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As with most people of our acquaintance, LAist does not have overly fond memories of high school. Something like purgatory with more self-consciousness and angst, it was mostly useful as a test of will. Needless to say, LAist does not look back on those days with more than a small bit of wistfulness for the blissful stupidity of being a teenager.

Blissful, that is, assuming you had a more or less trouble-free meander through the halls of your alma mater.

At Troy High School in Fullerton, 18 year-old Oracle co-editor Ann Long has been given an ultimatum: resign, or be fired.

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At issue is a story penned by Long last December which profiles the decisions of three openly gay or bisexual students who chose to come out to family and friends. All three were aware that they would be named in the article, but Assistant Principal Joseph D'Amelia claims Long failed to comply with a state education code that requires written parental consent to discuss issues related to student sexuality with a student—even though the code has never before been applied to a student, only to faculty and staff.

According to Long, her journalism teacher, Georgette Cerrutti, worked closely with her on drafts of the article for more than a month, at one point discussing with her the impact it might have on the students' families. Long said Cerrutti never told her she needed to get the parents' approval.

...Cerrutti did not return calls seeking comment.

That omission has apparently not earned much notice, as Long is still being punished despite language in the code which states that it is the responsibility of school faculty "to maintain professional standards of English and journalism."
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