Mississippi College Law Review
Publication Date
Spring 2024
Abstract
The notion that "it takes a village to raise a child" is a proverbial adage that still maintains the same, if not greater, relevance today. This simply means the successful upbringing of a child depends not only on the parents, but also on the child's village, which consists of trusted members of the community, extended family, friends of the family, and other mentors. As the child transitions into adulthood, there is an expectation among the village members that the child will use the lessons he or she learns about life and its responsibilities to honor the village accordingly. Some of the sacred responsibilities entrusted to the child include being selfless, defending the defenseless, and holding firm to moral beliefs. Notably absent from the list of individuals comprising the village are public school administrators, some of whom far too often do not have the students' best interests in mind in fulfilling their administrative duties. Moreover, the schools' views may sometimes be in direct conflict with parental and village expectations.
This Note will explore the dissension among school districts, parents, and courts regarding the extent of schools' authority to discipline students for off-campus activity, especially when that authority is in direct conflict with the role of the village. Due to the advent of social media (and the Internet in general), the line between parental and village influence versus social control is becoming increasingly difficult to establish.
Recommended Citation
Chamberlain, Marcellus D.
(2024)
"It Takes a Village, Not a Schoolhouse: The Deprival of Parents & Students' Rights to Privacy & Expression in Context of Bell v. Itawamba,"
Mississippi College Law Review: Vol. 36:
Iss.
2, Article 10.
Available at:
https://dc.law.mc.edu/lawreview/vol36/iss2/10