There are plenty of reasons to be glad that you aren’t in high school anymore. As full-fledged adults, we’re no longer forced to write essays about the ATP cycle, running and swimming are strictly voluntary, and we aren’t obligated to have a crush at least one member of a boy band. Another bonus: If we feel like making a joke about a politician online, the principal won’t call us to his office and demand that we apologize. (Though, depending on your line of work and your employer’s feelings on legalizing marijuana, you may end up out of a job. Maybe being all grown up isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.)
The Kansas City Star reports that last week 18-year-old Emma Sullivan of Fairway, Kansas took a field trip to Governor Sam Brownback’s office and Tweeted to her friends, “Just made mean comments at gov. brownback and told him he sucked, in person #heblowsalot.” She actually never spoke to Brownback and says she was just “joking around.” However unbeknownst to her, the Governor has a staffer who monitors Facebook and Twitter for signs that little Lisa Simpsons are losing faith in democracy — or just badmouthing their elected officials.
Brownback’s director of communication, Sherriene Jones-Sontag complained, “That wasn’t respectful. In order to really have a constructive dialogue, there has to be mutual respect.” Determined to spend the days before Thanksgiving persecuting a teenager for her sass rather than doing any actual work for the citizens of Kansas, Jones-Sontag contacted Shawnee Mission East High School principal Karl R. Krawitz, who proceeded to scold Sullivan for an hour, saying her “not so nice” remarks had embarassed the school and it was now time for “damage control.” Sullivan says Krawitz demanded that she write Brownback an apology and suggested some talking points.
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