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Cockrel Invited Harrelson To Talk On Hemp Legalization
FRANKFORT - A teacher who was fired after inviting actor Woody Harrelson to speak to her fifth-grade class about legalizing hemp will be able to sue the Shelby County schools after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling yesterday.
The high court refused to consider the school district's plea that Donna Cockrel's case should have been thrown out before it got started.
The justices' decision upholds a directive from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that teachers do not lose their free-speech rights in a school or a classroom.
Harrelson -- an outspoken advocate of industrial hemp -- made two trips to Cockrel's classroom in 1996 and 1997. Although each of his visits were approved by school leaders in advance, the backlash from parents was severe.
School Superintendent Leon Mooneyhan said a trial is expected in June 2003. He said the court rulings have never touched on the matter of whether Cockrel was properly dismissed for reasons not alleged in her suit.
In July 1997, the school board fired Cockrel, citing 17 reasons for her termination, including insubordination and disparagement of the school's curriculum.
The appellate court said that some of the misconduct allegations by the school predated Harrelson's visits. However, not once before Harrelson's visits did the school reprimand Cockrel.
Cockrel brought hemp into her curriculum as part of an agricultural class about alternative crops.
Pubdate: Tue, 8 Oct 2002
Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
Copyright: 2002 Lexington Herald-Leader
Contact: hleditorial@herald-leader.com
Website: Central Kentucky Breaking News, Sports & Crime | Lexington Herald-Leader
FRANKFORT - A teacher who was fired after inviting actor Woody Harrelson to speak to her fifth-grade class about legalizing hemp will be able to sue the Shelby County schools after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling yesterday.
The high court refused to consider the school district's plea that Donna Cockrel's case should have been thrown out before it got started.
The justices' decision upholds a directive from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that teachers do not lose their free-speech rights in a school or a classroom.
Harrelson -- an outspoken advocate of industrial hemp -- made two trips to Cockrel's classroom in 1996 and 1997. Although each of his visits were approved by school leaders in advance, the backlash from parents was severe.
School Superintendent Leon Mooneyhan said a trial is expected in June 2003. He said the court rulings have never touched on the matter of whether Cockrel was properly dismissed for reasons not alleged in her suit.
In July 1997, the school board fired Cockrel, citing 17 reasons for her termination, including insubordination and disparagement of the school's curriculum.
The appellate court said that some of the misconduct allegations by the school predated Harrelson's visits. However, not once before Harrelson's visits did the school reprimand Cockrel.
Cockrel brought hemp into her curriculum as part of an agricultural class about alternative crops.
Pubdate: Tue, 8 Oct 2002
Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
Copyright: 2002 Lexington Herald-Leader
Contact: hleditorial@herald-leader.com
Website: Central Kentucky Breaking News, Sports & Crime | Lexington Herald-Leader
