The principal has retained legal counsel from the Liberty Justice Center, a national public interest law firm that defends constitutional rights. Full-time Teacher, Tracy Ratliff (Assistant Coach) Staff information for the 2022-2023 school year is displayed as it is entered/verified by Cordova High School administration. Email: mail_hide("208846", "layjo", 0, "gro.21kscs") Barton Thorne, who is in his fourth year leading Cordova High School in Shelby County, reportedly said during a nine-minute morning announcement that free speech is being threatened by the actions of privately held tech companies, the Commercial Appeal reported. In Florida, lawmakers have put forward a proposal to penalize social media companies that ban political candidates during elections. 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.. (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. "This isn't about Trump," he said. It was only after he filed a lawsuit, Thorne v. Shelby County Board of Education, on February 23 that Principal Thorne was reinstated. Denotes school attended/completed rules meeting in current school year. Office Phone: 901-416-4545 (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. Copyright 2023 Liberty Justice Center. The focus was on helping his students think critically about how the position being taken by tech companies like Facebook and Twitter could impact their future and how it could impact free speech in the future. Office Phone: 901-416-4545 Learn more about Thorne v. Shelby County Board of Education. Email: mail_hide("212214", "cartermt", 0, "gro.21kscs") Email: mail_hide("212946", "havrdass", 0, "gro.21kscs") After leaving Cordova after the 2010 season, he coached at Memphis . Office Phone: 901-416-4540 SCS placed him on administrative leave, where he has languished for six weeks without any closure to his case, the lawsuit states. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 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. Email: mail_hide("186437", "thornebl", 0, "gro.21kscs") By registering for the newsletter, you agree to the, Global Governance: The Great Reset and the End of Sovereignty, FBI Warrantless Searches of Americans Dropped 96 Percent in 2022, Megyn Kelly Claims Fox News in Existential Crisis After Tucker Carlsons Exit, Tense Face-Off: Philippines Confronts China Over Sea Claims, California Landslide Halts Rail Service, Homes Evacuated, California Man Found Guilty of Killing 3 After Doorbell Prank. 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. Barton Thorne of Cordova High School was placed on paid administrative leave after comments he made over the district's virtual learning platform. But simply allowing Thorne to return to the position that he was wrongfully suspended from is not quite enough. "I have been released as the head football coach this afternoon by Mr. Thorne. 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. This article by Nicole Wells was published January 27, 2023 on newsmax.com. While Principal Thorne was instructed not to speak to the media or the community about his suspension, numerous district officials spoke publicly about him. 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. Office Phone: 901-416-4540, Michael Case (Athletic Director) District officials have refused to answer questions from Thorne or his attorneys about when he will be allowed to return to school, or why he is being punished for speaking about the First Amendment. Full-time Teacher, Tasheba Crane (Head Coach) 1. Cancel culture isnt just stopping hate speech, its silencing legitimate speech protected by the First Amendment. The only violation of Shelby County School guidelines was made by the district itself, when it breached Thornes contractual rights by placing him on administrative leave for teaching his students the classic American principles of free speech and democratic self-government. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Feb. 25, 2021) A Memphis-area high school principal is suing his school district after he was placed on administrative leave for speaking with his students about the importance of free speech. 3:50 The principal of Cordova High School in Memphis, Tennessee, is suing his school district and its superintendent for suspending him after he taught students about big tech censorship in the wake of the January 6 riot on Capitol Hill. Troy High School Mission. And not whether or not you agree or disagree with the people being filtered, but can this happen to you one day?. Home; About Us" Administrators; Family & Community Engagement . 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 referenced McCarthyism, as well as a standoff between federal agents and a religious group called the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas during the 1990s. All Rights Reserved. After the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, Thorne gave a similar speech (in a virtual classroom). Principal Thornes experience is a frightening example of this trend. Cordova High School The strength of the pack is the wolf. The principal of Cordova High School is suing Shelby County Schools. Thornes suspension had resulted from a complaint from one or several unknown SCS employees, parents, or students, according to the lawsuit. The video addressed the dangers of the Big Tech Giants censoring speech. 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. Barton Thorne, who is in his fourth year leading Cordova High School in Shelby County, reportedly said during a nine-minute morning announcement that free speech is being threatened [] Many of you have complained that you never see our content in your news feeds. 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. In his remarks, Principal Thorne expressed concern about the ways social media companies are shutting down debate on critical issues of the day and encouraged students to talk with their parents or teachers about the ramifications of these actions on the First Amendment and free speech. Email: mail_hide("212217", "vinsonjr", 0, "gro.21kscs") 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? Principal Barton Thorne. He was then placed on paid administrative leave where he has languished for six weeks without any closure to his case, the filing says. Spend EBT/SNAP - get $2 free for $2 spent $20 worth for only $10) Spend $10 cash, get free $5 Hip2B Healthy Coupon ($15 for only $10) Spend at least $5 - get FREE diapers. MEMPHIS, Tenn. The head of the Memphis and Shelby County teacher's union is reacting to a controversial video made by the principal of Cordova High School. Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have all banned Trump, alleging he incited the violence leading to the breach of the building. What happens when the marketplace of ideas becomes a forced monopoly. According to the lawsuit, Thorne usually delivers a weekly speech to students to educate and inspire them. Email: mail_hide("215108", "sikesd", 0, "gro.21kscs") Think about McCarthyism think about totalitarian governments, think of North Korea, think of China. "Yes, we will be replacing Coach Wimberly as football coach at Cordova High School," Cordova principal Barton Thorne said. 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. (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. According to the lawsuit, Thorne says SCS violated his first and 14th amendment rights. The following article written by Brooke Conrad appeared on ABC4 News on February 26, 2021. The audio of Thorne's remarks, which. One of our most misunderstood freedoms has the principal of Cordova High School in hot water tonight. It is currently still unclear who instigated the breach. Six weeks later, Thorne filed a federal civil rightslawsuitagainst the district and Superintendent Joris Ray. Trump took to Twitter following the outbreak of violence to call on protesters to go home in peace.He denounced the violence as a heinous attack that defiled the seat of American democracy on Jan. 7. The suit claims he saw it as a teachable moment about Free Speech and the dangers of cancel culture. His message touched on the importance of Free Speech in a democratic society, the lawsuit says, and was in line with Tennessees standards for teaching social studies to high school students and in line with generally accepted civics curriculum.. 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. According to the lawsuit, Thorne usually delivers a weekly speech to students to educate and inspire them. Twitter first placed restrictions on a video the president posted, before temporarily suspending his account, an action followed closely by Facebook. A bit of Bible, A bit of Life, A bit of Politics. In a nine-minute speech Monday, Cordova High School Principal Barton Thorne spoke to the school about free speech. Non-faculty, Member of Division I, Class AAA, Region 8, District 15, Justin Lay (Head Coach) 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. 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.. After sharing his message, the lawsuit says the principal was the subject of a professional misconduct complaint and internal disciplinary investigation. 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. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Learn how your comment data is processed. Principal Barton Thorne made a homeroom video that started by criticizing last week's . Think about China. Copyright 2023 Liberty Justice Center. SHOOTING IT STRAIGHT NEWS / VIEWS / REVIEWS, Your email address will not be published. Full-time Teacher, Tracy Ratliff (Assistant Coach) The principal has retained legal counsel from the Liberty Justice Center, a national public interest law firm that defends constitutional rights. The Liberty Justice Center is seeking an unspecified amount in damages. ITS NOT THEIR MONEY, BUT THEY DONT CARE, BIDEN SAYS INDIAN-AMERICANS ARE TAKING OVER THE COUNTRY, AND HE SEEMS TO LIKE IT. Thankfully, theyre letting Principal Thorne back into the school and return to do what he loves, which is teach his students, Suhr said. I dont care what side you agree with, we dont practice sedition, we dont attack our legislature.. Troy High School seeks to provide both a comprehensive liberal arts program and a specialized program of study for students of all abilities and backgrounds. After a few anonymous complaints were lodged, Principal Thorne was subjected to an internal disciplinary investigation and placed on leave for almost two months without any resolution to his case. Linda A. Moore covers education, South Memphis and Whitehaven. We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. 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. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 It was also in line with the resources Shelby County Schools Superintendent Dr. Joris M. Ray had recommended for teaching about January 6 and its aftermath. These messages inspire, educate, inform, and challenge his high school students. 7437 Corona Valley Ave, Eastvale, CA 92880. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 If enacted, the platforms will be fined $100,000 per day for every day the candidate is blocked. But every American should be concerned about a cultural trend to get rid of voices that disagree with popular viewpoints.Cancel culture isnt just stopping hate speech, its silencing legitimate speech protected by the First Amendment. 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. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 Audio obtained by the WREG-TVallegedly reveals Thorne addressing recent moves byTwitter, Facebook, Google, and Apple and their decision as private companies to filter and to decide what you hear and know about., Because there have been times even in American history where a small group of people decided what you could hear. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 Do not send us confidential information until you speak with us and receive authorization to do so. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 Attorneys for Principal Barton Thorne claim his right to free speech was violated after he tried teaching a lesson to his students about free speech. 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. Thornes suit says the message was even in line with resources the superintendent recommended for teaching students about the Capitol riot and its aftermath. Full-time Teacher, John Calley (Assistant Coach) Office Phone: 901-416-4540, Josh Beard (Assistant Principal) Read More About History Day 2023. clear. 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. After the school district refused to act, Thorne filed a federal lawsuit. Colors: Forrest Green, Black, White. I dont know of too many people that are going to be OK with what happened. Otherwise, free speech will be controlled by a few wealthy tech people. Classified Employee, Frankie Stinson (Assistant Coach) Email: mail_hide("207974", "vandaslynch", 0, "moc.liamg") Office Phone: 901-416-4800 Thorne warned his students that anyones voice can be cancelled for any reason by a small group of people. Epoch Times reporter Isabel van Brugen contributed to this report. Email: mail_hide("215239", "vinsonjr", 0, "gro.21kscs") Thorne also referenced totalitarian governments, like North Korea and China.. During his nine-minute address Monday, principal Barton Thorne of Cordova High School, near Memphis, said freedom of speech is being threatened by social media and tech companies, the Commercial Appeal reported. 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.. Instead of punishing Principal Thorne he should be given a pay raise and a certificate of merit. 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.. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 The video was shared with news media, and a member of the school board criticized Thorne publicly in news coverage. Talk to your parents about it. Required fields are marked *. 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. It is not always pleasant to hear things that you might disagree with or discover that someone holds an opposing position. Email: mail_hide("212820", "warnerdk", 0, "gro.21kscs") Onemedia reportquotes a board member, Sheleah Harris, saying the events at the school were extremely unfortunate and do not reflect the true value of the school or the district. God Bless!" Wimberly said. 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?, Twitter, Facebook, Google, and Apple, are so powerful, and they have unilaterally made a decision of what you can and cannot see on their platforms, thats a major issue and I want you to understand that. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 Facebook Page; . 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 called it "shocking and disappointing" to be removed for speaking to students about the First Amendment. The suit however, will not be dropped. He filed a lawsuit Thursday against the Shelby County Schools Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Joris Ray. 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. 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. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. HUNT VALLEY, Md. Your email address will not be published. []. Principal Thorne was put on administration leave January 12. That was ignorance at the highest level, he said in response to the U.S. Capitol incident. Barton Thorne is a career educator who currently serves as principal of Cordova High School for Shelby County Schools (SCS). Principal Barton Thorne was suspended in mid-January by administrators for Shelby County Schools, the school district that governs Cordova High School. As complaints about big tech censorship grow, calls to regulate it also gain heat. The cancel culture taking foot in America has now reached our schools, and I will not stand for it.. 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. Email: mail_hide("216157", "ratlifftn", 0, "gro.21kscs") I look forward to my next endeavor! 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. Full-time Teacher, Steven Havrda (Assistant Coach) Im taking action because I meant what I said: Free speech is critically important and is under threat. Full-time Teacher Forget the War on Stoves. Principal Thorne has been with Shelby County Schools (SCS) for nearly two decades, dedicating his career to helping the families and students within his community. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 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. 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. 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. Email: mail_hide("209512", "burnsc1", 0, "gro.21kscs") According to the lawsuit, Thorne usually delivers a weekly speech to students to educate and inspire them. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 Email: mail_hide("212222", "franklincn", 0, "gro.21kscs") This article by Joe Dodson was published December 8, 2022 on courthousenews.com. Lowe seems to believe its a crime to encourage young people to think critically about the big issues of the day. He criticized the censorship implemented by big tech companies like Twitter, Google, Facebook, and Apple. Nothing in his video was factually incorrect, or even wrong, but it was simply wrong think; so the Shelby County School system placed him on administrative leave. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 Teacher. And hopefully, the school district will do that, and then we can bring this case to a close. Daniel Suhr, Liberty Justice Center senior attorney. What sort of fruit salad nonsense is the Office of Equity and Access? [I]n democracies, we talk about the marketplace of ideas. Well, what happens when the marketplace of ideas becomes a forced monopoly? Arvind is a recluse who prefers staying far away from the limelight as possible. Sonora High School is a diverse community dedicated to the academic, personal, and social growth of all student learners within a student-centered environment. Free speech was being threatened, he alleged, by the actions of. Office Phone: 901-416-5300 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. According to the lawsuit, Thorne says SCS violated his first and 14th amendment rights. Topics Shelby County Schools Barton Thorne Cordova High School Steve Mulroy University of Memphis Linda A. Moore Linda A. Moore covers education, South Memphis and Whitehaven. Within an hour of filing, Liberty Justice Center senior attorney Daniel Suhr said he received word of Thornes reinstatement at the school. Wimberly took to Twitter to announce his dismissal from Cordova. . Full-time Teacher, Steven Havrda (Assistant Coach) Full-time Teacher, Ashley Smithcoleman (Assistant Coach) Sonora High School encourages students to become life-long learners and contributing members of an ever-changing world. NYC Begins Tracking Household Food Consumption in Carbon Climate Struggle, Police Searching Transgender Colorado Teenager Planning School Shooting Found The Communist Manifesto, Google Is Trying to Create a Digital God, Elon Musk Says, Retailers Are Abandoning Americas Cities Due to an Epidemic of Retail Theft, Violence, Authorities Baffled; $22 Million in Gold Disappears From Canadas Pearson International Airport, 14-Year-Old Japanese Girl Dies From Multiple Organ Inflammation, Myopericarditis 45 Hours After COVID, Master Li Hongzhi: How Humankind Came to Be, Zelensky Embezzled $400 Million in American Aid, Buys Fuel From Russia, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist. An equity officer for the school also gave an interview to the news about Thorne. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 The video addressed the dangers of the Big Tech Giants censoring speech. A native of South Memphis, Linda has . Office Phone: 901-416-4540 Full-time Teacher, Ashley Smithcoleman (Assistant Coach) What happens when you do not have dissenting opinions, when you do not have an exchange of competing ideas, he told students. Barton Thorne, until recently the principal of Cordova High School in Memphis, Tennessee, was suspended after speaking to students about the dangers of big tech censorship. 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. Classified Employee, Johnny Stuckey (Head Coach) 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. Copyright 2023 Liberty Justice Center. He also claims the district inflicted intentional and negligent emotional distress and caused significant damage to his reputation. In his role as principal, he delivers a "principal's message" to his students as part of the weekly announcements' videos. The principal has retained legal counsel from the Liberty Justice Center, a national public interest law firm that defends constitutional rights. See the full transcript of his message. Disclaimer: The materials contained in this website are for informational purposes and are not to be considered advertising or legal advice. Click here. Email: mail_hide("212221", "cooperc1", 0, "gro.21kscs") Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton believes that big tech companies should be regulated, like how governments regulate utility companies.