Anti-abortion group protesting shirt decision

Associated Press ^ | 4/30/2004

[presidio9]

national anti-abortion group is upset that a Spotsylvania County school principal ordered students to remove their anti-abortion T-shirts.

Erik Whittington, co-founder of Rock for Life, says a 14-year-old Spotsylvania County middle school student was initially permitted to wear the shirt on Tuesday, a day the group had chosen for its "National Pro-Life T-Shirt Day" campaign.

The girl also distributed about 40 of the shirts at Battlefield Middle School.

The shirt features a picture of a four-month-old fetus in the womb, along with the words, "Do you 'really' believe this isn't a baby?" The shirt also reads, "Abortion is homicide."

Rock for Life is is part of the Stafford County-based American Life League.

Spotsylvania School Superintendent Jerry Hill says the principal took action after students began debating abortion in a class. He says principals can bar clothing that causes a disruption.

Hill says that students at two other Spotsylvania schools wore or distributed shirts with little or no problem.

[mvpel]

I thought there was already a Supreme Court ruling on this issue. Maybe they didn't get the memo at that school.

[nina0113]

Isn't this the school we vote at?

[Rutles4Ever]

national anti-abortion group

Gotta love the concerted effort not to refer to it as "pro-life"...

[Colofornian]

The shirt features a picture of a four-month-old fetus in the womb, along with the words, "Do you 'really' believe this isn't a baby?" The shirt also reads, "Abortion is homicide."

Well, ya know "Academic discussion" only goes so far...the biology of fetal development is out of bounds on campus doncha know?

[MineralMan]

"Spotsylvania School Superintendent Jerry Hill says the principal took action after students began debating abortion in a class. He says principals can bar clothing that causes a disruption. "

This is the key line in the story. The T-shirts were allowed until students began debating the issue in the classroom. That's the definition of disruption, since I have no doubt that that class time was supposed to be used for other instruction.

This isn't just a free speech issue. I don't think anyone has any debate about bans on disruptive clothing.

If it were just the t-shirts, the court cases are pretty clear, but if there's disruption of normal classroom activities, the principal is on firm ground here.

[conservonator]

Is any one else disturbed that abortion is a subject of debate at a middle school? Why are children being burdened with the weight of adulthood?

[MineralMan]

"Is any one else disturbed that abortion is a subject of debate at a middle school? Why are children being burdened with the weight of adulthood?"

You'd think so, but you'd be amazed at how many pregnancies there are among middle school girls. Our middle school here does grades 7-9, so some of the girls are 15 years old. Pregnant middle schoolers are, indeed, a problem.

In this particular case, though, the debate on abortion was caused by the t-shirts, and was apparently a disruption of the normal curriculum.

[hobbes1]

and was apparently a disruption of the normal curriculum

Yes, I understand it was the Planned Parenthood sex ed lecture day....

[Iris7]

"Why are children being burdened with the weight of adulthood?"

Well, if "grown-ups" keep insisting that they don't want to grow up, don't wanna, don't hafta, then someone else will have to carry the burden. Who else is left but the "not - grown up"? If the adults (actually a tiny minority) could get the irresponsible to act effectively then the situation would be different. Don't figure I'll ever see that happen, though.

[DaiHuy]

"Spotsylvania School Superintendent Jerry Hill says the principal took action after students began debating abortion in a class."

So now debate in classrooms is considered disruption of education.

What's the matter Jerry, afraid the little minds full of mush are beginning to form opinions that your leftist educators didn't pontificate?

[infowarrior]

Is anyone else disturbed that abortion is a subject of debate at a middle school?

Yes, I normally would be disturbed at the prospect, but since these youngsters are already being taught condom usage (yes, in middle school these days), the genie is already out of the bottle. The "disruption" quoted by the principal in this case is most likely due to the fact that the tenets being taught at this middle school are being challenged.

If school officials can, as they have on occaision, take a young, pregnant, middle-school girl to an abortion provider, without parental knowledge, let alone consent, then it becomes easy to see exactly what the problem is...

the infowarrior

[Ignatz]

So now debate in classrooms is considered disruption of education.

Only certain debates are considered disruption. More correctly, certain points of view are considered a disruption.

Paging Mr. Orwell....please pick up the red courtesy phone.......

[SchuylerTheViking]

You'd think so, but you'd be amazed at how many pregnancies there are among middle school girls. Our middle school here does grades 7-9, so some of the girls are 15 years old. Pregnant middle schoolers are, indeed, a problem.

When I went to Battlefield Middle School in the late 70s, it was grade 6-8. And, I also agree with your point.

[TheDon]

I think a t-shirt with "I'm an Abortion Holocaust survivor" would be appropriate.