New York Student Sues High School for Prohibiting Pro-Life Shirt

http://www.cnsnews.com//ThisHour.asp#New%20York%20Student%20Sues%20High%20School%20for%20Prohibiting%20Pro-Life%20Shirt ^

[EnigmaticAnomaly]

Wow...if it had been a Pro-Abortion (Yes, ABORTION, not Choice) it would have been allowed and probably encouraged...

Moral degradation...

[Puddleglum]

I am waiting for the chorus from other threads to line up and say "He must obey the school board. Learning to repect authority is the paramount issue in this matter."

[weegee]

Welcome to FR

[sassbox]

absolutely. I have no problem with a school prohibiting shirts with provacative messages on them, since it can be a distraction. Heck, schools can even prohibit shirts with any writing on them at all. But these rules have to be enforced equally. Does this school allow kids to wear pro-abortion shirts? what about "straight but not narrow" shirts that are so in vogue right now? My hunch is that if this young man had worn the latter, this would not be an issue at all.

[tfecw]

PuddleGlum
Nice...just finished The Silver Chair the other night.

Good to see this kid sticking up for this, as well as it being covered by the media!

[Jokelahoma]

Two words -- School uniforms.

The spate of suits and countersuits in various locales should be proof that while kids have little trouble understanding a simple concept like "freedom of speech", they do not understand (and are most certainly not being taught) that with those freedoms come responsibility, including the responsibility to "hold your tongue" when it is appropriate.

Sigh... this is what the leftists have wrought -- all rights, no responsbility, all the time.

[Calpernia]

ping

[Luna]

Sheesh. What kids need are T-shirts that say stuff like:

I Have No Opinion On Anything Whatsoever

I'm sure any school higher-up would be okay with that. We can't have kids running amok at school with clothes that bear a message. Especially really offensive messages like the one this kid was sporting.

Turning off the sarcasm button now.

[Always Right]

Holding my breath, waiting for the ACLU to jump on board....

[Stonedog]

Welcome to FR

Maybe

[nosofar]

I am waiting for the chorus from other threads to line up and say "He must obey the school board. Learning to repect authority is the paramount issue in this matter."

It really depends on what the school policy is; if it's applied consistently, etc. Schools are allowed to have dress codes. The official objection seems to be that is was 'offensive'. Offensive to who and why? It doesn't slander (or is it liabel) anyone. It's not promoting violence.

[EdReform]

Meow

[EdReform]

Ping

[Stonedog]

I am waiting for the chorus from other threads to line up and say "He must obey the school board. Learning to repect authority is the paramount issue in this matter."

Won't be long now...

[Semper]

Does this school allow kids to wear pro-abortion shirts?

You must be kidding. Have you ever seen a "pro-abortion" shirt? What did it say? Why would anyone want to wear that type of shirt? Only the self-righteous "pro-lifers" have a lock on what should be done in other people's families. Can there be any more arrogant a position than if you do not agree with me, you must be pro-death?

[Steve_Seattle]

"I am waiting for the chorus from other threads to line up and say "He must obey the school board. Learning to repect authority is the paramount issue in this matter.""

A lot of districts prohibit ANY garment with text or graphics (other than manufacturer's logo). That's probably the safest policy, unless you're either willing to tolerate EVERYTHING or start picking and choosing and inviting lawsuits like this.

[massgopguy]

Do they have to tell his parents that he got suspended? Or is that protection only for those GETTING Abortions?

[Steve_Seattle]

I've seen many pro-abortion t-shirts worn in political demonstrations.

[KStorm]

Two words -- School uniforms.
____________________________

Liberal opposition to them would take on the form of the obvious violations of "freedom of expression", plus the right to take the shoes off the feet of the rich simply because they have them and you don't.

[Pyro7480]

Libertarian I guess?

[demkicker]

Holding my breath, waiting for the ACLU to jump on board....

Please don't, you're too young to die...

[Koblenz]

About eight months ago, Planned Parenthood was selling "I had an abortion" T-shirts...

[Jim Noble]

It's todT rechts.

Buh-bye.

[Jaysun]

I'm glad he's standing up for what's right, but I wish we didn't have to go to the damned courts every 5 minutes. Lawsuit mania is going to be the death of us if we're not careful.

[Kaslin]

time to call the kittens?

[Semper]

We can't have kids running amok at school with clothes that bear a message. Especially really offensive messages like the one this kid was sporting.

How about a message like: Evolution or Superstition - Science or religious myth

Would you be ok with that?

[KStorm]

Does this school allow kids to wear pro-abortion shirts? You must be kidding. Have you ever seen a "pro-abortion" shirt? What did it say? Why would anyone want to wear that type of shirt? Only the self-righteous "pro-lifers" have a lock on what should be done in other people's families. Can there be any more arrogant a position than if you do not agree with me, you must be pro-death? ________________________________________________________

[Steve_Seattle]

"I doubt it [that pro-abortion shirt would be allowed]."

This particular pro-life shirt was very aggressive, and it's possible an equally aggressive pro-abortion shirt might be disallowed. But I'm not sure that ANY pro-abortion shirt would be disallowed. Usually, "offensive" means sexually explicit or obscene, and this t-shirt was neither of those. I think the judge would have to know what kinds of shirts the school has allowed in the past to determine if this consititues point-of-view discrimination.

[Kaslin]

That was quick. The kitten got him already

[Semper]

Right. What school allowed this shirt?

[EdReform]

Fresh meat on aisle 3

[mountn man]

absolutely. I have no problem with a school prohibiting shirts with provacative messages on them, since it can be a distraction.

The best way to avoid this problem, have a school dress code.

Avoid ALL clothing, or lack of clothing, distractions.

[Steve_Seattle]

"What school allowed this [pro-abortion] shirt?"

That's no what you said; you said there was no such thing as a pro-abortion shirt, and now you've been proven wrong.

[stuartcr]

I really doubt that a pro-abortion t-shirt would be allowed or encouraged.

[Semper]

About eight months ago, Planned Parenthood was selling "I had an abortion" T-shirts...

Despicable. And where have those shirts been worn against established policy?

[Semper]

you said there was no such thing as a pro-abortion shirt, and now you've been proven wrong.

No, you need to improve your reading comprehension. I asked for an example and one has been provided. I have commented on that example (despicable). And I ask you also, where has that shirt been worn where it was in violation of established policy?

[Luna]

How about a message like: Evolution or Superstition - Science or religious myth

Would you be ok with that?

Yes.

[Semper]

Good for you.

[lastchance]

Avoid ALL clothing, Yes naked school would keep dress code violations to a minimum. But the backpacks will strafe those delicate shoulders.

[Semper]

Libertarian I guess?

No. Christian, federalist, Marine.

[lastchance]

The T shirt is probably the one on Rock for Life's website. A prolife ministry for teens and young adults. You can order stuff from them.

[Luna]

I was being sarcastic in my first post, by the way. On a more series note, I hope the kid wins his lawsuit. But if schools allow pro-life messages, then, in all fairness, pro-abortion messages must also be allowed. No double standards.

[KStorm]

Don't know what that particular school allows, but the shirts are out there. I'm sure that pro-deathers get to wear their shirts in school without even so much as a peep from their gutless school administrators.

[mountn man]

Avoid ALL clothing, Yes naked school would keep dress code violations to a minimum. But the backpacks will strafe those delicate shoulders.

I think being naked at school would be COOL. But the school official is worried about distractions.

It might be HARD to concentrate, on some school subjects, when all your blood flows from one head to another.

Lets see, the classes that people would excel in.
Math, specifically MULTIPLICATION.
Science, APPLIED BIOLOGY.
SOCIAL Studies.
Physical Education, improved hand eye coordination (ok forget the eye)

[Semper]

I hope the kid wins his lawsuit.

I respectfully disagree. Public schools are for learning - for everyone of every faith or belief. Anything which detracts from that (like disregarding the rules) is not in the best interests of anyone. The pushing of any particular religious belief is disruptive and therefore is not appropriate.

[freedomfiter2]

Only the self-righteous "pro-lifers" have a lock on what should be done in other people's families.

You mean "to other people" not "in other people's families".

[TomasUSMC]

As a certain lady said, " Gee those I love partial birth abortion t-shirts just aren't selling?"

[jdluntjr]

Then it's time to stop pushing secular humanism and it's religion, EVOLUTION, on us.

Please spare me the "It's fact..." Prove it. Science has yet to prove evolution. As a matter of fact, you can't prove a theory.... which is all it is and a pretty lousy one at that...

[Semper]

I'm sure that pro-deathers get to wear their shirts in school without even so much as a peep from their gutless school administrators.

First of all, no one is "pro-death" - that is contrary to mature reason. Because people get killed in war does not make those who support any particular war "pro-death". Thousands get killed in auto accidents but those supporting freedom to drive are not "pro-death". Why would you label my mother (who would die in child birth) "pro-death" if she had to resort to an abortion?

Second of all, no school could get away with banning some religious or social commentary and not others.