high school kid threatened with suspension

[datasuspect]

for wearing t-shirt critical of bush

http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/local/2004/11/20schoolordersboy.html

[toymachines]

1. what has become of our country?

i cant believe that so many people are close minded and gullible.
i saddens me.

[progdonkey]

2. one of his friends should get an anti-Kerry shirt...

Something on par with this kid's T-shirt--and wear it to school. See if he's told to cover it up.

[Aunt Anti-bush]

3. Send the school an e-mail

504 S. Broad Street
Middletown, DE 19709
Phone: [phone]
Web Site: www.mmscrusaders.com
Administrators: Dr. Claude McAllister, Principal
[e-mail]
Laura Troxell, Assistant Principal [e-mail]

My e-mail:

I read an article about this young man today that stated that you threatened to suspend the boy for wearing a political statement on a t-shirt. I am appalled at your lack of consideration for our nation's Bill of Rights and the First Amendment. How dare you threaten to punish a child for not being afraid to stand up for what he believes in! This is supposed to be America, not a communist state where those who disagree with the government aren't permitted to speak out for fear of punishment. What exactly did you hope to accomplish by trying to silence this boy's beliefs? Is that what you are supposed to teach our children? I am ashamed that there are people like you in charge of our childrens' education.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. I am a teacher

and I understand why the school is telling him not to wear this shirt.

It's a distraction.

I am NOT defending the school's decision, nor do I agree with it, but technically, this shirt is a distraction and schools can remove distractions when they see them present.

The other thing to remember here is that kids in schools do not have the same constitutional rights as US citizens do. The schools can search the kids, their lockers, their cars, etc, without a warrant. They can restrict what kids wear. They can restrict what the kids say in school newspapers too. Many many court rulings over many many years have upheld the schools rights to infringe upon the students' 'rights'.

Sad, but true.

[Demeter]

5. This Country Needs A Lesson In Democracy

and that is not a distraction--it is one of the two fundamental purposes of public education. We need distractions of this sort, to break the zombies out of their gas guzzling, shop-oholic, addictive haze.

[JaneDoughnut]

8. What about Tinker vs Des Moines?

I thought freedom of speech was explicitly protected on school property.

[gordianot]

10. I am also.

What you said is true, however, I have seen these standards applied rather loosely. My question would be has this shirt caused a problem (not just distraction)? Then yes.

[bobbieinok]

11. isn't there a supreme crt decision from the 60s that says students

have a right to wear anti-war clothing in school?????

[Left Brain]

6. Watch out Delaware

Clear Channel's "Our Leader" propaganda coming to a billboard near you...

[Gary_destruction]

7. No suprise

The teachers were probably Bush supporters to begin with. But when you convince millions of people to believe lies, it's easy to get them to suppress the truth.

[K to the YLE]

9. revealing clothes

"I think it's just as bad as wearing revealing clothes to school," she said. "I don't necessarily think the student should be suspended, but he should cover it up."

Yeah, 'cause promoting cognitive dissonance and political debate in an educational institute is just as distracting to the other students as the low rise jeans and little tank tops that the young ladies are so fond of wearing. I'm sure all the guys are in this kids classes are checking him out during class.

P.S. I'm not trying to be sexist here by comparing the shirt to girls clothes, but I assume when this mother was talking about "revealing clothes" she was speaking of what some girls may choose to wear.

[AllegroRondo]

12. Heard a similar local news story yesterday

about a high school student suspended for wearing a Gay Pride T-shirt. he is bringing a lawsuit against the school because anti-gay t-shirts have been worn by other students with no reprisals.

[derbstyron]

13. Isn't there a thread on here somewhere about an anti-gay t-shirt??

Some kid, with the aid of a religious lawyer freak, natch, is suing a school (I think it was somewhere east) for a right to wear a "biblical antigay" shirt under religious freedom.

ok, folks we can't have it both ways (unless, of course, you are a republican) so we need a decision by the supremes. Either both can wear their shirt or neither can.

Seems pretty clear cut. Right? Right?? Hello??? Justice are you there?

[Cory Laf]

14. FUCK THIS

I go to Concord High School, ~30-45 misn north of Middletown HS, and i am damn well wearing anti bush propaganda...every day.