Wimberly took to Twitter to announce his dismissal from Cordova. Cordova High School The strength of the pack is the wolf. The principal has retained legal counsel from the Liberty Justice Center, a national public interest law firm that defends constitutional rights. Email: mail_hide("212822", "calleyjp", 0, "gro.21kscs") Suhr said the school needs to make up for damages against Thornes reputation. Home; About Us" Administrators; Family & Community Engagement . Office Phone: 901-416-4540 Thorne further referenced totalitarian governments, like North Korea and China.. While Principal Thorne was instructed not to speak to the media or the community about his suspension, numerous district officials spoke publicly about him. "This isn't about Trump," he said. Thornes suit alleges SCS officials told him to remain silent while the district criticized him in the media. Copyright 2023 Liberty Justice Center. Thorne said he was not making those comments because he favored Parler or Trump or anybody else who is being banned., The lawsuit alleges the school district directed Thorne not to talk to media even though the SCS policies permit employees to talk to media in their individual capacity.. 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. Is the TikTok Benadryl Challenge Actually Suicide Promotion? Office Phone: 901-416-4540 Principal Barton Thorne called it "shocking and disappointing" to be removed for speaking to students about the First Amendment. Thornes suspension had resulted from a complaint from one or several unknown SCS employees, parents, or students, according to the lawsuit. 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. After the school district refused to act, Thorne filed a federal lawsuit. Email: mail_hide("209514", "lewistj", 0, "gro.21kscs") Email: mail_hide("212216", "cranet", 0, "gro.21kscs") Thorne is suing his school district and its superintendent for the suspension. 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 principal has retained legal counsel from the Liberty Justice Center, a national public interest law firm that defends constitutional rights. What makes those types of systems possible is the restriction and elimination of the free exchange of ideas.. To schedule an interview, contact Kristen Williamson at[emailprotected]or 773-809-4403. The school districts Office of Equity and Access (whatever the heck that is) also weighed in on the situation. Epoch Times reporter Isabel van Brugen contributed to this report. The principal of Cordova High School is suing Shelby County Schools. Phone: Email: Degrees and Certifications: 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. []. I look forward to my next endeavor! Thursday Farm Market. Full-time Teacher, John Calley (Assistant Coach) Virginia parents argue school ambassador program is discriminatory. 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. And this isnt about Trump, Im not getting into that, this is about speech, because there have been times even in American history where a small group of people decided what you can hear. Well, what happens when the marketplace of ideas becomes a forced monopoly? Classified Employee, Johnny Stuckey (Head Coach) 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. What makes those types of systems possible is the restriction and elimination of the free exchange of ideas.. This information is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute or create, an attorney-client relationship between the Liberty Justice Center and/or any lawyer with LJC with any reader or recipient of this information and LJC does not make any assertion regarding available attorneys in your jurisdiction. Suspended Cordova High School principal files lawsuit against district - News Channel 3 Memphis . And not whether or not you agree or disagree with the people being filtered, but can this happen to you one day?, READ: 5 Things to Know About Principal Barton Thorne and His Case Against Shelby County Schools, Your email address will not be published. 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. 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. The video was shared with news media, and a member of the school board criticized Thorne publicly in news coverage. This is about speech.. ITS NOT THEIR MONEY, BUT THEY DONT CARE, BIDEN SAYS INDIAN-AMERICANS ARE TAKING OVER THE COUNTRY, AND HE SEEMS TO LIKE IT. Weve got a pretty simple ask: we want him to be not just restored to his job, but restored to his reputation. Principal . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Shelby County Schools needs to acknowledge the damage to Principal Thornes reputation and make sure that students know that his message was both appropriate and right free speech is important in our society. 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. Terms under which this service is provided to you, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information, The Debt Ceiling Is About to Crash, And Mr. Magoo Is Behind the Wheel, Shut Down the Border or Shut Down Democrat Cities, The Military's Job Is Simple, but the Biden Administration Seems Awfully Confused About It, Hunter Finally Appears in Child Support Case, Judge Blasts Him for Concealing Income, Ireland about to execute free speech as in "kill it off permanently", Chris Coons Bends Over Backwards to Defend Joe Biden Running for Reelection, MSNBC Show Host Mocking Conservative Justices Speaks Right to Alito's Point. Learn more about Thorne v. Shelby County Board of Education. The following article written by Brooke Conrad appeared on ABC4 News on February 26, 2021. CNUSD Connection Newsletter - 1-27-2023. Full-time Teacher, Vandas Lynch (Assistant Coach) InThorne v. Shelby County Board of Education, Liberty Justice Center is representing a Memphis-area high school principal suing his school district after he was placed on administrative leave for speaking with his students about the importance of free speech. And he is absolutely correct. Vice Principal . He pointed out that American history is rife with examples of small groups of people deciding what others should hear. Be aware, be in the loop as far as whats going on. He criticized the censorship implemented by big tech companies like Twitter, Google, Facebook, and Apple. Now they will pay the piper for their actions. Thorne stressed his. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 Read More Most recent What happens when you do not have dissenting opinions, when you do not have an exchange on competing ideashow do you know if your ideas can stand on their own if there is no marketplace of ideas? he said. This article by Nicole Wells was published January 27, 2023 on newsmax.com. Email: mail_hide("215107", "stuckeyj", 0, "gro.21kscs") 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. 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. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 He should be saluted for educating the kids at Cordova High School instead of indoctrinating them. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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.. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 CORDOVA HIGH SCHOOL 1800 Berryhill Road Cordova, TN 38016 Main Office: 416-4540 School Fax: 416-4545 Barton Thorne, Principal thornebl@scsk12.org Mary DeGruy, Vice Principal degruymm@scsk12.org SCHOOL DIRECTORY Attendance Office: 416-2085 Guidance Office: 416-2120 Registration: 416-2143 Records: 416-2119 Bilingual Mentor, Ivan Borgos - 416-2145 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. Oct 2001 - Jun 201210 years 9 months. Coaches who have successfully completed the ASEP Coaches Education Course AND the TSSAA Online Coaches Training Session prior to May, 15, 2013 are not subject to this requirement. In his role as principal, he delivers a "principal's message" to his students as part of the weekly announcements' videos. 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. 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. Full-time Teacher, Tasheba Crane (Head Coach) It is currently still unclear who instigated the breach. HUNT VALLEY, Md. They further constitute a breach of Principal Thornes employment contract.. (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:13247195197429350,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8850-4234"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.lockerdomecdn.com/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); Follow us for breaking news and latest updates: https://chrt.fm/track/23284G/verifi.podscribe.com/rss/p/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/ec639eda-812c-4db1-85c8-acfd010f9fef/4289b50a-5546-4107-a1fd-aff5013fa8c0/audio.mp3?track=false. Principal Thorne was placed on leave the day after his video was circulated. Full-time Teacher, Robert Jacques (Assistant Coach) Disclaimer: The materials contained in this website are for informational purposes and are not to be considered advertising or legal advice. Email: mail_hide("207528", "cranet", 0, "gro.21kscs") Every Monday morning, Cordova High Schools daily announcement video features a principals minute where Thorne shares messages to inspire, educate, inform and challenge his high school students with broad themes and life advice from their principal. 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. He also referenced McCarthyism, as well as a standoff between federal agents and the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas during the 1990s. 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 . After sharing his message, the lawsuit says the principal was the subject of a professional misconduct complaint and internal disciplinary investigation. What happens when the marketplace of ideas becomes a forced monopoly. And Shelby County Schools silenced him for that.Thornes message to his students is something everyone should take to heart: Be aware, be in the loop as far as whats going on. And not whether or not you agree or disagree with the people being filtered, but can this happen to you one day?. Full-time Teacher, John Calley (Assistant Coach) This information is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute or create, an attorney-client relationship between the Liberty Justice Center and/or any lawyer with LJC with any reader or recipient of this information and LJC does not make any assertion regarding available attorneys in your jurisdiction. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 The day after his message, Shelby County Schools placed Thorne on administrative leave. Use cash, venmo, cashapp, Zelle, etc. Barton Thorne is a career educator who currently serves as principal of Cordova High School for Shelby County Schools (SCS). A bit of Bible, A bit of Life, A bit of Politics. In his video, Thorne expressed concerns about times in American history where a small group of people decided what you can hear. It is not always pleasant to hear things that you might disagree with or discover that someone holds an opposing position. 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. 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. Apparently, defending free speech is a big no-no in Shelby County Schools. The Liberty Justice Center is seeking an unspecified amount in damages. In a one-minute speech to the school Assembly on Jan 11, 2021, Thorne briefly addressed the woke, left-wing mob policing Facebook and Twitter who relentlessly attack anyone who does not agree with their personal views on how the world should run. Linda A. Moore covers education, South Memphis and Whitehaven. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 (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. Shelby County Schools (SCS) violated Mr. Thorne's First Amendment and contractual rights by placing him on administrative leave for teaching his students classic American principles on free speech and democratic self-government. Barton Thorne of Cordova High School was placed on paid administrative leave after comments he made over the district's virtual learning platform. Suhr told Sinclair his firm had reached out to the school district several times before filing the suit, but the school never responded in a substantive way.. This article by Nicole Wells was published January 27, 2023 on newsmax.com. One of our most misunderstood freedoms has the principal of Cordova High School in hot water tonight. 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. Thorne v. Shelby County Board of Education, 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. According to the lawsuit, Thorne says SCS violated his first and 14th amendment rights. (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. Because Cordova is like the City of Memphis, its made up of a salad bowl of many different students of all areas of Memphis.. We average between 2 and 3 posts a day. During his video message, Thorne explicitly denounced the Capitol riots, saying they displayed ignorance at the highest levels., I dont know too many people that are going to be okay with what happened, he said.
