It started when Mr. T yelled at a student for not doing what she was supposed to do. However, the computer wasn’t working properly, so she needed help. Instead of helping her, Mr. T yelled at her, which made her cry. Then, he yelled at a boy because his computer wasn’t working correctly either. Instead of assisting him, he also yelled at him. Both students then started reading their science book, as Mr. T had instructed them to do.

I was talking to the student next to me and was about to say, “I can’t keep quiet. I’m going to speak up against him.” But before I could complete my sentence, the substitute teacher told me to do my work. I responded that I would after finishing my sentence. Then, the substitute teacher told me not to talk back. I calmly said that I had the First Amendment right to speak and that he had no right to yell at students.

Then, I stated again that I had the right to free speech, but he told me I didn’t have any rights because I was a minor. However, the Constitution applies to everyone—it protects our human rights. He then asked if I needed to go to Ms. Dawe’s office. I said, “Take me there then.”

When we arrived, I told Ms. DAWE that I had the right to free speech. She responded, “No, you don’t.” Then, she brought up something I had done at the beginning of the school year, which I had completely forgotten about and had nothing to do with the current situation. She told me that I didn’t have free speech in school. I told her that Mr. T had made a student cry by yelling at her, but she said that had nothing to do with this. I argued that it did because I wouldn’t have said anything if that hadn’t happened.

We went back and forth about my right to free speech. Then, Mr. Towers and Mrs. Cook came in and sided with Ms. DAWE. However, Mrs. Cook added that because I am 14, I don’t have certain rights. and she said “I couldn’t be left home alone under Illinois law because” I am 14, but she was incorrect—the law states that children under 14 can’t be left home alone. This was completely unrelated to the situation anyway. In fact, most states don’t even have a minimum age for being left home alone. Only Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, and Oregon have laws on this matter.

Anyway, they told me to sit down, but I said I preferred to stand. Then, they informed me that I was suspended. And they took me outside. A staff member, whose name I don’t know, was going to take me home, but I refused because I barely knew him. I told them that the only people who could take me home  a in a car were the police, with a lawful order or somebody I actually know or 

My parents. Instead of letting me walk home, they called the school resource officer to take me.

Before leaving, we got into another argument about free speech. The officer told me I didn’t have freedom of speech and said she was an officer of the law. She also mentioned that she didn’t like the way i was  speaking to the principal. Keep in mind, I was being as respectful as possible to the principal, even though what she was saying wasn’t true. Ultimately, the school resource officer took me home and claimed it was a lawful order