Teaching Independent Thought

Dissent. It's sufficiently inconvenient that some schools have begun to ban it. Because if a 15-year-old student thinks for himself and comes up with different views (and sounder arguments?) than those touted by the teachers, free speech is as easy to suspend as the pupil in question. The principal might even throw in a character smear for good measure.

Kieran King's views on marijuana have led to his suspension from Wawota Parkland School. King said he was threatened with police action by Principal Susan Wilson previously after making the case that marijuana was less harmful than alcohol. "In my opinion, cannabis is safer than they say, it is not worse than alcohol or tobacco," said King, a 15-year-old Grade 10 student.

Wilson accused King of using and selling marijuana at school, according to a media release issued by the Saskatchewan Marijuana Party. King has offered to submit to a voluntary drug test to prove otherwise. "I've never smoked marijuana. I've never even seen it," said King. He said he had done independent research on marijuana use out of personal curiosity and decided to share the information with his friends at school

Comments

[ck]

It's a little sad that a 15 y.o. has never seen marijuana. I mean, Jesus.

But it's more sad--and more than a little scary--that is principal would decide to lie about him.

He should have his drug test done independently. Then, when he comes up clean, he should demand a public apology. If the principal refuses, he should file suit for slander.

Most likely, the court would side with the adult--if it doesn't toss the suit outright. But it would be nice to make the bitch squirm, even a little.

[Jo Ann Euler, Kieran's mom]

This is Kieran's mom.
Now the director has stated;
"The youth and his mother had been warned previously that school officials didn't think it was appropriate for him to promote drug use at the school, Rempel said"..."Condoning drug use in a school setting is inappropriate. The freedom of speech issue is really a mischaracterization of what occurred here," Rempel said." Mr. Remple is so wrong when he says this to the Canadian Press, that I could scream. Kieran did not promote drug use- he researched and shared facts and compared statistics. I am appalled that the director keeps saying that Kieran was promoting drug use. The comparison stats may fall in favor of marijuana over other drugs, but Kieran does not promote any drug use.
Also, the official suspension note from Mrs. Wilson stated, "Kieran is being suspended for organizing a protest against school administration" and for "defying direct instructions" when told to stay in the school. Freedom of speech and fair assessment are the issues now, not the suspension as Kieran was not allowed to write his 2 scheduled finals and will lose 30 marks in each subject. Thanks you for all supporters and others that read.
Jo Ann Euler, Kieran's mother | 06.16.07 -

[Marty]

As the authorities clamp down more and more, I think it becomes imperative to fight. On this site, Mr. Bakel points out fake cigarettes. I bought a few packs and carry them in my truck. I don't smoke, but I'll try to monkeywrench this authoritarian nonsense when presented with an opportunity. When my daughter's school brings in drug sniffing dogs, I'll be soaking the administrators', teachers', and cops' cars with my 'marijuana water' super soaker.
If anyone else has some good ideas, please forward them.

Kieran sounds like he's a very intelligent kid- you have much to be proud of, Ms. Euler.

[Jo Ann Euler, Kieran's mom]

My thoughts again- hope you all do not mind:
Ethan Erkiletian, Executive Member of the Saskatchewan Marijuana Party which is one of our official Canadian political parties, phoned me yesterday to apologize for what marijuana fear and “reefer madness” have done to alienate my sons, Kieran and Lucas, and the rest of my family from the small town of Wawota. Since Ethan call, I have come to realize how right he is. I now recognize how little I knew about marijuana, how little others know about marijuana, and the fear that surrounds even the thought of sharing knowledge of marijuana.

Kieran has researched and researched and compared the facts and statistics surrounding marijuana, alcohol, and tobacco; I have finally decided to really listen. Alcohol does cause more deaths and is more of an expense for our health care system than marijuana. I know first hand- my oldest daughter, Tracy, and her dad were killed by a drunk driver when my daughter was nine. That was 19 years ago, and I know you never just “get over it”. My father, who drinks the occasional beer every few months, went in for hernia surgery a few years ago. Unknown to my father, the doctor nicked his pancreas during the operation. Over the next year and a half, my father suffered from an undiagnosed infection of the pancreas which spread to his liver. This infection finally sent him by emergency ambulance to the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon (a hospital where medical students train) with liver failure. My father stated that the first question that every doctor and every group of students who came into his room ask was how many years he had been drinking. We know alcohol kills. We just need to look at the evidence from lawsuits against tobacco companies to see the devastating and deathly effects of smoking or chewing tobacco. The lady shouting on the U-tube video about the cannabis flag and telling Kieran and Ethan to “F…SHUT-UP!” is one of the owners of the bar in Wawota. A bar in a small town makes access to alcohol much easier at a younger age. (I also know and appreciate that all businesses in small towns help keep these towns viable and provide employment.) She also smokes. This lady honestly didn’t realize that she was making herself a perfect example for the word hypocrite. She obviously has never heard or researched (and/or else chooses to ignore) the facts surrounding the use of alcohol, tobacco, and/or marijuana. Alison Myrden states in a letter to me: “I am a retired Law Enforcement Officer and speaker for a U.S. based organization called LEAP - Law Enforcement Against Prohibition www.leap.cc . I am also a legal cannabis patient in Canada for the indication of chronic progressive multiple sclerosis and a horrible pain in my face twenty four hours a day called tic douloureux, the worst pain known to medicine. You see I am one of the largest prescriptions of cannabis in Canada due to my health and Kieran knows by having educated himself, how much relief I get from this plant. He's read it and said it everywhere. Thanx to Kieran this issue has yet again made International news and I appreciate that. Please when you have a moment, give your son a big hug for me and again tell him how much he is making a difference in this Country by standing up for and speaking up for - what he believes in. I am writing to you to tell you how proud my partner Gary Lynch and I are of your sons, especially Kieran for standing up for their freedom of speech at school regarding the marijuana plant.”
Alcohol and tobacco clearly kill. There is not one death attributed to marijuana.

The prohibition of marijuana is leading otherwise law-abiding good citizens to attempt to illegally assert what they feel is their right- their right to choose an effective medical therapy, the right to chose a safer alternative to alcohol. The prohibition of marijuana, which is documented to be safer than alcohol or tobacco, has turned many people who need it for medical reasons, many law-abiding good citizens who want a safer alternative, and my son who only wanted to research and share his ideas, into common criminals. Every substance will have it’s abusers, but if marijuana is safer, it is a crime to continue to make criminals of good people and honor students. Prohibition instills hate against those who want a somewhat safer alternative, those who need it for medical reasons, and those who just want to learn about it and share that information.

I do not use or need to use alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or any other drug (unless prescribed for me by a doctor) and do not plan to start using drugs, but…

Let us gradually

END PROHIBITION OF MARIJUANA,

and maintain and even encourage

FREEDOM OF SPEECH,

REASEARCH, AND CRITICAL THNKING.

Yes, there are those of us who don’t drink alcohol, smoke tobacco, or use any other drugs who have come to realize that the prohibition of marijuana should be ended. Six months ago I would never have dreamed of writing this letter. The Saskatchewan Marijuana Party, one of our official Canadian political parties, who advocate for the prohibition of marijuana to be ended and stand up for rights and freedoms, travelled long distances to support my son’s right to free speech. I thank them- they are not afraid to speak up for what is right.

Sometimes legalization after prohibition leads to initial abuse; that is why I propose a gradual step by step end to prohibition.

We are continuing to work on the recovery of Kieran’s earned honor roll marks and his right to freedom of speech.

We have lived in Wawota for less than a year, and I work in another town- I plan to live stay living in Wawota. Most residents of Wawota have the support of relatives and life long friends living right here in Wawota, I have second daughter and her family. We have disrupted the accepted/established culture, but have not changed the fact that Wawota is generally a great place to live. Hopefully, freedom to learn and speak will soon reign here in Wawota along with the other blessings this town has to offer.

(Marijuana will impair your ability to drive safely, though, so please do not use marijuana if you intent to drive.)
Jo Ann Euler,
mother of Kieran King