Boy Accused Of Flatulence, Banned From Bus
Alleged Flatulence Made It Hard To Breathe, Says Bus Driver
Posted: 6:44 am EDT March 20, 2009
Updated: 3:50 pm EDT March 21, 2009
LAKELAND, Fla. -- A 15-year-old Lakeland, Fla., boy is looking for a new way to school after his alleged flatulence had him kicked off the bus.
Eighth-grader Jonathan Locke Jr. was suspended from riding the school bus for three days after being accused of passing gas.
"Jonathan passes gas on the bus to make the other children laugh and it is so stink [sic] that you can't breathe after he does it," the bus driver wrote on a misbehavior form.
But Locke said he wasn't the culprit.
"It wasn't even me," Locke said. "It was a kid who sits in front of me."
Jerome Corbett, senior director of specialized services for the Polk County School District, said there is no specific rule that prohibits students from passing gas on the bus.
"There's a rule against disturbing the bus," Corbett said.
If the flatulence becomes excessive, then Corbett said the bus driver has the responsibility to report it to the school administrator.
Fred Murphy, assistant superintendent of support services, directed calls to Corbett but said he told reporters with a Lakeland newspaper, The Ledger, that "if it (passing gas) caused a disruption on the bus, that would be an issue to deal with."
Trouble for Locke started Monday afternoon after school when a student sitting next to him started making noises with his mouth. Then, students smelled a pungent aroma.
"I started laughing," Locke said. "It was a bad smell."
On Tuesday when Locke walked onto the bus, the bus driver handed him the suspension form.
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