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."
Understood
NC Tarheel shirts offend me.
How long before pictures of her engaging in some underage drinking surface? LOL~
Using your logic all programs in school that advocate "Don't Drink and Drive" should be banned becaus someone might relate it to the Principal and make the Principal feel embarrassed.
The truth is that the Principal should have been standing next to that girl in the hallways between classes pointing to the shirt and saying "She's right! Look at all the trouble I got into making that kind of mistake!"
The problem is that it sounds like the Principal is more concerned about his reputation than he is about the truth and sending a good message.
The truth should never be stepped on just because it disrupts things a little.
Actually, we have no idea what that principal did 6 YEARS AGO when the violation occurred. I suspect that it's brought up again just because the girl, an 18 year old JUNIOR, wants to be difficult. Please see #132
From the article: "The school system's dress code forbids disruptive clothing, grooming and symbols. Principals decide what's disruptive." So the principal made the initial call (I think we agree on that part). After that, I think the instinct of administrators is generally to uphold the principal's decision, for fear of undermining his authority.
Unlike others on this thread, I'm not doubting that the principal's action was "legal", and it may very well be upheld by the courts. It was still highly inappropriate and unprofessional, by all indications.
Nice. We have a "Do as I say, not as I do" liberal on this thread.
"If you disagree with the rules, move to the district and run for the school board and change them. If not, mind your own business."
I sense you are an educator, past or present. If not then you should be.
I've no doubt that the principal was wrong 6 years ago when he had his dui.
I also think that the court will uphold the principal. (I think there's a lot not said in this article.) In my opinion, the student also is out of line and distracting from the school's educational mission. That's just me.
I see. Not exactly a great dress code and they are just asking for trouble.
I had one that said:
I'm just like a Pit Bull
If I can't f*ck it, fight it, or eat it,
I don't want it!
Maybe so, but I consider the principal the worse offender.
I don't agree.
*Disruptive* is an ambiguous term. Racial epithets, vulgar language, etc are disruptive.
'Don't drink and drive' is a national slogan printed on everything from shirts to bumperstickes.
It's his own guilt over his own actions (and getting caught for it) that's the problem
The girl is just a convenient whipping post.
Only time will tell. Hopefully, we'll be informed of the results when they come down.
I think the first paragraph indicates that the shirt contained more than one slogan. We're not told of the others. I'm afraid this indicates that the media went for the "sensational" headline and left out other relevant data.
I think this is so because it's been 6 years. I think this is so because the girl is an 18 year old Junior in High School. I think it's so because the follow-on Tshirt included a too cute DUI reference.
Time will tell.
Re 98 Rock--Did you hear that Lopez just died the other day?
When the hell did I get so old?
I wonder if that isn't the place I bought my Bettie Page shirt?
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