First there was the case of the Hindu family who sent their children to a private Catholic school, later expressing outrage that a theology class counted towards the child’s GPA, now we have the case of Jessica Bradley, a 9th grade student expelled from Covenant Christian Academy in the Atlanta suburb of Loganville. Her offense? Apparently young Jessica was engaged in a kissing tryst with other female students at a slumber party. Minor perhaps, but not to officials at Covenant Christian, who promptly expelled Jessica for what the schooled deemed to be inappropriate behavior.
As the school pointed, out students are bound to observe guidelines set forth in the school handbook, which state that “any behavior, on campus or away which indicates that a student has disregard for the spirit of the school standards, would be sufficient reason to ask for him/her to withdraw from Covenant Christian Academy.” Jessica’s father, however, disagreed, arguing the standards were “vague” and “unenforceable.” Now the Bradleys are suing the school for the ridiculous sum of $1 million. They claim breach of contract and further argue Jessica’s rights were violated. If ever there were a frivolous lawsuit, this would be it.
While Jessica certainly may have the right to engage in any manor of sexual behavior she desires, a private school is not bound to admit students who don’t uphold the standards they are trying to impart. The school was very much within its rights to expel young Jessica. If the family found the guidelines vague or confusing, they would have been well advised to clear up any discrepancies before their child was admitted. Christian schools exist for those parents who are interested in maintaining certain values and moral standards for their children in a Christian setting. If parents disagree with that view they should find an institution that best suits their needs and values. Clearly, the values of the Bradley’s were not in sync with Covenant Christian Academy.
Assuming, for the sake of argument, that Covenant Christian Academy overstepped its authority in dismissing Jessica Bradley, which it most certainly did not, how is it that the Bradley’s arrived at the sum of $1 million? Certainly that doesn’t come from lost tuition and fees. According to Covenant Christian’s web site, tuition for 9th grader Jessica Bradley would have totaled $4,575 plus $907 for books and fees per year. Jessica received an education up to the point that she was expelled, at the most she may have been out of school 2-3 weeks, the time it would take to locate a new private school or register for public school. If Covenant was indeed in error for dismissing Ms. Bradley, the very most she would be entitled to is $411.15 (the prorated amount for 3 weeks of schooling at Covenant Christian), anything more would be excessive beyond reason.
As we have stated the school was certainly within its rights to dismiss any student who’s value system conflicts with the teaching of the school, but on the other hand was the school’s action in keeping with their avowed faith? One of the essential and fundamental tenets of Christianity is forgiveness, just has Christ forgave those who persecuted him. How can a school justify such an act and maintain the spirit of the Christian faith? It would seem the school would be bound to offer students, found in violation of school guidelines, a 2nd chance, only after such an offer was rejected would a school be morally bound to dismiss a student. Nonetheless, that is a matter for the school and not a matter of law, as the Constitution does not allow the state to impose its beliefs or the values of society at large on a religious organization.
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/gwinnett/stories/0111gwxkiss.html
http://www.covenant-cougars.org/
