Pupil starts suspension for magazine

BELPRE, Ohio (AP) -- A sixth-grader started serving a three-day suspension Tuesday because he refused a lesser punishment for bringing the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue to school, the superintendent said.
Justin Reyes had the magazine in the gymnasium at Belpre Middle School before classes Feb. 18, and Principal Kathy Garrison cited him for violating school's policy on nonverbal harassment and possession of lewd or suggestive material, Superintendent Tim Swarr said.
Garrison ordered the 12-year-old to spend two days at an alternative school about 12 miles from the middle school where pupils from several area districts take classes when they get into trouble.
Swarr said Justin's penalty was increased to three days of out-of-school suspension because he and his mother, Nicole Reyes, refused to accept alternative school punishment.
"Last time I checked, we were in charge of running the schools," he said.
Nicole Reyes said the alternative school was too harsh a punishment.
"It's not like it's Playboy, Penthouse, Hustler," she said. "To me, it's American culture."
"It shouldn't offend anybody, and it doesn't exploit anyone. He should not have taken it to school, but I don't think it's morally wrong for a child that's almost 13 to look at it."
Nicole Reyes said her son bought the magazine from a bookstore with money he received for Christmas, and she was aware of the purchase.
"In my house it's OK, but he needs to think about what he takes to school," she said.