In his video, Thorne expressed concerns about times in American history where a small group of people decided what you can hear. What happens when you do not have dissenting opinions, when you do not have an exchange of competing ideas, he told students. Barton Thorne is the principal at Cordova High School in the Memphis-area, a high school that serves a diverse community including many low-income and minority students. The suit however, will not be dropped. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 Office Phone: 901-416-4540 The taxpayers and parents in Memphis should be celebrating the fact that Principal Thorne is running Cordova High School as a place to educate kids, not indoctrinate kids. 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. According to the lawsuit, Thorne says SCS violated his first and 14th amendment rights. Full-time Teacher, Terrance Scales (Head Coach) We have to be aware and at a heightened sense. That was ignorance at the highest level, he said in response to the U.S. Capitol incident. (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. In a one-minute speech to the school Assembly on Jan 11, 2021, Thorne briefly addressed the woke, left-wing mob policing Facebook and Twitter who relentlessly attack anyone who does not agree with their personal views on how the world should run. Learn more about Thorne v. Shelby County Board of Education. Disclaimer: The materials contained in this website are for informational purposes and are not to be considered advertising or legal advice. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 Clara Barton High School Homepage He was then placed on paid administrative leave where he has languished for six weeks without any closure to his case, the filing says. High school principal Barton Thorne reinstated following civil rights HUNT VALLEY, Md. Tennessee Principal on Leave After Warning Kids about - Townhall 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. "I'm not going to tell you what to think, I just want to help you think," he told students on a video that was later posted on YouTube. Email: mail_hide("207528", "cranet", 0, "gro.21kscs") Email: mail_hide("186438", "setlerkr", 0, "gro.21kscs") Use cash, venmo, cashapp, Zelle, etc. Its shocking and disappointing that I was removed from my job for speaking with students about the First Amendment, Principal Thorne said. At a recent Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), former President Trump, who Twitter and Facebook banned following the Jan. 6 incident, said that big tech firms should face penalties if they continue to censor conservative opinions. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. What makes those types of systems possible is the restriction and elimination of the free exchange of ideas.. Thornes suspension had resulted from a complaint from one or several unknown SCS employees, parents, or students, according to the lawsuit. After leaving Cordova after the 2010 season, he coached at Memphis . By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Imagine that a public school administrator who is teaching kids to think for themselves. Full-time Teacher, John Calley (Assistant Coach) 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. Memphis, TN. Email: mail_hide("212216", "cranet", 0, "gro.21kscs") Office Phone: 901-416-4540 Office Phone: 901-416-4540 Think about McCarthyism think about totalitarian governments, think of North Korea, think of China. All Rights Reserved. Full-time Teacher, Ashley Smithcoleman (Assistant Coach) He should be saluted for educating the kids at Cordova High School instead of indoctrinating them. Think about China. 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. Full-time Teacher, Member of Division I, Class AAA, Section 4, James Vinson (Head Coach) Office Phone: 901-416-4540 Principal . "Yes, we will be replacing Coach Wimberly as football coach at Cordova High School," Cordova principal Barton Thorne said. 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. CORDOVA HIGH SCHOOL 1800 Berryhill Road Cordova, TN 38016 Main Office: 416-4540 School Fax: 416-4545 Barton Thorne, Principal thornebl@scsk12.org Mary DeGruy, Vice Principal degruymm@scsk12.org SCHOOL DIRECTORY Attendance Office: 416-2085 Guidance Office: 416-2120 Registration: 416-2143 Records: 416-2119 Bilingual Mentor, Ivan Borgos - 416-2145 Talk to your parents about it. And while doing so, they even told him that he could not talk to the media about it; yet the school policy is that employees CAN talk to media in their own personal capacities. Duquesne University (2007), Dustin Sikes (Head Coach) Required fields are marked *. Required fields are marked *. I will not allow myself to be silenced any more than I would allow a student to be marginalized for sharing a perfectly reasonable point of view. 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. He warned that cancel culture is taking foot in America and that he will never stand for it. We average between 2 and 3 posts a day. Full-time Teacher, Tasheba Crane (Head Coach) Barton Thorne is principal of Cordova High School. 1800 Berryhill Rd Cordova, TN 38016 Physical Address: 1800 Berryhill Rd Cordova, TN 38016 Shipping Address: 1800 Berryhill Rd Cordova, TN 38016 Phone: 901-416-4540 Fax: 901-416-4545 Principal Phone: 901-416-2001 AD Phone: 901-416-4540 Grand Division: West Athletic District: 9 County: Shelby Type: Public Enrollment (Actual): 1933 The strength of the wolf is the pack. Full-time Teacher, Chance Talley (Assistant Coach) Think about totalitarian government. Since the start of the school year, Principal Thorne has spoken directly to students through a weekly video message. Read More Most recent 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. Email: mail_hide("208846", "layjo", 0, "gro.21kscs") Vice Principal . Email: mail_hide("212222", "franklincn", 0, "gro.21kscs") Office Phone: 901-416-4540 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. Be aware, be in the loop as far as whats going on. Epoch Times reporter Isabel van Brugen contributed to this report. 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. 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.. Phone 951-736-4545 | Fax 951-736-4538. I dont care what side you agree with, we dont practice sedition, we dont attack our legislature.. Full-time Teacher, Michella Carter (Assistant Coach) Lowe seems to believe its a crime to encourage young people to think critically about the big issues of the day. Full-time Teacher, Dustin Sikes (Assistant Coach) 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. 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. Full-time Teacher, John Calley (Assistant Coach) 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. The video addressed the dangers of the Big Tech Giants censoring speech. Classified Employee, Johnny Stuckey (Head Coach) Emotionally charged situations, we have to sometimes temper back, recalibrate, think about the message were sending to our student, spokesman Michael Lowe told the television station. Do not send us confidential information until you speak with us and receive authorization to do so. In addition to allegations of first and 14th amendment violations, the lawsuit claims the SCS is in breach of Thornes employment contract. The school districts Office of Equity and Access (whatever the heck that is) also weighed in on the situation. Principal Barton Thorne was suspended in mid-January by administrators for Shelby County Schools, the school district that governs Cordova High School. God Bless!" Wimberly said. Suhr said the school needs to make up for damages against Thornes reputation. But make no mistake, he did not speak out about this because he supported the actions of protesters on January 6th. This article by Joe Dodson was published December 8, 2022 on courthousenews.com. Thorne warned his students that anyones voice can be cancelled for any reason by a small group of people. (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 the first time in six weeks. Full-time Teacher, Robert Jacques (Assistant Coach) (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. As complaints about big tech censorship grow, calls to regulate it also gain heat. What sort of fruit salad nonsense is the Office of Equity and Access? Memphis native John Dowtin returns as Cordova football coach Shelby County Schools is the largest public school district in Tennessee and is one of the 25 largest nationwide. Think about North Korea. Classified Employee, Frankie Stinson (Assistant Coach) Barton Thorne of Cordova High School was placed on paid administrative leave after comments he made over the district's virtual learning platform. Email: mail_hide("209513", "calleyjp", 0, "gro.21kscs") Email: mail_hide("212217", "vinsonjr", 0, "gro.21kscs") Full-time Teacher, Charles Cooper (Head Coach) Six weeks after he was placed on leave, he filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the district and Superintendent Joris Ray. School Directory - TSSAA Office Phone: 901-416-4540 Principal Thornes message to his students took no political position. 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. Office Phone: 901-416-4540 Instead his message was about censorship, silencing of voices, and the dangers of a select group being able to dictate what, if any, speech that happens; this time being Big Tech. Many of you have complained that you never see our content in your news feeds. 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. Thorne is suing his school district and its superintendent for the suspension. Principal Thornes experience is a frightening example of this trend. Be that as it may, he keeps a close eye on what's happening and reports on it to keep people rightly informed. Think about totalitarian government. Daniel Suhr, managing attorney at Liberty Justice Center appeared on C-SPAN's Washington Journal to discuss the vaccine mandate challenges being heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 7. And Shelby County Schools silenced him for that.Thornes message to his students is something everyone should take to heart: Be aware, be in the loop as far as whats going on. There have been times even in American history when a small group of people decided what you can hear, he said. Administrators / Administration - Shelby County Schools 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. Tennessee Principal Sues Shelby County Schools For Violating First John Dowtin cried when Barton Thorne, the principal at Cordova, officially offered him to become the school's football coach. Daniel Suhr, managing attorney at Liberty Justice Center appeared on C-SPAN's Washington Journal to discuss the vaccine mandate challenges being heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 7. Cordova High School / Homepage - Schoolwires Troy High School / Homepage - Fullerton Joint Union High School District One of our most misunderstood freedoms has the principal of Cordova High School in hot water tonight. I dont care what side you agree with, we dont practice sedition, we dont attack our legislature, he added. And he is absolutely correct. Shelby County Schools needs to acknowledge the damage to Principal Thornes reputation and make sure that students know that his message was both appropriate and right free speech is important in our society. Copyright 2023 Liberty Justice Center. One of the more disturbing aspects of Principal Thornes suspension was that his message was in full compliance with Tennessees standards for teaching social studies to high school students. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - A principal at Tennessees largest school district is suing over his suspension following comments to students about fallout from the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. The logos of multinational American Internet companies are seen on a computer screen in Lille, France, on Oct 21, 2020. In his role as principal, he delivers a "principal's message" to his students as part of the weekly announcements' videos. 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. InThorne v. Shelby County Board of Education, Liberty Justice Center is representing a Memphis-area high school principal suing his school district after he was placed on administrative leave for speaking with his students about the importance of free speech. In Florida, lawmakers have put forward a proposal to penalize social media companies that ban political candidates during elections. 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, Liberty Justice Centers Demand Letter to Shelby County Schools, 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, in democracies, we talk about the marketplace of ideas. Cordova High principal placed on administrative leave after making Sonora High School is a diverse community dedicated to the academic, personal, and social growth of all student learners within a student-centered environment. 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.. Twitter two days later permanently suspended Trumps account over two posts it cited as having violated its policies. Office Phone: 901-416-4540, Michael Case (Athletic Director) Office Phone: 901-416-4540 (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. Office Phone: 901-416-4545 He also referenced McCarthyism, as well as a standoff between federal agents and the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas during the 1990s. You can received notifications daily or weekly. Office Phone: 901-416-7470, Barton Thorne (Principal) Six weeks later, Thorne filed a federal civil rightslawsuitagainst the district and Superintendent Joris Ray. The cancel culture taking foot in America has now reached our schools, and I will not stand for it.. He filed a lawsuit Thursday against the Shelby County Schools Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Joris Ray. Principal Thorne was placed on leave the day after his video was circulated. Non-Faculty Coaches and Classified Employees must take the NFHS "Fundamentals of Coaching" and "First Aid, Health, & Safety for Coaches" courses prior to coaching. And within an hour of filing, he was notified that he could return to work. What makes those types of systems possible is the restriction and the elimination of the free exchange of ideas., READ: Principal SUSPENDED for warning students about cancel culture: The elimination of the free exchange of ideas. Shelby County Schools. 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. Bryan College (2012), Member of Division I, Class 4A, Region 8, District 15, D'Vennio Warner (Head Coach) Duquesne University (2007), James Vinson (Assistant Coach) What happens when the marketplace of ideas becomes a forced monopoly. After the school district refused to act, Thorne filed a federal lawsuit. - Read More About History Day 2023. clear. Principal Thorne was put on administration leave January 12. And Shelby County Schools silenced him for that. Email: mail_hide("216157", "ratlifftn", 0, "gro.21kscs") What happens when you do not have dissenting opinions, when you do not have an exchange of competing ideas? he told students. Thorne is asking for unspecified damages. Shelby County Schools are the only public schools in Tennessee that have not resumed in-person learning. According to the lawsuit, Thorne usually delivers a weekly speech to students to educate and inspire them.