October 26, 2011
Judge Tom
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Principal seeks expulsion for “Banana Man” sprint

In September, 2011, 14 year-old Bryan Thompson put on a banana costume and ran around the football field at halftime. The police detained Bryan until his mother came to pick him up. No charges were filed.

The school, however, suspended him for 10 days and the principal is seeking expulsion for the rest of the school year. This was not Bryan’s first disciplinary action at Colonial Forge High School in Virginia. He had been suspended once for having a cell phone in class and a second time for starting a web site called “Roasting Station” where students could post silly pictures of themselves. Bryan has Asperger’s Syndrome, a mild form of autism.

Banana Man

In protest of Bryan’s suspension, students wore “Free Banana Man” t-shirts to school. The administration ordered the students to remove them and, in some cases, the shirts were confiscated. Citing the landmark Tinker decision, the local ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) lawyer sent  the school district a letter reminding them that “It is well established law that students do not lose their free speech rights at the schoolhouse door.”

Bryan is appealing the suspension. His supporters await the school’s decision regarding the t-shirts. What are your thoughts about this? Is it surprising that the school suspended Bryan for this prank? Do you think it caused a “disruption” at school especially during a football game? If any discipline is merited, what should it be? Maybe, a day or two of in-school suspension? Do you think suspension for the rest of the school year is extreme? Does the penalty fit the crime? Should Bryan’s autism be a factor to be considered? Why or why not?

Judge Tom

The Author Judge Tom

Judge Tom is the founder and moderator of AsktheJudge.info. He is a retired juvenile judge and spent 23 years on the bench. He has written several books for lawyers and judges as well as teens and parents including 'Teen Cyberbullying Investigated' (Free Spirit Publishing) and 'Every Vote Matters: the Power of Your Voice, from Student Elections to the Supreme Court' (Free Spirit Publishing). In 2020, the American Bar Association published "Cyberbullying Law," the nation's first case-law book written for lawyers, judges and law students. When he's not answering teens' questions, Judge Tom volunteers with the American Red Cross and can be found hiking, traveling and reading.

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2 Comments

  • Tulsa Divorce Lawyers
    October 26, 2011 11:45 am count( 0 )

    I think the ‘banana man’ stunt was a lot of fun. Yes the school authorities have to act as the ‘mature disciplinarians’ because that is their job, but ‘banana man’ was just good old fashioned, immature fun – A 10 day suspension fits the crime 🙂
    Based on the facts reported by the media, we think a more appropriate penalty would have been a one-day in-school suspension. Ten day suspensions should be reserved for serious violations.