Teen holds fast to anti-Nazi arm patch protest at Gov. Wentworth

WOLFEBORO — The U.S. District Court has yet to rule in a conflict between a student’s freedom of speech and a Governor Wentworth Regional School District policy to ensure safety.

The impasse stems from school officials asking Paul Hendrickson, a high school junior at Kingswood Regional High School, on March 28 to remove a crossed-out swastika patch from his jacket.

Something the 17-year-old New Durham resident politely declined to do.

Since then, Hendrickson said he has attempted to return to school several times while wearing the patch but was continually asked to leave. He said Wednesday he has not attempted to return recently and is not sure when he might try again.

Superintendent John Robertson said Tuesday that Hendrickson, who he only alluded to anonymously, never was or has been suspended, an action which keeps a student out of school for a specific length of time.

Robertson said Hendrickson is “welcome to come back” anytime but only without the patch.

The school district asked the federal court to rule on the matter last week since both sides would not compromise.

The U.S. District Court clerk’s office said they could not locate the case during a telephone interview Tuesday. Robertson confirmed the district submitted a petition to the court.

The district’s attorney, Diane Gorrow, of Soule, Leslie, Kidder, Sayward & Loughman in Salem, could not be reached for comment.

Hendrickson said his lawyers advised him not to comment further on the case. He could not recall his attorney’s full names or contact information.

Robertson has said the school district can not back down from a student safety issue and Hendrickson has said he was attempting to promote tolerance and refuses to surrender his freedom of expression.

According to a district press release, there have been problems between two student groups at the high school, although further information was not released because of privacy issues.

Robertson said Tuesday no incidents have occurred since Hendrickson first wore the patch.

He also said the district provided a tutor to Hendrickson, as they do for students who are absent from school for such non-disciplinary reasons as a lengthy illness or recovery. Tutors are not provided to suspended students.

The Governor Wentworth Regional School District serves Brookfield, Effingham, New Durham, Ossipee, Tuftonboro and Wolfeboro.