to Shelby County Schools, Jan. 25, 2021 Press Release, Feb. 25, 2021. Think about McCarthyism think about totalitarian governments, think of North Korea, think of China. After sharing his message, the lawsuit says the principal was the subject of a professional misconduct complaint and internal disciplinary investigation. He should be saluted for educating the kids at Cordova High School instead of indoctrinating them. The taxpayers and parents in Memphis should be celebrating the fact that Principal Thorne is running Cordova High School as a place to educate kids, not indoctrinate kids. The Blaze provided the part of Thornes statement that seemed to have gotten him into trouble: Its whats going on with Twitter and Facebook and Google and Apple, and their decision as private companies to filter and to decide what you can hear and know about. Email: mail_hide("209515", "robertgjacques", 0, "moc.liamg") Thornes suit alleges SCS officials told him to remain silent while the district criticized him in the media. Office Phone: 901-416-5300 What happens when you do not have dissenting opinions, when you do not have an exchange of competing ideas, he told students. Principal Barton Thorne is on. During his presidency, Trump had pushed for abolishing Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to remove liability protections enjoyed by social media platforms. High school principal sues over suspension after controversial comments to students about Capitol riot, free speech, Mother arrested for leaving children home alone to go to gym, police say, Suspect accused of kidnapping, raping child in South Memphis pleads not guilty, Whitehaven mourns loss of high school band director, City of Memphis takes formal stance on 5-year residency requirement for mayoral candidates, Thorne drew comparisons to the Branch Davidian standoff. Email: mail_hide("207528", "cranet", 0, "gro.21kscs") He pointed out that American history is rife with examples of small groups of people deciding what others should hear. For sharing this message with his students, Principal Thorne was subjected to a professional misconduct complaint and internal disciplinary investigation. The principal at Cordova High School has been placed on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of the review of the comments that were made, spokesperson Jerrica Phillips told television station WREG. Full-time Teacher, Ashley Smithcoleman (Assistant Coach) Is SCOTUS About to Annihilate the Administrative State? With the horrific events from last week at our U.S. Capitol, we have to ensure our children, teachers, and school staff remain in a consistent environment that promotes safety, cultural sensitivity, and represents the highest level of excellence, Harris said in a statement. The video was shared with news media, and a member of the school board criticized Thorne publicly in news coverage. Here's What the Left's Coming for Now. If you dont know about that, you can Google that or talk to your social studies teacher.. He criticized the censorship implemented by big tech companies like Twitter, Google, Facebook, and Apple. Over the last month, attorneys from the Liberty Justice Center have reached out to school officials numerous times to rectify the situation with no success. Principal Barton Thorne called it "shocking and disappointing" to be removed for speaking to students about the First Amendment. Email: mail_hide("215114", "wilkersona2", 0, "gro.21kscs") What happens when the marketplace of ideas becomes a forced monopoly? Even though he has his job back, the case will continue, Suhr said. According to the lawsuit, Thornes remarks were in his principals message thats part of a weekly announcements video. There have been times even in American history when a small group of people decided what you can hear, he said. In his role as principal, he delivers a "principal's message" to his students as part of the weekly announcements' videos. [I]n democracies, we talk about the marketplace of ideas. Attorneys first sent a letter to the Superintendent, Director of Professional Standards and General Counsel, but there was no explanation for the continued leave or any movement to reinstate Principal Thorne. It is currently still unclear who instigated the breach. I want you to understand the problem thats going to face you and your generation if there is no longer a marketplace, a free exchange of ideas., You may be in agreement with the people who are doing the filtering, but its just one moment away from somebody else being able to filter you. Principal Thorne asked the young people to consider what happens when other groups filter and decide what you can hear and know about. Read More About History Day 2023. clear. If you trust your teacher talk to your teacher about it. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 2023 Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association, Division I, Class 4A, Region 8, District 15, Division I, Region 8, District 17, Section 4, Division I, Class AAA, Region 8, District 15, Division I, Class AA, Region 8, District 16. After more than a month, and even after the Liberty Justice Center had reached out to the school district multiple times, Thorne had heard very little from school officials and had no resolution to his case. Barton Thorne, the principal of Cordova High School near Memphis, Tennessee, was briefly suspended (cancelled) after he stood up to the cancel culture dominating social media. The video addressed the dangers of the Big Tech Giants censoring speech. Full-time Teacher, John Calley (Assistant Coach) Email: mail_hide("216157", "ratlifftn", 0, "gro.21kscs") There have been times even in American history when a small group of people decided what you can hear, he said. The principal at Cordova High School has been placed on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of the review of the comments that were made, spokesperson Jerrica Phillips told television station WREG. Full-time Teacher, Michael Case (Assistant Coach) Its shocking and disappointing that I was removed from my job for speaking with students about the First Amendment, Principal Thorne said. Thorne, who's been principal at Cordova High School for about three years reportedly made the remarks during the video, which went out to Cordova High students. Barton Thorne. Instead his message was about censorship, silencing of voices, and the dangers of a select group being able to dictate what, if any, speech that happens; this time being Big Tech. Im not going to tell you what to think, I just want to help you think, he told students on a video that was later posted on YouTube. He was also critical of the riot in the Capitol. Thornes suit says the message was even in line with resources the superintendent recommended for teaching students about the Capitol riot and its aftermath. Thorne was placed on administrative leave in mid-January after speaking to students and staff about freedom of speech with regard to major social media platforms removing or blocking posts from then-President Donald Trump and some of his supporters. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 Instead of punishing Principal Thorne he should be given a pay raise and a certificate of merit. Do not send us confidential information until you speak with us and receive authorization to do so. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 Well, what happens when the marketplace of ideas becomes a forced monopoly? Full-time Teacher, Member of Division I, Class AAA, Section 4, James Vinson (Head Coach) In his video, Thorne expressed concerns about times in American history where a small group of people decided what you can hear. The principal of Cordova High School is suing Shelby County Schools. Board member Sheleah Harris, whose district includes Cordova High School, commented on the principals suspension, saying the allegations are extremely unfortunate and do not reflect the true value of the school. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 I think we all know what thats code for. Principal Thorne asked the young people to consider what happens when other groups filter and decide what you can hear and know about. Principal Thornes experience is a frightening example of this trend. As leaders, we must be intentional about creating spaces for our students to discuss and process events that take place in our country and community.. The logos of multinational American Internet companies are seen on a computer screen in Lille, France, on Oct 21, 2020. The district confirms Cordova High Principal Barton Thorne is on paid leave while his comments are under review. Full-time Teacher, Tracy Ratliff (Assistant Coach) Full-time Teacher, Michella Carter (Assistant Coach) Virginia parents argue school ambassador program is discriminatory. Office Phone: 901-416-7470, Barton Thorne (Principal) The comments came a few days after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, after which Facebook and Twitter suspended President Trumps accounts, and Google, Apple and Amazon Web Services de-platformed the social media app Parler, which was popular among conservatives. Thankfully, theyre letting Principal Thorne back into the school and return to do what he loves, which is teach his students, Suhr said. Barton Thorne is the principal at Cordova High School in the Memphis-area, a high school that serves a diverse community including many low-income and minority students. The video addressed the dangers of the Big Tech Giants censoring speech. Sonora High School is a diverse community dedicated to the academic, personal, and social growth of all student learners within a student-centered environment. School Principal Suspended for Talking to Students About Big Tech Censorship, Copyright Policy and Infringement Notification. Email: mail_hide("212221", "cooperc1", 0, "gro.21kscs") All Rights Reserved. Oct 2001 - Jun 201210 years 9 months. The principal has retained legal counsel from the Liberty Justice Center, a national public interest law firm that defends constitutional rights. Forget the War on Stoves. John Dowtin cried when Barton Thorne, the principal at Cordova, officially offered him to become the school's football coach. Shelby County Schools. Email: mail_hide("207974", "vandaslynch", 0, "moc.liamg") - Disclaimer: The materials contained in this website are for informational purposes and are not to be considered advertising or legal advice. Linda A. Moore. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 (SBG) High school principal Barton Thorne, who was suspended last month over comments he made about free speech in the wake of the Capitol riot, is returning to work for the first time in six weeks. The suit however, will not be dropped. In each class, program and pathway of study, students are being shaped into good citizens, critical thinkers, effective communicators and lifelong learners. Office Phone: 901-416-4800 Email: mail_hide("212218", "sikesd", 0, "gro.21kscs") Copyright 2023 Liberty Justice Center. Classified Employee, Johnny Stuckey (Head Coach) Thorne is suing his school district and its superintendent for the suspension. SCS placed him on administrative leave, where he has languished for six weeks without any closure to his case, the lawsuit states. What sort of fruit salad nonsense is the Office of Equity and Access? Read More Most recent HUNT VALLEY, Md. Thorne shared concerns about big tech companies ability to control information on their platforms during a Jan. 11 weekly homeroom video message to students and staff at Cordova High School in Tennessee. Taught various levels of English; coached softball and soccer; teacher-leader as a department chair and school . Cancel culture isnt just stopping hate speech, its silencing legitimate speech protected by the First Amendment. Come out to the Seeds in the Middle Farm Market onsite at Clara Barton HS. Phone: Email: Degrees and Certifications: Daniel Suhr, managing attorney at Liberty Justice Center appeared on C-SPAN's Washington Journal to discuss the vaccine mandate challenges being heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 7. And so, if they can do that to a minorityor if they can do that to a powerful voice, it doesnt have to be a minoritywhat will stop them one day from doing that to you?, So, anyway, think about that. Facebook Page; . Office Phone: 901-415-4540 During that time, SCS officials lambasted his message in the news media while telling him to stay silent. His comments in no way violated his responsibilities to the district under his contract. Linda A. Moore covers education, South Memphis and Whitehaven. But every American should be concerned about a cultural trend to get rid of voices that disagree with popular viewpoints. (SBG) High school principal Barton Thorne, who was suspended last month over comments he made about free speech in the wake of the Capitol riot, is returning to work for the first time in six weeks. Lowe seems to believe its a crime to encourage young people to think critically about the big issues of the day. Principal SUSPENDED for warning students about cancel culture: The elimination of the free exchange of ideas, 5 Things to Know About Principal Barton Thorne and His Case Against Shelby County Schools, https://openthewordblog.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/99-the-test.mp3, https://openthewordblog.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/55-crossing-over-to-the-other-side-of-faith.mp3, https://openthewordblog.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/54-are-you-an-injustice-collector_.mp3, https://openthewordblog.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/53-what-baseball-cards-tell-you-about-you.mp3, https://openthewordblog.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/52-you-have-just-90-seconds-1.mp3, https://openthewordblog.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/51-the-butterfly-effect.mp3, https://openthewordblog.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/50-christians-in-the-age-of-civil-disobedience.mp3, https://openthewordblog.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/49-_-thinking-old.mp3, https://openthewordblog.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/48-_-word-of-knowlege.mp3, https://openthewordblog.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/47-_-two-crossesrevised2023.mp3, https://openthewordblog.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/46-_-three-events-that-may-connect-covid-19-to-the-end-times_-1.mp3, https://openthewordblog.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/45-nudge-from-above.mp3, https://openthewordblog.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/44-what-is-your-default-setting.mp3. During his over 9-minute-long video comments, Thorne expressed concerns about times in American history where a small group of people decided what you can hear, according to atranscriptprovided by the Liberty Justice Center. We average between 2 and 3 posts a day. Im not going to tell you what to think, I just want to help you think, he told students on a video that was later posted on YouTube. Full-time Teacher, Dustin Sikes (Assistant Coach) An equity officer for the school also gave an interview to the news about Thorne. Memphis, TN. Copyright 2023 Liberty Justice Center. 1. This is about speech.. Imagine that a public school administrator who is teaching kids to think for themselves. At a recent Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), former President Trump, who Twitter and Facebook banned following the Jan. 6 incident, said that big tech firms should face penalties if they continue to censor conservative opinions. Email: mail_hide("186437", "thornebl", 0, "gro.21kscs") Office Phone: 901-416-4540 "Yes, we will be replacing Coach Wimberly as football coach at Cordova High School," Cordova principal Barton Thorne said. India Weaver (System Athletic Director) I dont know of too many people that are going to be OK with what happened. As complaints about big tech censorship grow, calls to regulate it also gain heat. We have to be aware and at a heightened sense. You may be in agreement with the people who are doing the filtering, but its just one moment away from somebody else being able to filter you. Anything less would be a disservice not only to Principal Thorne, but also to his students who are watching a real-life civics life lesson unfold before their eyes.. Six weeks after he was placed on leave, he filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the district and Superintendent Joris Ray. Twitter first placed restrictions on a video the president posted, before temporarily suspending his account, an action followed closely by Facebook. The comments he made endorsed no political or religious points of view, and are widely accepted in public education curriculum, including in Shelby County Schools. Principal . This isnt about Trump, he said. And hopefully, the school district will do that, and then we can bring this case to a close, he said. Giving the example of McCarthyism, the principal encouraged students to Google about the issue or ask their social studies teacher. Full-time Teacher, Charles Cooper (Head Coach) In an interview with The Epoch Times, Paxton pointed out that since these companies can decide who to allow and ban on their platforms, there is no other choice but to regulate them to maintain fairness. Email: mail_hide("212820", "warnerdk", 0, "gro.21kscs") Thorne referenced McCarthyism, as well as a standoff between federal agents and a religious group called the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas during the 1990s. Office Phone: 901-416-4540, Michael Case (Athletic Director) What sort of fruit salad nonsense is the Office of Equity and Access? Copyright 2023 Liberty Justice Center. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 We keep a close eye on China because of its influence now and the lessons we can learn from its ancient past to better our lives today. Barton Thorne is a career educator who currently serves as principal of Cordova High School for Shelby County Schools (SCS). Barton Thorne, the principal of Cordova High School, told students during morning announcements that they needed to be aware of the censorship happening on social media. What you need to know, summarized in one email. Free speech was being threatened, he alleged, by the actions of. Full-time Teacher, Tracy Ratliff (Assistant Coach) A Tennessee high school principal is on administrative leave after he told students they should be alarmed by the recent crackdown on free speech on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Principal Thornes experience is a frightening example of this trend. Do not send us confidential information until you speak with us and receive authorization to do so. This article by Joe Dodson was published December 8, 2022 on courthousenews.com. According to the lawsuit, Thorne says SCS violated his first and 14th amendment rights. He also criticized the Capitol riot, calling it ignorance at the highest level. He said that no matter what side you agree with, one should not practice sedition or attack the legislature. This includes personalizing content and advertising. Phone 951-736-4545 | Fax 951-736-4538. A large number of pro-Trump accounts were also deleted by Twitter and Facebook. According to the lawsuit, Thorne usually delivers a weekly speech to students to educate and inspire them. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton believes that big tech companies should be regulated, like how governments regulate utility companies. Full-time Teacher, Chris Burns (Assistant Coach) Six weeks later, Thorne filed a federal civil rightslawsuitagainst the district and Superintendent Joris Ray. Thornes suspension had resulted from a complaint from one or several unknown SCS employees, parents, or students, according to the lawsuit. Email: mail_hide("212940", "calleyjp", 0, "gro.21kscs") After the school district refused to act, Thorne filed a federal lawsuit. He warned that cancel culture is taking foot in America and that he will never stand for it. Virginia parents argue school ambassador program is discriminatory. He was then placed on paid administrative leave where he has languished for six weeks without any closure to his case, the filing says. The school districts Office of Equity and Access (whatever the heck that is) also weighed in on the situation. The social media giants have collectively seen $51.2 billion in combined market value wiped out over the last two trading sessions since they banned Trump from their platforms. Email: mail_hide("186439", "casemt", 0, "gro.21kscs") The principal stressed, however, that his speech was not in support of Trump, or the recently deplatformed social media app Parler, but solely about freedom of speech. Barton Thorne's comments on big tech, Donald Trump, McCarthyism and Branch Davidians companies have are under scrutiny from Shelby County Schools officials. The state of Texas is also considering a similar law. Email: mail_hide("209513", "calleyjp", 0, "gro.21kscs") . According to the Liberty Justice Center (LJC), Thorne has since been reinstated as principal, but LJC is proceeding with a lawsuit against the school division because of the need to stand up to cancel culture. According to the lawsuit, Thorne says SCS violated his first and 14th amendment rights. [I]n democracies, we talk about the marketplace of ideas. The principal has retained legal counsel from the Liberty Justice Center, a national public interest law firm that defends constitutional rights. He should be saluted for educating the kids at Cordova High School instead of indoctrinating them. Thorne shared concerns about big tech companies' ability to control information on their platforms during a Jan. 11 weekly homeroom video message to students and staff at Cordova High School in . Office Phone: 901-416-4540 Home; About Us" Administrators; Family & Community Engagement . ITS NOT THEIR MONEY, BUT THEY DONT CARE, BIDEN SAYS INDIAN-AMERICANS ARE TAKING OVER THE COUNTRY, AND HE SEEMS TO LIKE IT. Fortunately for Principal Thorne, the First Amendment is on his side and we will not rest until he is reinstated to his job and receives a full apology. Required fields are marked *. As leaders, we must be intentional about creating spaces for our students to discuss and process events that take place in our country and community.. Suspended Cordova High School principal files lawsuit against district - News Channel 3 Memphis . Imagine that a public school administrator who is teaching kids to think for themselves. "This isn't about Trump," he said. URGENT: Social media is SHUTTING DOWN Conservative content. Thorne addressed his students a day after President Donald Trump was suspended from several Big Tech platforms in the wake of violence that erupted on Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (03/07/21) Barton Thorne, Principal at Cordova High School in Tennessee was suspended from his job for making a video and sharing it with students and staff. And he is absolutely correct. Bryan College (2012), Member of Division I, Class 4A, Region 8, District 15, D'Vennio Warner (Head Coach) In a statement, Thorne stressed that free speech is under threat and that he will neither be silenced nor would he allow a students voice to be marginalized just because he puts forward a reasonable point of view. But the irony is that by doing this, another small group of people tried to silence HIM, and punished him for daring to speak truth. Vice Principal . Otherwise, free speech will be controlled by a few wealthy tech people. After the tragic and disturbing events of January 6, 2021, our country experienced a teachable moment around the importance of free speech and the dangers of cancel culture and deplatforming as social media moderators reacted to the content of various accounts. (Denis Charlet/AFP via Getty Images). Three Loudoun County parents say the school districts student ambassador program, meant to combat systemic racism, discriminates against students based on their race and viewpoints. subjected to an internal disciplinary investigation, Newsmax: Daniel Suhr and former ASU student Tim Tizon discuss appeal of unlawful conviction, Former ASU Student Appeals Conviction for Distributing Constitution- Newsmax, New Lawsuit: Albuquerque vote to give taxpayer funds to Planned Parenthood violates New Mexico Constitution, Virginias Discriminatory Ambassador Program Courthouse News Service. And while doing so, they even told him that he could not talk to the media about it; yet the school policy is that employees CAN talk to media in their own personal capacities. Full-time Teacher Barton Thorne is principal of Cordova High School. Barton Thorne, the principal of Cordova High School, told students during morning announcements that they needed to be aware of the censorship happening on social media. A Tennessee high school principal is on administrative leave after he told students they should be alarmed by the recent crackdown on free speech on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. One of the more disturbing aspects of Principal Thornes suspension was that his message was in full compliance with Tennessees standards for teaching social studies to high school students. Phone: Email: Degrees and Certifications: Mary DeGruy. You think about McCarthyism, he said, according to the network. But make no mistake, he did not speak out about this because he supported the actions of protesters on January 6th. As a career educator in a very diverse community, I have prided myself on fostering a school environment that is open-minded, accepting and welcoming everyone who comes through our doors. Thorne warned his students that anyones voice can be cancelled for any reason by a small group of people. Thorne is suing his school district and its superintendent for the suspension. Vision Times tells the world everything about China in today's context. Former Arizona State Student Appeals Conviction for Distributing Constitution Copies Liberty Justice Center filed an appeal on behalf of a former Arizona State University student who was convicted of trespassing when he handed To schedule an interview, contact Chloe Edwards at.

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