Nampa School Officials Reverse Decision On Banned T-Shirt (Patriotic T-Shirt UPDATE)

BOISE - A Nampa school has reversed it's position on a decision to ban a controversial T-shirt. But it was too late to a stop angry protests from around the country.

The T-shirt depicts a monument at the Fort Lewis military base in Washington state. "Iron Mike" hoists a rifle with a star in the background.

But Park Ridge elementary officials told 11 year old Ethan Jansen to never wear the shirt to school again. Pictures showing gangs or guns are not allowed in school. Ethan's father, who spent time in the service, complained. "I feel offended that it somehow equates gun violence with military and patriotism." said Ben Jansen.

Our story on the T-shirt controversy aired on April 25th sparked a national response. The story ran on the Wall Street Journal's web page. Since then angry e-mails have been sent to the KBCI news room and to Nampa school officials asking them to reverse their position.

Park ridge elementary administrators Phil Cano and Bill Deakins changed their minds. Ethan Jansen will be allowed to wear his T-shirt to school.

Nampa school board president Bob Henry says he first heard about it from a Vietnam Veteran who saw the story in the Wall Street Journal on-line. Henry says the decision to allow the T-shirt was the right one.

"After the administration had time to reflect on that that really wasn't the intent of the board policy I was on the board we didn't want things gang related and certainly a patriotic shirt isn't what the intent of the policy was." said Henry.

The Jansens were not available for a comment. But Henry says everybody is happy with the resolution.

Actually I think dress codes should ban all T-shirts. There would be better discipline in schools if students either had to wear uniforms or conservative clothing. Boys should have to wear shirts with a collar. Also, the lax rules on apparel do not teach students how to dress when they enter the work force.

You believe that, then I got a bridge I'd love to sell you. I went to a grade school that had uniforms, the end result was that we felt like walking targets, and it made teachers jobs alot harder since "rules are rules". In High School, it was dress code, boys had to wear a dress shirt, ties and certain types of slacks, it made going to the school expensive as hell, as everyone got into turning themselves into GQ styles. The teachers had even harder problem since dress code infractions are the biggest problem, and alot of kids just changed after school anyway for fear of being mugged or attacked going home. (You'd be surprised, thugs seem to think guys in shirts and ties look like bulls eyes in some neighborhoods). Dress codes and uniforms are like putting make up over a black eyes every day, you think the girl isn't getting a beating, but the problem is still there.

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