A California father sparked outrage online after claiming his son was suspended because of symptoms related to his Tourette’s syndrome. Posting on r/legaladvice under the burner account Sea_Life_108, the father described his son as “a completely normal, successful high school student” who occasionally faces social challenges because of his condition. According to the father, the suspension stemmed from a verbal tic his son involuntarily shouted at a woman during an end-of-the-year presentation.
For context, Sea_Life_108 said his son had used the “B-word,” which the school classified as a slur and a violation of its policy. Although his son quickly apologized for the remark, the school still proceeded with disciplinary action and issued a suspension. The father said he made every effort to discuss the situation with staff, but they remained “adamant that, according to school code, it was grounds for a one-day suspension.”
“I am furious that they punished him over something he literally has no control over,” Sea_Life_108 wrote angrily. Although he did not respond to any of the comments, several users suggested that the school may have acted questionably from a moral standpoint, even if it had not violated the law. One commenter noted that the suspension would only become legally problematic if the student were removed for more than 10 consecutive days. “The school sucks, but it is legal at this point,” the user explained.
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Another user noted that the suspension could cause the son significant anxiety, which can “heavily impact a person and exacerbate symptoms.” In other words, the stress of the situation could worsen his Tourette’s symptoms. While the suspension may not affect his academic record, Redditors believe his condition could deteriorate if the matter is not handled appropriately.
Several commenters asked Sea_Life_108 whether his son has an IEP or a 504 plan, but the father has not yet responded. The situation is unfortunate, especially since the son apparently did not intend to use the slur. The father also seems to feel that the one-day suspension is not especially significant, as his son had not planned to attend school that day anyway.
As one commenter cautions, “Even if he was not planning to go to school that day anyway, don’t take this lightly. The suspension will appear on his school record when applying for college.” Fortunately, California Education Code § 48911 entitles the student to a hearing, which may give his father an opportunity to challenge the suspension and potentially persuade the school to reconsider—especially with the help of an experienced attorney.
