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Student says T-shirt slogans got her a day's suspension
http://www.accessnorthga.com ^ | 5 24 05

Posted on 05/26/2005 10:22:33 AM PDT by freepatriot32

A teenager was back in class Friday after receiving a one-day suspension for wearing a T-shirt with slogans including "freedom of expression" and "don't drink and drive" that school administrators considered disruptive.

Hanna Smith, 18, a junior at Tift County High School, said principal Mike Duck told her that if she wore the shirt again she would be suspended for the remainder of the year.

The principal was arrested six years ago for DUI and running a stop sign, the Tifton Gazette said Friday in a story on Smith's suspension. Duck made a public apology for the DUI and was himself suspended for five days.

Smith's mother, Tracy Fletcher, said she would defend her daughter's right to express herself, even if it means hiring an attorney and taking the case to court.

"They want everyone to fit into a mold and there's no room for individuality. These kids are our future, I think they should be treated with a little more respect. Their opinions count. Their thoughts count," Fletcher said.

The principal confirmed that Smith was back in class Friday without the banned T-shirt, which also had a peace symbol on the front and "Veritas" (truth) written on the back.

On Friday, Smith wore a different T-shirt, this one reading "Don't Underestimate Individuality," her mother said. The first letters of those words spell "DUI." Her mother said the teen plans to wear the banned T-shirt again on Monday.

Duck said he could not comment on the suspension.

"We can't discuss children and their issue," he said. "It's a matter of privacy and protection of their rights."

The school system's dress code forbids disruptive clothing, grooming and symbols. Principals decide what's disruptive.

"I have an obligation to maintain an orderly environment," Duck said. "The courts give me the authority and the right to make those decisions and as long as I'm sitting in this chair that's what I'm going to do."

Smith said she learned about Constitutional rights, such as freedom of expression, in class and wishes school officials would honor them.

"I think it's silly that we can't practice the freedoms that they teach us here," Smith said. "You would think that school officials would have respect for the law and people's rights, or at least they should."


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Extended News; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Philosophy; US: Georgia
KEYWORDS: a; days; discipline; dresscode; firstamendment; got; govwatch; her; libertarians; publicschool; says; slogans; student; suspension; tshirt; zerotolerance
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"You would think that school officials would have respect for the law and people's rights, or at least they should."

Oh to be that youn g and niave again.She actually thinks we live in a free country with a constitution isnt that cute

1 posted on 05/26/2005 10:22:37 AM PDT by freepatriot32
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To: Abram; Annie03; Baby Bear; bassmaner; Bernard; BJClinton; BlackbirdSST; blackeagle; BroncosFan; ...
Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
2 posted on 05/26/2005 10:23:35 AM PDT by freepatriot32 (If you want to change government support the libertarian party www.lp.org)
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To: freepatriot32

He's drunk paranoid jackass.


3 posted on 05/26/2005 10:23:49 AM PDT by Dallas59 (" I have a great team that is going to beat George W. Bush" John Kerry -2004)
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Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

To: freepatriot32
"Don't drink and drive"

If the principal finds that disruptive he's the one who needs to leave permanently.
5 posted on 05/26/2005 10:26:14 AM PDT by Rebelbase (Seven disloyal senators sold the chance to crush the democrats for tv face time.)
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To: freepatriot32

Some schools passed a dress code that included no shirts with slogans. maybe we aren't getting the whole story.


6 posted on 05/26/2005 10:27:14 AM PDT by bonfire (dwindler)
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To: freepatriot32

Tell the principal what you think:

mduck@tiftschools.com


7 posted on 05/26/2005 10:27:41 AM PDT by Rebelbase (Seven disloyal senators sold the chance to crush the democrats for tv face time.)
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To: freepatriot32

Perhaps the slogans reminded Mr. Duck of just how irresponsible he was for getting behind the wheel while soused.

...From out of the mouths of babes.

-Regards, T.


8 posted on 05/26/2005 10:28:09 AM PDT by T Lady (G.W. Bush to Kerry & the MSM: "I've come to settle the Family Business.")
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To: freepatriot32
Boy howdy, I'd expel the little twit if she wore a tee-shirt proclaiming, "don't do drugs" or "study hard". Who does she think she is?? Must be one of those religious nutcases.///s
9 posted on 05/26/2005 10:29:06 AM PDT by Millee (So you're a feminist......isn't that cute??)
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To: Dallas59
He's drunk paranoid jackass

His skin is thin too. Her shirt actually had a positive message.

10 posted on 05/26/2005 10:29:40 AM PDT by chapin2500 (Howard Deans eyes are to close together.)
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To: freepatriot32; Owl_Eagle; Sam's Army; pissant
Gee, school is getting tough. I remember getting sent home for my two shirts. But, they were over the top compared to this. My shirts said "Eat Sh*t and Die Motherfu**er" and "Simon Says Go Fu*k Yourself". (Note, the shirts had it all spelled out, I added the ** in hopes of not angering the mods.)
11 posted on 05/26/2005 10:29:44 AM PDT by Jersey Republican Biker Chick (People too weak to follow their own dreams, will always find a way to discourage yours.)
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To: bonfire

"I am not a drive drunker"

12 posted on 05/26/2005 10:29:57 AM PDT by Rebelbase (Seven disloyal senators sold the chance to crush the democrats for tv face time.)
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To: freepatriot32
"It's a matter of privacy and protection of their rights."

What rights, Mr. Duck? You say she doesn't have a right to wear a T-shirt that you don't like. Quack, quack..

13 posted on 05/26/2005 10:31:16 AM PDT by Luna (Lobbing the Holy Hand Grenade at Liberalism)
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To: freepatriot32

An 18-year-old high school junior... I'm willing to bet she isn't that smart to begin with.


14 posted on 05/26/2005 10:32:29 AM PDT by Venerable Bede
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To: freepatriot32
Hanna Smith, 18, a junior

Isn't that a bit old to be a junior?

15 posted on 05/26/2005 10:32:32 AM PDT by JIM O
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To: Jersey Republican Biker Chick

And you hugged your mom with those shirts on? :)


16 posted on 05/26/2005 10:32:35 AM PDT by ctlpdad (Liberals - weeds in the lawn of society.)
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To: freepatriot32
I've got one for her:


17 posted on 05/26/2005 10:33:42 AM PDT by raivyn (<---------------- The force is strong in that one.)
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To: Dallas59

he may be drunk and paranoid, but schools are not run as a democracy but rather a monarchy and if he allows hers, then he has to allow them all and guaranteed the slogans will go down hill from here on out.


18 posted on 05/26/2005 10:34:19 AM PDT by beansox
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To: freepatriot32
"The courts give me the authority and the right to make those decisions and as long as I'm sitting in this chair that's what I'm going to do."

The courts don't have the authority to give the principal of a public school authority to commit egregious violations of the 1st Amendment. "Disruptive" can only be legally defined in a neutral way. The only thing "disruptive" about the shirt is that it reminds the principal and the other students about a past misdeed committed by the principal. There is certainly nothing inherently disruptive about a T-shirt bearing a "don't drink and drive" message being worn at a high school.

19 posted on 05/26/2005 10:36:12 AM PDT by GovernmentShrinker
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To: ctlpdad
"And you hugged your mom with those shirts on? :)"

No, she did not know I had them. I have always been very un-PC. I like the shock factor.

20 posted on 05/26/2005 10:36:42 AM PDT by Jersey Republican Biker Chick (People too weak to follow their own dreams, will always find a way to discourage yours.)
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