[IP] School orders boy to cover his T-shirt
Begin forwarded message:
From: gep2@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: November 23, 2004 10:02:20 PM EST
To: dallasdemocrats@xxxxxxxxxxx, USDemocrat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
USDemocrat2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, TheFalloutShelter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
DiehardDems@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, SECULAR_HUMANIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
anti_bush_2004@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, pnews-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
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Cc: mbesso@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bushlied] School orders boy to cover his T-shirt
Personally, I think it's a VERY positive thing to get young people
involved in
the political process early, and to ENCOURAGE them to take an interest
(and a
stand!) in defending the principles of a free, democratic society with a
government "of, by, and for" the people.
Not allowing "distracting" clothing in school quickly segueways (I
think) into
not allowing "distracting" clothing in bars, restaurants, downtowns,
shopping
malls, theme parks, supermarkets, public parks, and other "public"
places.
And, certainly, "free" speech doesn't mean anything at all if it
doesn't include
the ability to say something that makes someone, somewhere,
uncomfortable.
I'm really VERY tired of the "Conservative" right wing trying to
intimidate
others from being able to say publicly (in anywhere that matters!) that
they
don't agree!!!! That's NOT what living in a "free" society is about.
As for "creating division rather than unity", since when are we
supposed to
browbeat our fellow citizens to achieve 'unity'? And who says that's
even a
legitimate goal for us, as a society?
<---- Begin Forwarded Message ---->
To: bushlied@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
From: RCPJAP@xxxxxxx
Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2004 21:45:48 EST
Subject: [bushlied] School orders boy to cover his T-shirt
Reply-To: bushlied@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
School orders boy to cover his T-shirt
'The Real Terrorist Is In The White House' is called a distraction by
school
officials
By MICHELE BESSO / The News Journal
11/20/2004
Thirteen-year-old Stephen Truszkowski said he's doing what his mother
taught
him to do - standing up for his beliefs.
But officials at Everett Meredith Middle School in Middletown say he is
doing
something else - becoming a distraction.
Truszkowski wore a white, short-sleeved T-shirt to school Friday with
the
words, "The Real Terrorist Is In The White House," written in black on
the
front, and "End the Tyranny" written on the back.
School officials told him the shirt was inappropriate and if he didn't
cover
it up, he would be suspended.
Truszkowski covered it up, like he did earlier in the week when he wore
the
shirt to school, as well as another time two weeks ago. But this time,
he
confronted the principal with a copy of the school dress code in hand.
"I told him that based on the school code, he had no right to tell me to
cover it up," he said. He said the shirt does not violate the school's
dress
code because it's not profane or violent.
The teen feels the school is infringing on his first amendment right to
free
speech.
"I think they violated my rights because I wore the shirt to express my
opinion, that we shouldn't have gone to war," Truszkowski said. "I'm
not saying
I don't respect the soldiers, but I think what Bush is doing is
inappropriate."
The school's principal, Claude McAllister, did not return calls for
comment.
According to the Delaware Code, the school board of each public school
district has the authority to establish and enforce a dress code to
"promote an
orderly, disciplined school environment and to encourage uniformity of
student
dress."
Student apparel that is distracting, hinders the educational process or
"advertises, glorifies or symbolizes any illegal substances, contains
derogatory
phrases, profanity or glorifies violence or criminal behavior" is not
permitted
to be worn, according to the Appoquinimink School District dress code.
Other
Delaware school districts have similar dress codes.
"I don't think my shirt is distracting," Truszkowski said. "Every
student who
talked to me said they support me, but two of my teachers told me I had
to
cover it up."
While the dress code does not specifically address clothing with a
political
message, the shirt is clearly inappropriate, said Lillian Miles,
Appoquinimink
district spokeswoman. She said several students have complained about
the
shirt.
"At this point, the shirt has now become a distraction," she said.
Truszkowski said he will circulate a petition next week, and if less
than 20
people are offended by his shirt, he said he will wear it again. He may
set a
date where students can wear the same shirt to school, "to prove how
many
people are with me."
Truszkowski's mother, Karen Piser, said she supports her son. She said
if he
is expelled, she will transfer him to another school.
"I don't believe it was right for them to tell him to cover it up or
he'll be
sent home," she said. "I believe they are violating his rights. There
is no
foul language involved. You try to teach your kids freedom of speech
and it's
one person's belief."
Truszkowski's 19-year-old stepbrother, Dan Easterwood, made the T-shirt
and
loaned it to his brother after wearing it to a Green Day concert.
"I think it's stupid that he can't wear the shirt and voice his own
opinion,"
Easterwood said. "I'm against the war, too. One of my friends died over
in
Iraq."
Students and parents had mixed opinions about the controversial T-shirt
at
the school on Friday. Several students chanted "Stephen! Stephen!" as
he removed
his sweat shirt and revealed the T-shirt.
"I think the school shouldn't make a big deal out of it," said
eighth-grader
Michelle West, 13. "It says in the code of conduct that you have
freedom of
speech. I support Stephen all the way. The school can't tell you what
to wear
unless it's profane."
But seventh-grader Bryan Boyd, 12, disagreed.
"I think we were right to go to Iraq, and I think it shows disrespect
to our
president for him to come in with a shirt that says we're not right,"
he said.
"He can express his opinion, but I don't think this is the right way."
Susan Nida, a parent, said she would never allow her seventh-grade
daughter
to wear a shirt like that to school. She said political clothing does
not
belong in a school setting.
"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."
Valerie Huot, president of the Everett Middle School PTA, said
officials try
hard to keep the school a neutral place and limit distractions. She said
parents and students should be aware of the type of clothing that is
suitable
for school, although teens seem to be making their fashion statements
more
political these days.
"My son has a political T-shirt, but he knows better than to wear it to
school," Huot said. "When you wear a shirt like that, you're wearing it
for
attention. ... The fact that you can call your own government
terroristic after
Sept. 11 ... it creates more division than unity."
Contact Michele Besso at 838-3187 or mbesso@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/local/2004/11/
20schoolordersboy.html
<---- End Forwarded Message ---->
Gordon Peterson http://personal.terabites.com/
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