School T-Shirt Censorship

[JohnRich 4]

In the news:

Girl Disciplined For Wearing Dam T-Shirt

A souvenir T-shirt from a national landmark has a middle school student fighting for her rights and a school defending its dress code policy.

The T-shirt says, "Somebody went to the Hoover Dam and all I got was this 'Dam' t-shirt." (photo attached)

When Heather Mercer, 12, wore the shirt to school, she was told to change or be disciplined. She refused, claiming it's her First Amendment right to wear it, and was sent home.

The school's policy prohibits pictures, emblems or writing on clothing that is lewd, offensive, vulgar or obscene.

Full Story

[billvon 3,131]

We got sent home for wearing _any_ logo T-shirts. Yet somehow we survived four years there.

[RoadRash 0]

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"We feel it didn't fit the dress code," Gazaway said.

I love it when "they" ("they" being school officials/administrators) make statements such as this. I remember when I was in high school and several students everyday had to turn shirts inside out in order to "cover up" offensive humor or beer/drug references...(I live in a University town, so half the shirts from PU make references to alcohol, etc.) No one, and I repeat no one was sent home for wearing an idiotic t-shirt, because of how some administrator felt.

I have a problem with teenagers not being able to wear what they want, however, I think that the parents should have a say in what a child wears, and should have the good sense to encourage decent dress to school. I have a problem with a student missing school because of a t-shirt. That is ridiculous and yet another example of how school systems in America are focusing on the wrong things. Instead of worrying about the lack of education that most pupils are recieving some administrators are worried about "dam" on a t-shirt.

Sorry Miss Gazaway, I don't give a "dam" how you feel! (Now kid, put that on a shirt and wear it....)



~R+R...SOIT MAUDIT!!!!!!!!

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[DrunkMonkey 0]

I had a uniform for elementary school, and a strict dress code for High School.

These kids need to STFU and learn. Worrying about "Free Expression" while you're at school is a buncha crap.

[billvon 3,131]

>These kids need to STFU and learn. Worrying about "Free
>Expression" while you're at school is a buncha crap.

Agreed. Teachers, not children, are in charge of classrooms and everything that goes on within them. I hear about nonsense like "but what about freedom of speech?" and "my Emily can't hear about jews, she's catholic!" - it makes me think that people see classrooms the same way they see streetcorners, where students can just come and go as they please and do whatever they want.

It's a school. There are rules. You go there to learn, not to artistically express your cynicism about the adult world or your hatred of X, Y and Z. And if they want you to leave your slingshot at home - guess what? You have to leave it at home.

And if you don't want to follow the rules, schools also come equipped with an option for such students - a door.

[metalslug 36]

>These kids need to STFU and learn. Worrying about "Free
>Expression" while you're at school is a buncha crap.

I completely disagree.

Firstly, the teachers themselves should be educated enough to know that the correct spelling of the curse is "damn" and not "dam". The wording of the shirt could only have a misinterpreted context if it were spoken out loud, but not if it were read by literate individuals.
Of course, I'm aware enough to notice the intended ambiguity in the wording, but it's really very tame stuff.

I was educated in South Africa where the schools here had a designated uniformed dress code and hairstyle regulations. It once happened that the principal took it apon himself to cut my hair, without consent from myself or my parents. I was too young and too afraid to resist.
My parents very nearly brought assault charges against the man. I sure as shit would have if it was my kid.

My point is that I have resented authority figures every day since and still do.. and the attitude of authority figures to overstep their mark or even overstep the law, through ignorance or megalomania, is something that needs to be addressed wherever it occurs.

[Lindsey 0]

I definately have a problem with violations of our rights. However, children must learn judgment from someone. Parents do not attend school with their children, and at school teachers/administrators must take on some role in parenting. There are things that I will wear around my house that I wouldn't wear at work. If I chose to wear trashy clothes at home, nobody has the right to tell me not to. If I wore them to work, I would expect to be sent home. It teaches children to be disrespectful of authority if such behavior is allowed.

Peace~
Lindsey

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

[kallend 2,174]

How is the Hoover Dam "lewd, offensive, vulgar or obscene"?

If they are willing to allow tee shirts at all, what can they expect? If kids had good judgement they'd be allowed to drive and vote.

I had to wear an Oxford shirt with a jacket and tie at my school.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[damion75 0]

I know this discussion is about US schools, but I think that there should be some similarities the world over...

Schools are not just there to teach academic stuff IMHO - they are a training for life. Kids need some discipline. While I agree that forcibly cutting a kids hair is wrong (leave that to the parents) I do think that uniforms are not a bad idea. Kids can decide later whether they want to conform or not when they have a little more experience behind them.

***************

Not one shred of evidence supports the theory that life is serious - look at the platypus.

[flyangel2 2]

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I think that the parents should have a say in what a child wears, and should have the good sense to encourage decent dress to school.

Do you have children? Have you ever tried to force a teenager to wear a specific shirt?

Teenagers want to fit in. They don't want to wear a shirt that is going to make them stick out and be a target for the bullies.

Yes, I have two teenage boys, and I do encourage them to dress correctly. There are certain shirts they can not wear to school. I'm one of the lucky parents that my kids listen to me. Not all parents are as lucky as that. Some, if not most, are probably out the door to work before the kids get up and are dressed for school.

I went to private school for 12 years and had to wear a uniform. I'm in agreement here. These kids need to follow the rules of the school. If they can't follow simple dress codes, what kind of adults are they going to be in the real world?

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

[PeteH 0]

"The land of the free"

I think that's ridicilous.

I wonder what kind of trouble I would've had if we'd have dress codes in Finland.

[Skyrad 0]

If you go there take loads of money because its a lie!

In the land of the free you have to pay for everything!

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[kallend 2,174]

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Quote

I think that the parents should have a say in what a child wears, and should have the good sense to encourage decent dress to school.

Do you have children? Have you ever tried to force a teenager to wear a specific shirt?

Teenagers want to fit in. They don't want to wear a shirt that is going to make them stick out and be a target for the bullies.

Seems like an argument in favor of school uniforms.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[flyangel2 2]

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Seems like an argument in favor of school uniforms.

What's that old saying? If it was good enough for me, it's good enough for them.

I don't have a problem with with school uniforms.

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

[dropoutdave 0]

Guess they wouldn't like my new hoodie then....

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[piisfish 140]

love this one... WAAAAAAHHHHHHH He loves the cock ------>

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[dropoutdave 0]

Makes me laugh everytime I stand next to someone, hehe. Ahhhhh the comedy.

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[wmw999 2,600]

Many kids need something to rebel against. It's better if they have something like T-shirts, simply because then the rebellion against more serious things (e.g. addictive drugs, violence) are farther away.

My son had to turn a couple of T-shirts inside out, and he was thrilled when he found a T-shirt that advertised a near-beer that he was able to wear because it wasn't an alcoholic beverage.

Frankly, I think it should be left between the parents, the child, and the school, and generally the parents should support the school. But, this is a free country, and if the parents think this is worth fighting about, they have that right, and I have the right to think it's making a mountain out of a molehill. I hope it doesn't cost the school too much.

On the other hand, a principal who cut my son's hair forcibly would have a much angrier parent to contend with.

I was able to survive through uniforms, fairly strict dress codes (got sent home for wearing a maxi-skirt one day ), and extremely lenient dress codes (no shorts, swimsuits, or halter tops -- and this was the early 1970's). Somehow I managed to learn in all of those environments.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[RoadRash 0]

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Quote

I think that the parents should have a say in what a child wears, and should have the good sense to encourage decent dress to school.

Quote

Do you have children? Have you ever tried to force a teenager to wear a specific shirt?

No, I don't have children, but I remember quite vividly my teenage years. I was never forced to wear certain clothes, but my mother would tell me quite bluntly whether she thought something was appropriate or not.

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Teenagers want to fit in. They don't want to wear a shirt that is going to make them stick out and be a target for the bullies.

I agree, but I also know that teenagers wear clothes to stick out on purpose...and to get attention...I saw a lot of strange things when I was in high school, some cool, some quite ridiculous...

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Yes, I have two teenage boys, and I do encourage them to dress correctly. There are certain shirts they can not wear to school. I'm one of the lucky parents that my kids listen to me. Not all parents are as lucky as that. Some, if not most, are probably out the door to work before the kids get up and are dressed for school.

I listened to my parents too...and you make a good point, sometimes parents aren't there to observe what a child is going to wear to school. But I know what my mom taught me...and I also knew the difference between what looked flattering on me and what made me look downright stupid.

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I went to private school for 12 years and had to wear a uniform. I'm in agreement here. These kids need to follow the rules of the school. If they can't follow simple dress codes, what kind of adults are they going to be in the real world?

I only went to private school for a few years when I was much younger and had no idea why I had to wear a skirt and knee socks...but anyway, when uniforms aren't worn, that leaves the student open to a vast array of clothes to wear to school. Public schools aren't always the best about encouraging dress codes and when those codes are enforced, then it causes problems. The only thing that I remember from my high school was no belly buttons should be seen (though that happened all the time) and vulgar, or alcohol related language on shirts...(but you only turned it wrongside out and went about your day)...I think it is ridiculous to ask someone to take off a shirt, but to turn it wrong side out, not a problem...you can still read it anyway......Missing a day of school for a t-shirt...come on...that is a wasted day...


~R+R

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Fly the friendly skies...^_^...})ii({...^_~...

[billvon 3,131]

>Firstly, the teachers themselves should be educated enough to know
> that the correct spelling of the curse is "damn" and not "dam".

They do know that. And if I were a teacher and someone wore a shirt that said "Fuk Yu" they'd be out the door in under a minute. And if their parents stormed in and said "It's 'fuk' not 'fuck' you idiot!" I'd laugh at them.

>My point is that I have resented authority figures every day since
> and still do.. and the attitude of authority figures to overstep their
> mark or even overstep the law, through ignorance or megalomania,
> is something that needs to be addressed wherever it occurs.

Some students learn to deal with such people; there have been mean teachers and strict principals since schooling began, and learning to deal with such people is one reason that going to school is an important step in a child's development. Some students never learn this. They become sue-happy whiners who cannot deal with anyone who tells them no. These latter students grow up into the same people who sue McDonald's for having hot coffee, who sue their employers when they are fired for not working, and who sue stores when they drop a soda and then slip in the resulting mess.