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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 11881
[Civil]
Date Posted:
12/28/2004
7:31:57 am EST
Wvox Stats
Views: 15,378
RSS: 3,393
Comments: 12
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Court Sides With School On Student's T-Shirt
Author: First Amendment Center Source: First Amendment Center
Title: COURT SIDES WITH SCHOOL ON STUDENT'S T-SHIRT
  A federal judge has ruled in favor of the Williamstown (VT) public school officials who forced a student to cover up images of drugs and alcohol on a politically charged T-shirt.
However, the court found a distinction between words and an "inappropriate form of expression" in images, saying words were protected by the First Amendment. And it said that any disciplinary action against the student should be expunged from his school record.
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Community Thoughts: There are 12 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| More Agreement | Dec 29th. at 8:54:19 am EST |
by Hooty (In my Nest) - wc_xemail
I agree with Eithne,
as one who actually did go to a private school (yes it was catholic) , although we didn't wear uniforms, there was a strict dress code we had to follow, inlcuding limits on hair style, etc. It forced the children to focus on their studies, not on their latest fashion faux pax. I was in a state of a bit of shock when I transferred to a public school (long story, involved harassment, getting beat up on, and not wanting to play sports ever again, but we won't go there) , when I got to the public school and realized that I was focusing so much harder than everyone else at my studies, and that I could care less about fashion (I was and still am used to being a well dress, suit and tie type of a guy) . But that's my two cents worth. As usual.
-Hooty
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| I Agree | Dec 29th. at 7:38:26 am EST |
by Eithne (Phoenix, AZ) - wc_xemail
with Lady Feyline and Vorced Hawk. Uniforms are a good solution to some of the culture problems in public schools. The purpose of school is learning and one of the things American kids need to learn is self-discipline. There is a sad lack of it in public schools.
I pulled my daughter out of a public shool because the primary concern was fashion not learning. She went to a Catholic elementary school where there were limits on hair style, no make-up, and they wore uniforms. Her grades improved and her general behavior improved and no they weren't beating the children. They actually assigned homework at the private school, something that wasn't happening at the public school. BTW the uniforms were less expensive than the garbage that was in fashion at the public school.
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| Uniforms Are A Good Step.... | Dec 29th. at 1:21:25 am EST |
by Trickster (Pagan Paradise) - wc_xemail - Web
...to becoming mindless zombies.
But then, that's what public school is for, isn't it? To prepare kids for their McJobs and a lifetime of McWageSlavery.
One day, this kid will look back at the incident and dismiss it as "youthful indescretion".
"EVIL is school dress codes. I mean, what could be more evil than making a teenager dress like he's middle aged?" - Chris Chandler
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| Just Curious, But . . . | Dec 28th. at 8:37:28 pm EST |
by Kyra (America. What's left of it, anyway.) - wc_xemail
If the shirt portrays drugs or alcohol in a *negative* manner, is it still prohibited?
I mean, if a shirt said, "You drink, you drive, you lose, " is it against the rules because it refers to drinking?
I'd like to find out what a court would say about that.
This shirt doesn't say Bush is cool 'cause he drank and did drugs; they're using the drugs and alcohol as reasons why he's *not* cool. IE, the shirt is implying that drugs are a bad thing.
Aside from that, I really like the practice of writing "censored" over the duct tape. It's bad enough that it was censored in the first place---it's much worse to cover up the fact that censorship happened. The people who are seeing the information have the right to know that it's not the whole story, and that someone has interfered with the information. Secrecy is the beginning of tyranny.
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| Duct Tape! | Dec 28th. at 7:38:01 pm EST |
by Medea (USA) - wc_xemail
I think that if a picture speaks 1000 words, one blocked with duct tape speaks volumes.
"Chicken -Hawk-In-Chief"...I like it.
Go, Kid!
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| In Big Schools, Uniforms Can Bond The Students | Dec 28th. at 4:50:38 pm EST |
by Owlglass (Albuquerque, NM) - wc_xemail
If only in a universal hatred of the uniforms! It makes it easier for the poor kids, and status gets leveled a bit because the rich ones can't show off as much.
Although, seeing the drastic lessening of traffic when school's not in session, I'm beginning to think the best solution to a lot of problems would be a return to one-room schools, located at regular distances from each other, so all kids could walk to school and they'd all be neighborhood kids who'd know each other. Yeah, I know; not really workable. I just like playing "what if."
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| Uniforms Hmm, Not A Bad Idea. | Dec 28th. at 3:53:53 pm EST |
by Vorcel Hawk (Ontario, Canada) - wc_xemail
I agree with the right to freedom of expression but I also agree that teenagers have enough to concentrate on at school without the distractions of political posturing.
The whole idea of school uniforms at first glance may seem grossly militaristic and draconian but I believe that if you look a little deeper you may see some benefits from my point of view. Uniforms act to help level the playing field, I remember the pain I must have put my parents through when I absolutely had to have the latest fad just so I could fit in whether they could afford it or not ( usually not ) .
With uniforms this question is moot, kids dress the same and it doesn't matter what the flavour of the month is. It reduces the parent's output of money on "the latest style" as well as the peer pressure and cruelty that goes along with it. It also removes the whole question of contraversial sayings on clothing. This way the goal can be learning as opposed to making a political statement without actually standing up in front of your peers and saying anything.
This is just my opinion and I am sure I will be properly and publicly chastised for it as is your right.
Thank you for listening to my little rant,
.........Hawk
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| Dress Codes | Dec 28th. at 1:23:58 pm EST |
by Lady Feyline (Massachusetts) - wc_xemail
You know, when I was younger, I would have had a completely different opinion than I do today. With age comes wisdom they say. I know a lot of teens would completely disagree with me. I also believe that twenty years from now, these same people will have changed their views.
Yes, I think it is silly to allow the words, but not the pictures. It is within the teen's rights to express himself. As long as the school allows street clothes, this must be the way of things. I read some of the related articles listed at the bottom of this one. Some of the messages I agreed with, some I didn't, but again, it was within those individuals' rights to express them according to the schools' polices.
It all makes me wonder if the whole issue wouldn't be solved by just having school uniforms, whether in public or private schools. Your primary purpose in school is to LEARN. Yes there is socialization, etc. but those puposes are secondary. I know a lot of teens despise the idea and think it would repress their identities and such, but really, it would only be for school time. After school, when one is hanging out with friends and such, that is the appropriate time and venue for self expression.
It may not be a popular opinion, but perhaps it would be the best answer to the problems (notice I did not say the only answer) .
Lady Feyline
Oh by the way, I do have a child in public schools, who doesn't have a required uniform.
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| A Picture... | Dec 28th. at 12:37:43 pm EST |
by LycanWolf (Earth) - wc_xemail
they say a picture is worth a thousand words well wouldnt a thousand words be freedom of speech as well
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| Just Curious | Dec 28th. at 12:32:16 pm EST |
by Brian (Oregon) - wc_xemail
Does this school also ban images of drugs/ alcohal from teaching materials used in drug/ alcohol prevention classes? If not, shouldn't someone take legal action to rectify this oversight and make sure the policy is enforced consistently?
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| Words Vs. Images | Dec 28th. at 10:42:41 am EST |
by Mike Welch (Sarasota, Florida, USA) - wc_xemail
...consider the different impacts. Words (the printed word, less so and the spoken word, more so) involve us at multiple levels far less than images do. Images involve more of our conscious, unconconscious and subconscious selves (both individually and collectively) than words.
Rather than criminalize the use of images, increase education and understanding of their uses and effects. Something that is hard to do in many of our corporately dependant, comsumptive societies but becoming more prevelant in "our" magickal groups.
Awareness transforms and mobilizes us and "a picture *is* worth a thousand words." And, therein, lay the value of images in providing us with dangerous, glorious and transformative experiences.
Societies throughout history have sought to contain and control such avenues of growth--this is just a further example.
Awaken!
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| Words But Not "Images" | Dec 28th. at 8:55:29 am EST |
by David K. M. Klaus (St. Louis, Mo.) - wc_xemail
So the next time you open your paper to the comics page to read "Boondocks" or "Doonesbury" and see text but no drawing, or turn on your television and get only the dialog of your favorite show but no picture, or load Witchvox pages and get nothing but words, you'll have this dangerous, hair-splitting precedent and former FBI Director "the Honorable" William K. Sessions to thank.
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