Written by Johnathan Cole.
Christian McGhee, a bright 16-year-old at Central Davidson High School, Lexington, North Carolina, encountered a suspension for his precise use of “illegal alien” during an English class assignment.
Vocabulary Lesson Controversy
Christian was tasked to employ the term “alien” in a sentence. His inquiry to the teacher about whether she meant extraterrestrial beings or “illegal aliens without green cards” seemed straightforward. However, this question sparked a severe reaction from a peer, leading to an escalated situation only calmed by the assistant principal’s intervention.
Unwarranted Suspension
The school’s response to this classroom debate was a three-day suspension from both academics and athletics. As a committed track athlete, Christian felt this decision was excessive and unmerited. He clarified that his use of the term was not aimed at anyone specifically but was a legitimate query based on common usage seen in media and dictionaries.
Parental Concerns
Leah McGhee, Christian’s mother, expressed significant distress over the incident’s impact on her son. She highlighted the gravity of the suspension, noting it could extend beyond mere days lost to a lasting stain on Christian’s academic record. In her communication with local authorities, she vehemently objected to labeling the incident as racially motivated.
Educational and Legal Implications
The school administration, represented by Assistant Principal Tonia Maxcy and English teacher Laura Haney, remained tight-lipped due to privacy regulations, only reiterating their commitment to thorough investigations and appropriate disciplinary actions.
Our Take
The incident involving Christian McGhee raises important questions about freedom of speech and the overreach of school disciplinary actions. It underscores a concerning trend where educational institutions might prioritize political correctness over genuine learning opportunities. The term “illegal alien” is legally and commonly used, and penalizing a student for its use, especially when prompted by an assignment, signals a disconcerting move towards censoring uncomfortable but necessary dialogues in academic settings. The preservation of open discussion within educational environments is crucial, not only for the development of critical thinking skills but also for safeguarding the essence of educational integrity and freedom.
