The Franklin Flyer
Franklin High School’s online student-run newspaper
Homecoming Queen-Elect Believes Missing Home Games Should be Punishable by Expulsion
November 29, 2016
by Mabel Sears-Ragu
Patricia Somerville, Homecoming Queen-Elect and 18-year-old senior here at Franklin High School in Altoona, Wisconsin, has strong feelings about school pride. Early today during morning announcements, Somerville proclaimed, “Nobody should be allowed to miss home games — if they do, there must be consequences — perhaps expulsion or loss of parking privileges!”
While students are encouraged to attend home games, they are by no means required to go. The bleachers are also unable to hold the entire student body.
As homecoming queen-elect, Somerville has significant sway with the student body and government, but the school constitution was written to combat peer pressure and bullying. The First Amendment of the Franklin High School Constitution states:
Student Government shall make no law respecting an establishment of universal smoking spaces, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of The Franklin Flyer; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble in the student center between 6AM-4PM, and to petition the school for a redress of grievances, but grade changes are under one’s teacher’s discretion.
The First Amendment is structured around speech, but it can be applied to the physical act of attending or not attending home games. It guarantees student freedoms concerning smoking (but only in designated areas or outside Mr. Silverstein’s office in the art wing), expression, assembly, and the right to petition.
If Somerville’s plea for mandatory attendance is granted, then it will certainly cause an uproar at Franklin High, especially with the kids that smoke outside Mr. Silverstein’s office.