In general, I agree, but in a school setting, I feel differently.

 

I do see the need for order in a school setting, but I also think students need to learn to handle pluralism and disagreements because they will have to deal with that as citizens.

I do see the need for order in a school setting, but I also think students need to learn to handle pluralism and disagreements because they will have to deal with that as citizens.

 

I most certainly agree with you on that. It's a balancing act. Once an issue loses its educational value and becomes a distraction, it's time to move on.

What viewpoint, it is a shirt with a picture of a gun and a NRA logo. Seriously what is there to be upset about.

 

I agree. I was kind of playing the "what if" angle.

What viewpoint, it is a shirt with a picture of a gun and a NRA logo. Seriously what is there to be upset about.

 

I agree with you. I was just throwing out ideas.

I most certainly agree with you on that. It's a balancing act. Once an issue loses its educational value and becomes a distraction, it's time to move on.

All right. Where do you draw the line? I could make the same (NRA) argument about abortion. Like gun rights, it's the law of the land, like it or not. So should a 12-year-old be allowed to go to school with an illustrated shirt that says: "Abortion ... keep it legal"? Of course not. The answer is to let school administrators make the call as to what's appropriate attire.

Good golly, Molly, the teacher and the school ain't the problem! I posed this situation to a longtime Northern Kentucky public high school teacher. She said at her school, the disqualifying item on the shirt is the weapon, not "NRA." She said "NRA" alone probably would fly, but no weapons on shirts. That's a no-no. In the old days, kids in rural Illinois school districts actually brought their hunting rifles to school, put them in their lockers, then went deer hunting after school. Those days are long gone, unfortunately, because of Columbine, Paducah and numerous other school massacres.

 

Here's an updated version of the story:

 

Student with NRA T-shirt back in West Virginia classroom | OregonLive.com

If the dress code included pictures of guns on clothes being taboo, I'd agree, but I can't find anything that says it's against the school dress code.

I wouldn't be so quick to say it's not the teacher, the kid wore the shirt during five class periods before he was told to remove it. Sounds like only one teacher had a problem and possibly is the problem.

If the dress code included pictures of guns on clothes being taboo, I'd agree, but I can't find anything that says it's against the school dress code.

I wouldn't be so quick to say it's not the teacher, the kid wore the shirt during five class periods before he was told to remove it. Sounds like only one teacher had a problem and possibly is the problem.

Your points are valid. Perhaps, though, this teacher, as opposed to the others, thought the shirt offensive because a student in that class lost a brother or parent to gun violence. If that were the case, the shirt certainly would be inappropriate, even though it was OK earlier. I'm just speculating. Regardless, a principal or assistant principal should have made the call much earlier in the day, and obviously, the school board has some work to do revising its dress code. One solution would be to ban all writing and images on clothes, excepting the name/mascot of the school, etc.

Let me ask again especially of current or former teachers.

 

Kid is told to change his clothes. He refuses. Told again. Still refuses.

 

Now what? Send him home?

Let me ask again especially of current or former teachers.

 

Kid is told to change his clothes. He refuses. Told again. Still refuses.

 

Now what? Send him home?

 

I would think the next step is to take him to the office and call his parents to discuss the issue and hopefully find a resolution.

 

Ultimately though if kid refuses to comply with administration orders a suspension is on order IMO

Let me ask again especially of current or former teachers.

 

Kid is told to change his clothes. He refuses. Told again. Still refuses.

 

Now what? Send him home?

 

What Watusi said.

What exactly is the difference between this thread and the kid with the mohawk? Is it that we like guns and not punk haircuts?

 

Both were an interpretation call, and in both cases the administrator decided that it was a disruption.

 

And for the record, I did know people who claimed their mohawks were a political message.

Edited April 23, 201313 yr by 02Ram54

I generally want to agree with you about a school not being used for political purposes, then again, the school crossed that line when it told the kid he couldn't wear the shirt. Schools are their own worse enemy when they do such stupid things.

I did a little research and discovered this kid would have been sent home immediately from Highlands. From the handbook:

 

"No writing or pictures are allowed on tops. Small logos (no larger than quarter size) are acceptable. Highlands Spirit Wear is permissible at any time."

I did a little research and discovered this kid would have been sent home immediately from Highlands. From the handbook:

 

"No writing or pictures are allowed on tops. Small logos (no larger than quarter size) are acceptable. Highlands Spirit Wear is permissible at any time."

 

First thing I would do if I was put in charge of public school would be to require that all students wear the same basic uniform. Simple dockers and polo or button down shirt for the boys and pants or skirt for the girls (their choice) and blouse. It would eliminate some kids being jealous over other kids nicer clothes and also issues like this where teachers have to waste a lot of time playing referee on whether a kid's attire is acceptable.

 

Seems like a no brainer to me.

I did a little research and discovered this kid would have been sent home immediately from Highlands. From the handbook:

 

"No writing or pictures are allowed on tops. Small logos (no larger than quarter size) are acceptable. Highlands Spirit Wear is permissible at any time."

And at Highlands he should be asked to change his shirt or go home, that is how the dress code is written.

What exactly is the difference between this thread and the kid with the mohawk? Is it that we like guns and not punk haircuts?

 

Both were an interpretation call, and in both cases the administrator decided that it was a disruption.

 

And for the record, I did know people who claimed their mohawks were a political message.

 

I think a teacher or administrator that has an issue with a mohawk because it is a disruption to class doesn't give kids enough credit. Within a couple of hours kids wouldn't even notice it anymore and it would be absolutely no disruption.