Current:Home > MarketsLouisiana public school principal apologizes after punishing student for dancing at a party-LoTradeCoin
Louisiana public school principal apologizes after punishing student for dancing at a party
View Date:2024-12-23 23:43:00
WALKER, La. (AP) — A Louisiana public school principal has apologized for punishing a student and questioning her religious beliefs after he saw a video of her dancing at an off-campus party.
The 17-year-old student government president and scholarship candidate was videotaped dancing at an off-campus party following Walker High School’s Sept. 30 Homecoming festivities. A hired DJ took the video and posted it on social media. Three days later, Jason St. Pierre, principal of the public high school near the state capital of Baton Rouge, told the student she would be removed from her position with the student government association and that he would no longer recommend her for college scholarships.
At a meeting in his office with the assistant principal, St. Pierre told the student she wasn’t “living in the Lord’s way,” her mother said, according to The Advocate. He printed out Bible verses with highlighted sections and “questioned who her friends were and if they followed the Lord,” the news outlet reported.
In a statement published Sunday on the Livingston Parish Public Schools district Facebook page, St. Pierre reversed course. Citing the significant public attention the episode had received and more time to consider his decision, the principal apologized to the student’s family and undid his previous disciplinary plans. He also addressed his invocation of religion.
“Finally, during my conversation with (the student) regarding the dance party, the subject of religious beliefs was broached by (the student) and myself,” St. Pierre wrote. “While that conversation was meant with the best intentions, I do understand it is not my responsibility to determine what students’ or others’ religious beliefs may be – that should be the responsibility of the individual.”
The student and her mother said St. Pierre brought up religion, not her. The mother and daughter have also said the deadline for her scholarship application was on Oct. 3, and questioned whether St. Pierre could have reinstated his scholarship endorsement sooner, The Advocate reported.
veryGood! (3264)
Related
- Ex-Duke star Kyle Singler draws concern from basketball world over cryptic Instagram post
- Fire at home of Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill started by child playing with cigarette lighter
- Jan. 6 Proud Boys defendant who led law enforcement on manhunt sentenced to 10 years in prison
- Terminally ill Connecticut woman ends her life on her own terms, in Vermont
- Angels sign Travis d'Arnaud: Former All-Star catcher gets multiyear contract in LA
- 4 patients die after a fire breaks out at a hospital in northern Germany
- New Mexico governor proposes 10% spending increase amid windfall from oil production
- Parents of Cyprus school volleyball team players killed in Turkish quake testify against hotel owner
- Judge moves to slash $38 million verdict in New Hampshire youth center abuse case
- Trump asks Supreme Court to overturn Colorado ruling barring him from primary ballot
Ranking
- Cleveland Browns’ Hakeem Adeniji Shares Stillbirth of Baby Boy Days Before Due Date
- Father, son in Texas arrested in murder of pregnant teen Savanah Soto and boyfriend
- Crib videos offer clue to mysterious child deaths, showing seizures sometimes play a role
- Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr.'s Kids Are All Grown Up in Family Vacation Photos
- Video ‘bares’ all: Insurers say bear that damaged luxury cars was actually a person in a costume
- FACT FOCUS: Images made to look like court records circulate online amid Epstein document release
- Tom Sandoval slammed by 'Vanderpump Rules' co-stars for posing with captive tiger
- Parents of Cyprus school volleyball team players killed in Turkish quake testify against hotel owner
Recommendation
-
Barbora Krejcikova calls out 'unprofessional' remarks about her appearance
-
ESPN's Joe Buck said he wants to help Tom Brady prepare for broadcasting career
-
NCAA, ESPN reach broadcast deal for championships that creates women's basketball payouts
-
Don Read, who led Montana to first national college football title, dies at 90
-
Residents urged to shelter in place after apparent explosion at Louisville business
-
New York governor pushes for paid medical leave during pregnancy
-
This Valentine's Day, let Sweethearts 'Situationship Boxes' have the awkward conversations
-
North Korea’s Kim orders increased production of mobile launch vehicles as tensions grow with US