Judge tosses out teen’s homework lawsuit (Free Talking Class)

Judge tosses out teen’s homework lawsuit

Story:

A judge has tossed out a Wisconsin high school student’s lawsuit asking for summers free of homework and may order him to pay the state’s costs, court officials said. Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Richard Sankovitz called 17-year-old Peer Larson’s suit frivolous and said his complaint should be directed at the school board. The Wisconsin attorney general’s office may ask the judge to order Larson to pay the state’s court costs. Larson, of Hales Corners, Wisconsin, had asked that the state schools superintendent on down to his local school district and math teacher be barred from assigning homework over the summer. Larson and his father said the problem arose when he was given three assignments just before the start of summer vacation to prepare for an advanced precalculus class that began last fall. The younger Larson said he failed to get all the work done because he had a summer job as a camp counselor. reuters

Title: Judge Tosses Out Teen's Homework Lawsuit

Source: Daily Times / Reuters

Level: Intermediate

Vocabulary

arose
bar(red)
circuit
complaint
counselor
court
frivolous
judge
lawsuit
(pre)calculus
superintendent
teen

Other expressions
attorney general
get (something) done
school district
summer vacation
toss(es) out

Talking Points

1. Do you think it is okay to go to court over "frivolous" matters?

2. Do teachers have a right to assign homework over the summer vacation?

3. Why do you think this person filed the lawsuit?
(e.g. to avoid doing homework, to get money from the school district, for fun, etc.)

4. Does everyone have the right to file a lawsuit for anything they want?
How about in your country?

5. Should this teenager be forced to pay court costs?

For More Practice

Pretend you are the boy's parents. Will you encourage him to file the lawsuit?
Why or why not?

Pretend you are the boy's teacher. Why would you assign homework over the summer?

Pretend you are the judge. What will you say to someone who files this kind of lawsuit?

Pretend you are the boy. What will you say to your parents/teacher/the judge?
Will your attitude be different before and after hearing the court's decision?

Role Play any of the above situations with a partner.


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Source:
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