Student Wins Anti-Bush Shirt Clash Can Wear T-Shirt Saying 'International Terrorist' With Bush's Picture
Posted on 09/23/2008 7:14:07 AM PDT by beaversmom
An 11-year-old boy in Colorado was suspended from school after he refused to take off a shirt that read, “Obama is a terrorist’s best friend.” His father says that the school is violating his son’s First Amendment rights.
Daxx Dalton, a fifth grader at Aurora Frontier K-8 School in Aurora, Colo., wore the homemade shirt on a day when students were asked to show their patriotism by wearing red, white and blue, according to MyFOXColorado.com.
When he was given the choice of turning the shirt inside out or being suspended, Dalton chose suspension.
“They’re taking away my right of freedom of speech,” he said. “If I have the right to wear this shirt I’m going to use it. And if the only way to use it is get suspended, then I’m going to get suspended.”
Dann Dalton, the boy’s father — a “proud conservative” who has taken part in anti-abortion protests — told MyFOXColorado.com that the school is making a mistake by suspending his son.
“It’s the public school system,” he said. “Let’s be honest, it’s full of liberal loons.”
The school district would not discuss the case, but said the district “respects a student’s right to free speech, such as the right to wear specific clothing,” but they reserve the right to review any situation that interrupts the learning environment, MyFOXColorado.com reported.
(Excerpt) Read more at elections.foxnews.com ...
I believe he has the right to wear it, but the father is a jerk for using his kid as a pawn like this IMHO.
I gotta go with the school on this one. The shirt was meant to get a reaction. As long as the school enforces the standard equitably (and I realize that’s a big if), the kid should comply.
Just my $0.02.
I don’t think school is the place for political statements on kids’ shirts—left or right. This freedom of speech on shirts or other can apply to any foul thing a kid wants to put on his shirt. My sons go to a school where a simple uniform is required.
Yet the girl that wore the Dumb and Dumber tshirt with Bush and Cheney’s photos on it to my kid’s school gets a thumbs up from the teacher?
Schools have long had the right to regulate clothing a student wears. Dad loses this fight.
“They’re taking away my right of freedom of speech,” he said. “If I have the right to wear this shirt I’m going to use it. And if the only way to use it is get suspended, then I’m going to get suspended.”
Big point here - this kid understands what conscientious objection means. Defy authority and willingly accept the punishment that that authority will impose.
Remember the Clinton Impeachment? Kids wore ‘I had sex with Clinton’ tee-shirts. Real popular back then.
I agree with the school. They gave him the option of turning it inside out, which would still disrupt normality in the classroom imo.
This has no place in the classroom, especially for a 5th grade kid. If his father wants him to wear it elsewhere fine, then it wouldn’t be a disruption for the other kids that are there to learn. Just my opinion, although I do agree with the sentiment on the shirt! :-)
Double standard.
This is the correct answer. A school is NOT considered a “public” place, so there really is no Freedom of Speech there, so to speak. Believe me, many a Liberal has had to learn this over the past many years.
I agree with your post.
I’m not so certain his kid was ‘used’ by his father.
Yep. This kid could go places.
reason #67853 to homeschool
yeah that sounds like the State is a better parent than the actual parent
Good point!
School wins. IMHO, public schools should go back to uniforms, teaching grammar and mathematics, and leave “diversity” and “religious” training to the parents.
But had the kid worn a shirt of Bush with “International Terrorist” underneath, they’d give the kid a medal. Go figure.
Why not? Aren't they called "Public Schools" after all? Aren't they paid for by public tax dollars? Wasn't the info on the kid's T shirt factually correct?
I agree with you if the kid was just wearing the shirt to make his dad happy then the child likely would just as willingly turned it inside out to make the principal happy
public schools should go back to uniforms, teaching grammar and mathematics
they’ll ban the shirt, but they’ll offer condoms and teach constructivist math and whole language.
Well stated. You might as well learn when you are young that there are those who will take away your freedom and it is up to you to assert yourself, regardless of the consequences.
What the HELL has THAT got to do with anything? Just trying to paint him as an extremist, I suppose.
I would agree if "public schools" were level playing fields, they are not. The liberal indoctrination going on in schools is serious, so I'll look the other way on this kid causing a disruption. In some respects I welcome the discussion as it will inevitabley uncover the liberal cirriculum.
You think the kid did this without his dads suggestion or input?
I believe that fifth graders normally aren’t willing to spout off freedom of speech rights and accept suspension over an inside out shirt unless he had the nod from dad before he got on the bus.
I think his dad knew there would be controversy over this and was willing to put his son in the news to further his beliefs. If the kid was older I think it would be better idea, but still in elementary school he never should have put the focus on his kid like that.
JMHO.
Isnt’ the communal socialized education system simply delightful?
The biblical concept of submission to authority is that you must comply with the dictates of the authority placed over you, unless those commands contradict a requirement or proscription by God.
And even when you must defy that authority because it goes against God, you are to willingly accept the punishment.
Something that parents can use, when faced with a child/teenager that insists on being “treated more like an adult” -
I WANT to treat you more like an adult. Show me how adult you are in the way you submit to the authorities that God has placed over you, including your parents.
It was an interesting move. Now the dad can tell the school: “OK, but between now and the election if you permit any pro-Obama clothing or posters in the school, you have just opened yourself up for a huge lawsuit”
I think the parent-student-school relationship is complicated enough without every voter needing to pass judgment. That’s why we should have as much freedom as poosible.
Trying to paint the father as a villain are we? If the father doesn’t like the school, too bad his tax money can’t be redirected to a better school. Parents should be the boss until serious crimes are planned. What kind of crime is this?
Prove it. There’s nothing in the article that suggests this was targeted just to conservatives or just to this kid.
Like I indicated above, it’s a big “if” that the school would apply this equitably. But we have no evidence, at least from the article posted, that they haven’t.
The shirt was inappropriate to wear to school.
Of course you are correct. Today, however, we have a lot of folks who let secular society have a say over Christ. Christians need to assert themselves, in a christian way of course, of the proper behaviour in any given situation. Given your perspective, I am not sure that the kid or the dad really have any leg to stand on.
Your comments about teen agers are right on target.
“The shirt was meant to get a reaction.”
OK. Then seniors who leave school to ‘help’ inner city voters get to the polls gets a reaction and interfere with learning.
Having ACORN or other paid reps speak to students/seniors about ‘who you gonna trust’ gets a reaction.
These things occur in high schools all across the US.
Even the Israelites rebelled against a wicked king. I forget which one precisely, but an evil king was overthrown by God-fearing Israelites. Thus I don’t see God bringing his wrath to this ‘terrible’ father.
Student Wins Anti-Bush Shirt Clash Can Wear T-Shirt Saying 'International Terrorist' With Bush's Picture
I’ll bet the teachers’ parking lot is full of anti-Bush bumperstickers.
“Not a day goes by that I don’t see some kid at a High School or my youngster’s elementary school wearing an 0bama shirt or pin or both.”
I guessed as much. Double standard. People should get off the father’s back.
The schools are public as far as being publicly funded.
Just like public roads, there are rules that have to be followed.
To bad the rules don’t apply to everyone equally.
Two sides to this, and let’s see if one wears and anti-McCain shirt how long he lasts or even if there is an issue.
Since this kid is 11-years-old and in 5th grade, not high school, you really don't have a point.
Do you?
If the father is Christian, God's wrath will be mitigated by Christ. The reason the wicked king was removed was because he went against God's word. This is very consistent with St. Paul's teachings in the NT. Submit yourself to authority, unless the authority is against God's word. Then, do as God suggests and suffer the consequences.
Yep. It was the boy’s spunk that sparked the real fire storm. I hope he gets on FoxNews. FRegards ....
I bet if the kids wearing the 0bama regalia are “of color” the school would be TERRIFIED of making an issue of it.
Oh??? Sopunish the kid because you can't control the liberal thugs??
Good thinking.
It had some big benign design on the back...and a small design on the front pocket...with smaller writing that said "Joe's Liquor Store" which was where I bought it.
I had a teacher place a small piece of masking tape over the "liquor" part. HA!!
Those were the days!!
The shirt is way over the line for school.
I wouldn’t let my kid wear a shirt like that to school...even if I believed the message on it.
Ahab, overthrown by Jehu.
Ahab was king when Elijah confronted the priests of Baal on Mt Carmel.
1 Kings 16, 18, 20 or thereabouts...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.