High school students holding a Nazi flag. It's not a scenario that any administrator wants to deal with, and it signifies the sort of short-sighted behaviors high schoolers have been known for since time immemorial. But what should the response to such ill-conceived behaviors be?

It's a debate sparked by a story out of Nebraska, where two high schoolers were photographed holding a Nazi flag in the school's locker room. Administrators deemed the behavior “inappropriate” and indicated the students would face discipline.

Teenage students make such thoughtless mistakes on a regular basis, though, so it's important to look closer at what, exactly, disciplinary proceedings might look like.

If your student is ever involved in the high school disciplinary process, call the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 or contact us online to learn how our Student Defense Team can assist.

Regulations Like Title IX Have Encroached on Students' Activities (In and Out of School)

Surely the students and their guardians have admitted to wrongdoing. Being photographed with a Nazi flag is never wise, and could certainly disrupt the sense of safety and cohesion that should be present on any high school campus.

Administrators at the school in question suggested that their school policies prohibit such “inappropriate” acts on school grounds. They also hinted that school-specific policies would provide the framework for disciplining the students.

As attorneys, we also know that high schools that receive federal funding are generally beholden to the Title IX disciplinary process. This federal regulation dictates how schools handle certain types of alleged student wrongdoing, and Title IX is plagued by questions about whether students receive due process.

Title IX's reach has expanded over time, with even certain online activities (where students often share risque and morally questionable content) falling under the scope of Title IX. Whether a student faces disciplinary proceedings under the school's own policies or Title IX, they must protect their rights (even if they admit to making a mistake).

No Matter What Mistake a Student Makes, They Have Rights

If there is one common thread among virtually every high school student ever, it's mistakes—lots of mistakes, including some pretty, pretty dumb ones.

No matter how egregiously a high schooler messes up, they still have rights. Yet, those rights are never guaranteed unless the student ensures they are. We protect students' rights at the Lento Law Firm. Our Student Defense Team deals with administrators who hold the adjudication process, as well as students' immediate futures and reputations, in their hands.

If your student ever faces potential discipline, call on us. Whether they face baseless claims, exaggerated allegations, or credible accusations of a mistake they admit to making, it's time to seek the best outcome from a tough situation.

Call the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 or contact us online. Let us guide your student through any certain or potential disciplinary proceedings ahead.