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Court Overrules Girl's Grounding

Posted by samzenpus on

In a decision that is sure to make pre-teens everywhere up the brat ante, a Quebec Superior Court ruled that a father couldn't discipline his daughter by grounding her from a school trip. The father is filing an appeal because his moral authority over his child had been undercut by the court, said his lawyer, Kim Beaudoin. The 12-year-old girl was not allowed to go online after she posted photos of herself on a dating site. She then got into an argument with her stepmother, so her father said she couldn't go on a school trip. I wonder what the statute of limitations is on a grounding? I'm still a little pissed about not being able to go over to Eric's sleepover birthday party in 2nd grade.

9 comments

  1. Moral authority? by Mr2001 · · Score: 1

    Sorry, but just because you procreated -- which, as Bill Maher says, is something a dog can do -- doesn't give you the "moral authority" to order other people around. Especially when they're not even living under your roof, as TFA explains:

    Ms. Fortin [the girl's lawyer] said, however, that the case ended in court after a long, escalating dispute between the girl and her father and stepmother, which ended with the daughter being expelled from her father's house and living with her biological mother since May.
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    1. Re:Moral authority? by ralatalo · · Score: 1

      He should get the home address of the Judge and send his daughter home with him because he's just taken over being a parent. Maybe if the Judge lives with her and has to provide for her he would feel differently.

    2. Re:Moral authority? by Mr2001 · · Score: 1

      What, were you so eager to reply to my comment that you skipped everything after the first sentence?

      The father can't send his daughter anywhere because she doesn't live with him anymore. He already kicked her out of his house. If he wanted to make decisions for her as her parent, the time to do that was when she was still living with him.

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    3. Re:Moral authority? by ralatalo · · Score: 1

      The parents are divorced! and for the last month (it's unclear if that includes the time before the trip as well or only time since the trip) she's been living with her mother but the father has legal custody. So, what psychic told you that he kicked her out? I would bet my money on... Mommy can I live with you while I sue my dad? Pretty please!

    4. Re:Moral authority? by Mr2001 · · Score: 1

      So, what psychic told you that he kicked her out?

      The article. Let me quote it once again, this time with emphasis:

      Ms. Fortin said, however, that the case ended in court after a long, escalating dispute between the girl and her father and stepmother, which ended with the daughter being expelled from her father's house and living with her biological mother since May.

      "Expelled" means kicked out. Who else would have the power to kick this girl out of her father's house, other than her father himself?
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    5. Re:Moral authority? by ralatalo · · Score: 1

      http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Expelled

      I don't see kicked out... I see "Force or Drive out" but then again we are assuming that the reported was not trying to sell a story.

      I still don't believe it was a boot out of the house...I suspect it was his making her life miserable and her saying ... I can't take this any more...

      Also note...that it ended up that way... as in during or after the trial.... so it's not like he was interfering in her life when he wasn't part of it.

  2. SWF looking for... by themushroom · · Score: 1

    Did the judge think, "why is a 12 year old girl posting on a singles board?"
    Followed by, "Would I want MY kid to do that?"

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    1. Re:SWF looking for... by vidarh · · Score: 1
      I'm sure the judge did. But the point the judge made was that the punishment was an excessive response. Some countries do actually grant kids quite wide rights, because they recognize that kids are people too, and while it is necessary to limit them somewhat for their own protection, they also need to be protected against arbitrary and excessive control by their parents.

      The judge also didn't prevent the dad from punishing her or placing other restrictions on her, but upheld her complaint because of the specific circumstances, and specifically the fact that the school trip in question was a one off opportunity that was very important to her.

    2. Re:SWF looking for... by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 1

      because they recognize that kids are people too, and while it is necessary to limit them somewhat for their own protection, they also need to be protected against arbitrary and excessive control by their parents

      SECONDED. I might have sex after I turn 40.

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