Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Madison Evans
Edu 210
9/24/18
Student Ray Knight was suspended from school for excessive unexcused absences. The
school district required that the school sends a written notice to the parents, and a phone call to
notify the parents. However, the school only sent Ray Knight home with a letter, which he threw
away before showing his parents. During his suspension, Ray Knight was shot at a friends house.
The court cases that support the school’s side are Commonwealth v. Kerstetter (2014) and Goss
v. Lopez (1975). The court cases that support the parent’s rights to pursue liability charges are
Troxel v. Granville (2000) and Appellees v. Cedar Rapids Community School District (2013).
In the Commonwealth v. Kerstetter (2014) case, a mother was charged with truancy
because her five-year-old daughters had excessive unexcused absences. She argued that
compulsory school age is between 8 and 17, so she cannot be charged for truancy. The court held
that compulsory attendance is required for students between 8 and 17 (FindLaw). This case
shows that the school was allowed to suspend Ray Knight for excessive unexcused absences
In the Goss v. Lopez (1975) case, students were suspended without due process from the
school. The court ruled that students have the right to a written notice of suspension and due
process (FindLaw). Since the decisions of the Supreme Court are the “law of the land”, a written
In the Troxel v. Granville (2000) case, Troxel wanted the court to grant visitation days
with his grandchildren. The parent of the children, Granville, did not oppose; however, the courts
granted the grandparent more days than the parent wanted. Granville opposed the visitation days,
and the courts ruled that the parents have the right to oversee the upbringing and care of their
child. This court case shows that the parents have the right to know what is happening with their
children (JUSTIA). The school did not effectively notify Ray Knight’s parents of his suspension,
In the Appellees v. Cedar Rapids Community School District (2013) case, Mitchell sued
the school district when her daughter was sexually assaulted by another student after school
hours off campus. The school failed to notify Mitchell within a timely manner that her daughter
left school during school hours. The jury ruled that the school failed to adequately supervise the
special education student (FindLaw). Since the school did not effectively notify Ray Knight’s
parents that he would not be attending school, the school would be responsible for what happens
off campus.
The court will likely rule in favor of the parents of Ray Knight. The school infringed on
the parents’ rights by not adequately informing them of Knight’s situation. The parents were
unaware that their child would not be attending school. If they had known, the shooting could
have been prevented. The school also did not meet their district standards for informing parents
of a suspension. Schools are required to follow the rules set by the school district.
References
court/1670075.html
FindLaw. (n.d.). Goss V. Lopez, (1975). Retrieved September 21, 2018, from
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/419/565.html
FindLaw. (n.d.). Leeann Mitchell, Individually, and on Behalf of D.E., her Minor Child, Appellees,
v. Cedar Rapids Community School District, Appellant. Retrieved September 21, 2018, from
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/ia-supreme-court/1635949.html
JUSTIA. (n.d.). Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57 (2000). Retrieved September 21, 2018, from
https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/530/57/