(Updated) What's been happening in our schools lately? Lawsuit fears dominate.

Update: The Advancement of the Toxic Totalitarian Nanny State  "...Jonah Goldberg  (and others) have been pointing out the totalitarian nature of the “progressive” movement, which seeks to expand the government sphere into every aspect of our lives (with the apparent singular exception of whether or not we can kill unborn children)." 

Attack of the lunch police  or, "Give me a turkey sandwich, or give me death."
"The Department of Health and Human Services, which thanks to ObamaCare will soon be the most powerful and unaccountable government organization in the Western world, has really been feeling its oats lately.  Fresh from its triumph in forcing Catholics to pay for contraception, agents of the Division of Child Development and Early Education moved to seize an improperly packed lunch from a little girl at a North Carolina elementary school, and assess a modest fine against her mother."
More on HHS: 
 Forbes: HHS Death Panel
 The Kansan: Actions by Department of Health and Human Services violates First Amendment
 Heritage: House Panel Hears How HHS Mandate Tramples on Conscience Rights


The president downplays school choice in his new $3.8 trillion budget.   "Because the president's teachers union allies are opposed to school choice for poor people, Mr. Obama ignores or downplays these findings."

http://terrellaftermath.com/

Wisconsin School Punishes Christian Kid for Discouraging Gay Parenting
The article, “Should Homosexual Partners Be [Able] to Adopt?,” was written by Brandon Wegner who was assigned the task of writing a counter-point to another student’s pro-homosexual adoption article. The piece was then published as an insert in the school newspaper, the Shawano Leader.
...."According to Liberty Counsel, a First Amendment law firm, Wegner was quixotically bullied by Superintendent Carlson in an attempt to deter bullying.":

Brandon was hauled before the superintendent on charges that he had violated the school’s bullying policy. Superintendent Todd Carlson told him that the column “went against the bullying policy,” and asked him if he “regretted” writing it. When Mr. Wegner stated that he did not regret writing it, and that he stood behind his beliefs, Superintendent Carlson told him that he “had got to be one of the most ignorant kids to try to argue with him about this topic,” that “we have the power to suspend you if we want to” and that the column had “personally offended me, so I know you offended other people!”

Before you blame the schools, look no further than their fear of being sued by anyone and everyone:
The fear of being sued is stalking our schools:  Safety-obsessed madness
Update: Tony Branco cartoon:

http://conservativedailynews.com/2012/02/tyranny-on-the-menu-10/

EDUCATION WORLD: Has the Threat of Lawsuits Changed Our Schools?
"A recent survey revealed that the majority of school principals have been threatened with lawsuits -- lawsuits that have changed the atmosphere in their schools. Education World's "Principal Files" team members offer their perspectives. Included: Handling lawsuits threatened by disgruntled parents and teachers."


Doctors. Teachers. Coaches. Ministers. They all share a common fear: being sued on the job. Our litigation nation—and a plan to fix it   "Legal reform is a painfully slow process; over the past 30 years, attempts to require mediation before going to court have done little to stem the litigation wave. But the time may come when ordinary Americans recognize that for every sweepstakes winner in the legal lottery, there are millions of others who have to live with the consequences—higher taxes and insurance rates, educational and medical systems seriously warped by lawsuits, fear and uncertainty about getting sued themselves. One day, they may realize that their right to sue has become a trial for us all."