Just another case of repressing students basic freedoms in the schools. Maybe a forced dress code is the only way to ensure that no one will have creativity, individualism, or expression.

Hall Monitor
http://detentionslip.org

Joy,

Though I can understand your confusion as to why it wouldn't be ok with some teachers while others were ok with it, that shirt could amount to sexual harrasment. So if the teachers your son had first thing in the morning didn't mind it, thats one thing, but if it makes a student or teacher uncomfortable then it needs to be changed. Thats the same reason many companies don't allow pin up calendars anymore, it makes people uncomfortable. And everyone should have a right to work in an environment where they are not made to feel objectified.

As for this article, there is clearly not enough info. Many schools already have rules about political messages on clothing. Did this school have one before? Was the principle just enforcing what was already in place? I can't make an informed decision without all the facts and both sides.

Schools and teachers throughout the country have encourage kids for decades to sit up and take notice of politics during election years and campaigns, especially in the Social Studies/Social Sciences departments. Children and students conduct mock campaigns and elections, and are given assignments that require them to pay attention to politics in order to learn about the Democratic process. Politics are not always positive and like Religion, causes angst among those who are deeply involed. If schools are going to allow kids to wear shirts that state "Vote Obama" or "This is McCain Country" then they should be required to accept that other children will offer a rebutal to those opinions and political t-shirts are apart of that. It's in line with the First Ammmendment, that is what the ammendment is for, to protect against the impression of a single idea onto everyone and require that it be agreed with. Unless Schools plan on treating Politics the same way as they do Religion and banning it (which is a whole other issue), The kids should not be allowed to be oppressed by adults who may have different political views and are most likely being hypicritical by doing so.

I FEEL WE WERE ALLOWED TO WEAR A SHIRT WITH BIN LADDEN WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE WHATS SO BAD BOUT WEARING A DEMOCRAT SHIRT

Agree with your thinking, somethings are just better left alone.

As much as I strongly oppose what the shirt says and think it is extremely inappropriate, the suspension does violate the boy's 1st amendment rights. I'll be interested to see what happens with this...

Well, children rarely make good political choices, since they know (and are taught in school) vitually nothing about the world outside the USA. BUT the kid knows he has a right to an opinion and I support that. Albeit it is unfortunate to hear that someone would have, especially since its W that has the relationship with the Bin Laden family, who where having dinner at the White House a few days before "911". The child was probably too young to remember and his parents too afraid and victims of MASS HYSTERIA to care about the truths surrounding terrorism in US history.
I would not make him change his shirt. I would give him an mandatory assignment: An in depth report on the fall of the world trade center and the following war, give the child "all" the resources available. Not just newspaper reports but all the hard to find live footage. If he can't write it then he shouldn;t have an opinion yet, should he?

I believe the school's argument that the t-shirt prevents learning is lame. I am a school teacher, and I would never use this excuse - you just lose respect when you lie like that. Let's call it what it is - expressive speech to make a point.

However, I would send the kid home (though I do agree that Obama's policies do not favor true American values) for the same reason I would send a kid home for weraing articles of clothing that promote disobedience.

School is not a fashion show or a time to rebel against authority by pushing the dress code, or any other policies, to its limits. I believe the students should respect all rules and regulations set by those in charge, and not search for loopholes to try to get around the discipline of following the rules.

As a parent, I believe this kind of behavior shows a lack of leadership at home, as well. When a child breaks the rules, or even pushes its limits, I think parents need to instruct their children on proper citizenship, not defend their child and contact their attorney. this is why there is so much disobedience in our society. Everyone is afraid of a lawsuit by those who hate discipline.

Although I do not see anything wrong with the "Obama" T-Shirt and do not feel that the kid should have been made to take it off. However, I do understand why a T-Shirt with a lady in a bikini and the truck slogan, was asked to not be worn at school.

I agree with your theory regarding dress codes. However, I also agree if something is not mentioned in a dress code .......at the risk of sounding like a closed minded, older person........I feel certain things should not be promoted in school age kids. Even if they are 18 and are a senior in high school. Attitudes towards many things, including sexual materials are extremely lazy in our society.

I know you may be thinking, I am just some prude. I'm not. I love sex and have no hang ups about it what so ever and can probably give some tips you never heard of. However, I also feel respect should be given as well and I definitly feel that no sexual materials should be worn at school. This would even include "Hooters" t-shirts.
Any car magazine, t-shirts or anything along those lines with "Chicks in Bikini's" are nothing more than to have people google over the hot chick in the bikini and promote nothing towards respect for sex or even the female gender. It is part of the "Toy" fantasy that goes with having the car which is another "Toy" fantasy. That is not something that should be allowed at school.

It is unfrotunate that it took half of the school day before someone did speak up about it. And I applaud the teacher who did.

Where can I buy one of those shirts?

This is my whole point here. We all have different opinions about what's okay and what's not. Some feel a democrat shirt or republican shirt is okay but a girl in a bikini isn't. This is why dress codes have to be outlined. This is what I meant to point out. It shouldn't be up to a teacher to decide if what a student is wearing is okay or not. My kids were in 9th and 12th grade when this happened and the principal didn't want to call me to have him change. It was "ONE" teacher that didn't like it. I'm not about to police a t-shirt on an 18 year old. He was working and voting so I think he can wear what he wants. But he never had to change that shirt. Dress codes can't work unless it covers everyone. People throw the dress code issue back and forth but it has to apply to EVERYONE.

Anyone can say something interferes with learning. A little tattletale can get someone into trouble if they want to.

The changing of this kids shirt isn't about free speech, politics or how many teachers agree or disagree. It was because the shirt was offensive to some. The schools have always banned offensive clothing and whether it was his first class or last if it rubbed someone the wrong way then the outcome would have been the same. I'm 25 now but in school I had to change many a day, I was offended reading the article. Thank God that I'm older now because that would have been cause enough to prompt a fight.

When teachers or administrators can't decide anymore what is right and wrong for children, then we have allowed children to rule and not adults. I was always taught to respect my elders. Whether I agreed or not, they were to be considered and not dismissed. Truth was more absolute when I was growing up and most adults agreed that truth was to be upheld. In our day, truth is twisted and turned by preference without any real standard of knowing.
Irregardless, it would be hard to teach in this day and age with children being right when they are the ones who are supposed to be taught.

If it were an anti-McCain T-shirt we would have never heard about it!!! The liberals who want to socialize America with a muslim president will do whatever it takes to get him elected. I wonder what tune they will be singing if Obama is elected and brings down this country with his socialism programs???

I can't believe the people coming to the defense of a teenager who is obviously trying to provoke a civil rights problem in his school. His prejudice is obvious. He has no proof that anyone in politics is connected with the Taliban.

Let's suppose he wanted to say three out of four Afro-American will vote for a terrorist??? His freedom of speech should come from his mouth when he is old enough to vote and he should express his opinions without trying to provoke anger.

This boy and his parents are the reason our country is divided.

The school was right. A school is for learning...not promoting untrue political views onto the public. This will bring down our country. It is no wonder other countries look at us the way they do. This is abuse of the constitution.

In my opinion the kid knew what the shirt said and was fully aware of what the shirt meant. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with the race of Obama or any other racial issues. The student is aware that Obama has relatives living in the areas said to be terroist areas. The kid is voicing his opinion on the issue and has full rights too. However, the kid obviously knew there was going to be some negative opinions to the shirt and wore it for the attention factor. So obviously the kid was wrong. As far as the prents suing...Thats rediculous. The school gave the kid a choice and he chose the suspension, therefore waiving the option to change his shirt. The parents do not have any grounds to sue. This is my opinion everyone has one so if you dont like it....oh well!

I think in today's society, we must be careful that in our zest for freedom on speech, we do not cause a riot. Given that fact that there are many people are do not want to see a black man as President, the last thing we need is a shirt to cause harm on a greater level. There are law abiding Muslims in this country that would also be put in the same position they were after 9/11. Some people are not stable in their minds, as parents, our jobs are to teach our children when it's appropriate and when it's not to do certain things. I think the school was absolutely correct and I woull never have allowed my child to wear that shirt in my house.

Being from Colorado I can tell you this article is missing some very key reasons for having the 5th grader remove his shirt. This kid was set up by his Father (who shoulod be sent both to parenting and anger management classes) to go to school and kick anyone's ass that messed with him. Well, it was not the teachers or administration that first noticed the shirt it was the fight before school instagated by "shirt boy" that brought attention to it. On the way to his first class in the school he again began to tell fellow students to "bring it on."

As a parent with a child in this school, I KNOW the school was absolutely correct in their actions, I however, am pushing for action against the Father who set his kid up and sent him into school ready to fight!

Everyone is all cranked up about this poor kids 1st Amendment right that they forget that with this kids Dad's mentality and his ABSOLUTE need for his 15 minutes of fame, that it would NOT be a stretch to send him armed with his gun, protected by the 2nd Amendment, just in case the ass kicking got the best of him! We could be looking at a completely different scenario!

Our civil rights need to be protected but as a parent I find it over the top to have a kid wear this kind of "bring it on" type of shirt, let alone pump the kid up for the ensuing battles. Do you really believe this 5th grader started crying for his 1st Amendment rights on his own?

Most of you don't know this family or its mentality! As said before the Dad needs some pretty serious help!

GOOD FOR THE PARENTS !!! I agree that maybe they should have a dress code but it would have to be fair to all.... Maybe this is one more example of Political Correctness gone WAY to far. If the school princible or teacher had half a brain they would look at it differently. If they really had an interest in promoting education they could've used that to let the student debate his position. I hope the parents win thier court case and the princible looses his job along with the teacher in question and probably most of the school board. As a parent I delt with issues like this for years with our 3 children. It baffles me on how small minded people can be ....I could go on forever about this but I won't....To rap this up I don't see anything wrong with the T-shirt. It wasn't dirty or racial in any way. Educators should NOT be allowed to push force thier politicle views on our children.

Concerned American
Eric Vorpi
Rockford, Mi.
McCain supporter