UPDATE: After pushing Bible on dancing teen, Louisiana public school principal resigns

[Nevilledog]

https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/update-after-pushing-bible-on-dancing

A week after Walker High School Principal Jason St. Pierre foisted a Bible on a student whose only “crime” was dancing at a Homecoming afterparty with her friends, the Louisiana native has stepped away from his position in a sudden retirement.

I recently posted about how Kaylee Timonet, a senior, had been called into St. Pierre’s office where she was told her dancing went against the Bible. He printed out Bible verses for her, removed her as student body president, and told her she was no longer eligible for an important scholarship. He also gave her a religious bracelet, the family told me.

But even Kaylee’s own mother said “nothing inappropriate” had occurred at the party (and she was there!) and that the principal had “no right” to inject Christianity into the situation.

There were several media outlets that wrote about the controversy and yet the school district didn’t say much in the initial aftermath. Kaylee’s family said they would consider a lawsuit if they had to. Meanwhile, students at the school waged a social media campaign in Kaylee’s defense with images and shirts reading “Let the girl dance.”

*snip*

[Raven123]

1. Thanks for the update. Good to read that he stepped down

[ZonkerHarris]

11. bad that he gets to keep his pension. Should have been fired for cause.

[Raven123]

31. Didn't catch that. I agree with you

[ZonkerHarris]

37. it is good that he is out though

As he probably will be going off to a job at some Ultra Conservative religious school

[Warpy]

40. Depends. If this was a pattern, then a bigger shakeup might be necessary

because someone covered it up. If this was the first time he crossed the line, then let him go into retirement quietly.

It's not like he was committing a serious crime, just an obvious lack of judgment for reasons known only to him.

FWIW, I was paroled from RCC school when I was 10 because I was starting to shame the world class shamers right back because I realized it was all a bunch of hooey.

The student will have a great story to tell for the rest of her life about the principal who went nuts.

[catrose]

41. I hope she gets her honors & scholarship restored

[Warpy]

46. That's probably what the threat of a lawsuit is all about

I can't see any other recoverable damages here.

[MagickMuffin]

2. Here's the religious nutcase

I’m glad he left. He had no right to punish anyone for dancing at an after party.


Jason St. Pierre, please remove that huge log from thy eyes, it seems it is obstructing your ability to see things clearly.

[SouthernDem4ever]

23. So this is what a religious moron looks like

[Emile]

29. Looks like a pervert.

[Probatim]

33. Fred Flinstone's inbred cousin in a suit.

Must be in a cranky mood today - two posts and both are pretty acidic.

[NBachers]

34. Her dancing gave him a case of sizzling gnads; then an orgy of hot guilt. She was summoned to

never cast this upon him again.

You’re right - a pervert.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

35. Check. His. Hard Drive!

[SCantiGOP]

3. I was hoping they wouldn't let him resign

He should have been fired.

[petronius]

4. Good. But it sounds as though she missed out on the scholarship

opportunity because of this. No way to be sure that she would have won it, but either way the district should at least give her the equivalent of what it would have been...

[Sky Jewels]

5. Good.

So sick of these religious freaks using their imaginary sky friend to try to control women and what they do with their bodies!

And I hope Kaylee gets other scholarship opportunities as a result of the publicity.

[Attilatheblond]

15. Didn't see anywhere that he called in any other students for bible readings & punishment

Did he only single out this one young woman? The school board needs to look into why that was. Did he just not want her to get scholarships? Was he only disturbed by HER dancing? If so, there are some serious questions about just what his problem/issue is with this one female having the same freedoms as other kids.

Might be important to check into this authoritarian religious freak's past interactions with female students.

Full disclosure: My mom didn't teach me much about sex or male behavior, but she did warn me about men who focus on giving religious teachings to particular girls/women.

[carpetbagger]

20. Last paragraph is winning advice.

I gotta say, when I was on a church admin board, we had a simple rule, contact with kids in church activities will involve two or more unrelated adults. That and all-gender leadership prevent lots of problems.

[Maraya1969]

21. Your mom has a good point. Why was this guy

Zooming in on this young girl?

[RockRaven]

6. The school district should be sued anyway...

His resignation/retirement doesn't change the fact that her rights were violated. The district needs to suffer some consequences for their employee's behavior.

[Think. Again.]

10. I agree.

[Paladin]

7. Next stop for that shithead principal:

Running for US House of Reps, if I had to guess.

[LiberalFighter]

8. He is getting off easy.

[TexasBushwhacker]

9. Not just Christianity, but his BRAND of Christianity

There are plenty of Christians, even some evangelical Christians, who dance. He needs to go be a principal at a private Christian high that goes along with his values. Or he could just STFU!

[Aristus]

12. Now here this: Jesus danced. Jesus was an Orthodox Jew. Dance is an important part of Jewish worship

Deal with it, anti-dance motherfuckers...

[Sentath]

30. And what did David do?

David danced!

[Aristus]

39. Exactly.

[catrose]

47. Before the Lord even he danced

[Midnight Writer]

13. Creep vibes.

[gratuitous]

14. This guy watches "Footloose" and roots for John Lithgow

Over officious nitwit.

[catbyte]

19. My thoughts exactly

[progressoid]

38. I used to the premise of that movie happening in the 80's was ludicrous.

Because we were past all of that puritanical bullshit.

Apparently not. 40 years later and it's still an issue.

[ashredux]

16. What is wrong with these people? Believe what you want, but don't force it on students.

[yardwork]

17. Good. His behavior was disgraceful.

[Hope22]

18. Resignation is not enough.

He should never hold a job in the field of education again! It’s not what we know about him but what lies hidden in his crusty soul that we need to worry about. There is something very wrong with him! This smart, strong young woman will survive but not without having her shine reduced to the flick of a match. It will take her years to overcome the actions of this sick man! Shine on Kaylee the world needs you! Never give up!

[calimary]

22. And what about her scholarship?

Can she still get it? Or did he ruin that for her?

[NutmegYankee]

24. He probably ruined it for her.

At this point, legal action against the school district is probably their only option to recoup the economic loss.

[Hope22]

26. My guess is a lawsuit will be necessary.

The school system will pay for letting a fool near this young woman. If I sound raw it’s because I am. Women’s rights are being put on the ballot across this country. My state is attempting to bomb women back to the cave and I have no idea of the future but for these young women…..the war is on!

[Shipwack]

42. She lost the scholarship. :(

I read that by the time he had formally withdrawn his objections the application deadline had passed.

I personally think he planned it that way.

[catrose]

48. My one hope is that all the publicity will make scholarships pour out of woodwork for her

[calimary]

51. Oh I hope you're right.

[NutmegYankee]

25. Has it been confirmed he resigned?

I can't find any news stories that state other than he has requested leave.

[Mariana]

44. That's what I'm reading too, he's taken a leave of absence.

[NNadir]

27. I watched the video of that young woman speaking for herself. I'm very sorry she had to go...

...through this stress.

What a horrible human being that Principal is to do this to a student because he's a bigot.

[world wide wally]

28. Hey, assholes...

[Ilsa]

32. From the Bible:

Zephaniah 3:17 TLV
ADONAI your God is in your midst— a mighty Savior! He will delight over you with joy. He will quiet you with His love. He will dance for joy over you with singing.’

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

49. And they'll come right back at you with Galatians 5:19-21.

This is why it's useless to use the book to make a point. There's almost always a verse that reverses the point being made.

[Ilsa]

50. Very true, although I didn't find any version of those

verses that mentioned dancing specifically, jusy idolatry, drunkenness, orgies, etc.

[sinkingfeeling]

36. Great to read that update.

[Permanut]

43. I'm thinking about a twelve..

On the creepy meter.

(Which only goes to ten.)

[Baitball Blogger]

45. This headline keeps popping up and I must have read it a dozen times.

I could read it a dozen more times. My feel good article of the day.