Student Suspended for Snapping Picture of Sleeping Teacher

January 30, 2012

Freshman BHS Journalism Student

          On Friday January 27^th, an Oklahoma City Mustang freshman student got suspended for taking a picture of his substitute teacher while sleeping during class. He took out his cell phone, took pictures, and sent it to many people throughout his school. A district spokesman told the Oklahoman, “A faculty member saw the photo on a social media website and reported it to the principal.” (It didn’t say who.) School officials say, “Cell phones are allowed on school grounds, but cannot be used during school hours.” The name of the student and substitute teacher has not been released.

            “I agree with that policy, but maybe that was the only way to prove the teacher was sleeping.” “If the teacher was sleeping, then the school has to investigate that,” said Sandy Ruminer, the student’s mother, to his school district.  The student and the school do not have an idea of how long he will be suspended or when he will come back. This story has spread out through his community and people are responding. Many parents and kids have concerns about the student getting suspended and some wonder if the suspension was even the right thing to do.      

            The student and his mother said: “The suspension should not be allowed because if the teacher was sleeping on the job, then somebody should know about it and report it.” The school is also trying to resolve, workout, and fix this issue as best as they can.