An honors student in Fort Worth, TX, was sent to the principal’s office and punished for telling a classmate that he believes homosexuality is wrong.

Holly Pope said she was “absolutely stunned” when she received a telephone call from an assistant principal at Western Hills High School informing her that her son, Dakota Ary, had been sent to in-school suspension.

“Dakota is a very well-grounded 14-year-old,” she told Fox News Radio noting that her son is an honors student, plays on the football team and is active in his church youth group. “He’s been in church his whole life and he’s been taught to stand up for what he believes.”

And that’s what got him in trouble.

Dakota was in a German class at the high school when the conversation shifted to religion and homosexuality in Germany. At some point during the conversation, he turned to a friend and said that he was a Christian and “being a homosexual is wrong.”

“It wasn’t directed to anyone except my friend who was sitting behind me,” Dakota told Fox. “I guess [the teacher] heard me. He started yelling. He told me he was going to write me an infraction and send me to the office.”

Dakota was sentenced to one day in-school suspension – and two days of full suspension. His mother was flabbergasted, noting that her son had a spotless record, was an honor student, volunteered at his church and played on the school football team.

Officials at the high school did not return calls for comment. However, the Fort Worth Independent School District issued a statement that read:

“As a matter of course, Fort Worth ISD does not comment on specific employee or student-related issues. Suffice it to say that we are following district policy in our review of the circumstances and any resolution will likewise be in accordance with district policy.”

After a meeting with Pope and her attorney, the school rescinded the two-day suspension so Dakota would be allowed to play in an upcoming football game.

“They’ve righted all the wrongs,” said Matt Krause, an attorney with the Liberty Counsel. “This should have no lasting effect on his academic or personal record going forward.”

Pope contacted the Liberty Counsel immediately after her son was punished.

“I told the school that he should never have been suspended for exercising his Constitutional rights,” Krause told Fox News Radio. “The principal is sincere in trying to do the right thing and hopefully they will tell the teacher, ‘Do not do that anymore.’ He won’t be pushing his agenda.”

Krause called the incident “mind blowing” and said the teacher had frequently brought homosexuality into ninth grade classroom discussions.

“There has been a history with this teacher in the class regarding homosexual topics,” Krause said. “The teacher had posted a picture of two men kissing on a wall that offended some of the students.”

Krause said the picture was posted on the teacher’s “world wall.”

“He told the students this is happening all over the world and you need to accept the fact that homosexuality is just part of our culture now,” Krause said.

The school district would not comment on why a teacher was discussing homosexuality in a ninth grade German class.

“In German class there should be no talk of being pro-Gay or homosexual topics,” Krause said.

Dakota’s mother said she believes the teacher should apologize.

“He should never have been punished,” Pope said. “He didn’t disrupt the class. He wasn’t threatening. He wasn’t hostile. He made a comment to his friend and the teacher overheard it.”

“My son knows people that are homosexual,” she said. “He’s not saying, ‘I don’t like you.’ He’s saying, ‘I’m a Christian and I believe that being that way is wrong.’”

Krause said school leaders told Dakota that in the future he should be careful when and where he talks about his opposition to homosexuality – suggesting that he talk about such matters in the hallway instead of the classroom.

He said Liberty Counsel will monitor the situation to make sure there is no future retaliation. Meantime, Pope said her son will return to the teacher’s classroom.

“I’ve told him to treat this teacher with respect,” she said. “He is your elder. He is your teacher. What his beliefs are or what they are not – outside the school is none of our business.”

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/09/22/texas-school-punishes-boy-for-opposing-homosexuality/#ixzz1YjlgEkeY

That teacher needs to be fired!

the oddest part is that there is no mention of any warning,, just an immediate reaction

if the child was otherwise not a troublemaker, it seems just a reprimand informing him the classroom wasnt the place for those comments (although if they are DISCUSSING homosexuality, I think the teacher should expect it and TEACH the children, instead of punishing them for what they believe)

I think if you class room conversation is going to shift to homosexuality I see no problem with someone expressing a non offensive opinion on it. He wasn't derogatory or anything. He just said he thought it was wrong.

they are teaching kids to not think for themselves, and to not have any opinions on anything...i blame the democrats for this

The teacher had no business teaching let alone discussing homosexuality, he was a German teacher!

"Dakota was in a German class at the high school when the conversation shifted to religion and homosexuality in Germany" now that would be German culture, but it does sound like the teacher is using the classroom to push his personal views within the classroom environment, which I do not agree with

Religion does the same thing, though. They think what they're taught to think in church.

That being said, I'm not saying the way the teacher reacted was correct. Just that it's not a democrat/liberal only issue.

I dont know many Republicans teachers who get students suspende for opposing gay marriage........

I was responding to his comment about blaming democrats for teaching kids not to think for themselves. Obviously it happens in church as well, as kids are thinking what they're taught to think in church.

I dont know many kids who listen or even pay attention in church to be influenced.

Church isn't the same thing as a public school though. It seems to me that this teacher was pushing an agenda. And to be fair, if they are going to have a discussion then all views should be looked at.

The boy just expressed his views. He wasn't derogatory. He should have a right to his opinion everyone else.

BTW...I was brought up in the church. I don't think what I think because someone told me. I don't always agree with the church and there are many churches with different takes on things. I always taught my son to see all sides and decide for himself.

If it was the reverse and the teacher was discussing that it was wrong and a student said he believed it wasn't and got suspended, then I bet more people would be up in arms.

Can't have it both ways

how do you know? he just said he didn't agree with it, it never said the church taught him that... democrats love it when people don't have bad opinions about their issues... sounds to me like the teacher and the principle are gay, and trying to recruit more gays for their own beliefs...

They are trying to get more boys to choose to be gay with them.

seriously, how does this become a democrat vs republican issue? I didnt notice mention of any party affiliation for the teacher or the school officials....

I dont see Republican teachers getting students suspended for being against gay marriage.

democrat=gay...

plus that, republicans really don't care about personal opinions, democuds like it when they can tell you what to think and do...

so far, I dont 'see' any teachers getting students suspended for being against gay marriage EXCEPT this teacher


should I say I dont 'see' women teachers getting students suspended for being against gay marriage and turn this into a male vs female thing?

Really? was Bush demcrat, cause I could swear he wanted to uphold the DOMA

and the 'patriot act'

and other policies that in fact do care about 'personal opinons' and what people think and do...