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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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To: freepatriot32

What a maroon. He's just asking for the whole school to come in wearing "Don't Drink and Drive" t-shirts.


61 posted on 05/26/2005 11:23:55 AM PDT by Antoninus (Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini, Hosanna in excelsis!)
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To: freepatriot32
"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."

The solution is for him to resign but he ducked that issue.

62 posted on 05/26/2005 11:25:30 AM PDT by af_vet_1981
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To: xzins

"I think they'll see the issue as whether this distracts the educational purpose of the school."

The only person causing a disruption is the principal.


63 posted on 05/26/2005 11:25:42 AM PDT by Rebelbase (Seven disloyal senators sold the chance to crush the democrats for tv face time.)
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To: Rebelbase

The court case itself will determine who was correct about what the court will do. Guess we'll just have to wait.


64 posted on 05/26/2005 11:27:11 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It!)
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To: Antoninus

Maybe that could be the new uniform?


65 posted on 05/26/2005 11:27:22 AM PDT by fanfan (" The liberal party is not corrupt " Prime Minister Paul Martin)
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To: SkyDancer

"Most likely not - if you were just under the age to start kindergarten, you'd have to wait a year. That would put you a year older and a grade under ... there were several 18yo juniors in my school ...."

Well..that confuses me a little.
My son's birthday is on September 30th so he JUSt missed the cutoff...like bu 29 days...
When he starts his junior year he will turn SEVENTEEN on September 30th...not 18.
And his following senior year he will start school and then turn 18 right away.
He would have to be held back a year to turn 18 in his junior year.


66 posted on 05/26/2005 11:32:59 AM PDT by M0sby (((PROUD WIFE of MSgt Edwards USMC)))
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To: xzins
The girl should lose this suit. The school should win.

I agree completely. When I as in high school back in the 1980s, we all understood that the school's first responsibility was to provide an orderly and safe learning environment. The school regulations clearly stated that "protests" would not be tolerated and would result in disciplinary measures. No one went around playing the gadfly.

Regarding Duck's refusal to comment, that is exactly what he should have done. Unlike Miss Smith, he didn't fire off with some smarmy comment on her background. Duck took his punishment for the DUI, so what exactly is her beef anyway? And speaking of being smarmy, Miss Smith needs this little lesson in manners and tact, because one day she'll run across someone who'll do more, perhaps a lot more, than decline to comment. Her actions are immature.

67 posted on 05/26/2005 11:33:11 AM PDT by aQ_code_initiate
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To: aQ_code_initiate

Well put. There is no doubt in my mind the immature 18-year-old was taking a direct shot at the principal. The sad thing is that most posters here know that as well and won't admit it because they abhor authority and or public schools as much as this ignorant 18-year old junior does.


68 posted on 05/26/2005 11:40:46 AM PDT by L98Fiero
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To: aQ_code_initiate

I think a lot of folks think that high school is a place for kids to say and do cool, rebellious things. I don't think the courts see it that way. I believe they think that schools are educational institutions. Imagine that.

The rule in a public school is something along the order of: free speech that doesn't disrupt the educational purpose. I see no problem with that.

I agree about the principal. He could have shot off his mouth, too, but he didn't.


69 posted on 05/26/2005 11:40:49 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It!)
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To: af_vet_1981
The solution is for him to resign but he ducked that issue.

I'm sure you'll be on her side when, after she gets out into the work force, she insults her boss and is fired.

70 posted on 05/26/2005 11:41:47 AM PDT by aQ_code_initiate
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To: Puddleglum

with the way our system is heading, i'd bet "there is no god but allah" would be acceptable. maybe "flush a bible, worship a koran" or how about "anytime someone listens to a bush, they wander lost in a desert for 40 years"
whereas they probably ban the "WWJD" bracelets.

noticing your screen name.. have you seen previews for "the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe"? it's coming out at Christmastime.


71 posted on 05/26/2005 11:42:23 AM PDT by absolootezer0 ("My God, why have you forsaken us.. no wait, its the liberals that have forsaken you... my bad")
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To: L98Fiero

Public schools, of course, have their problems, but this issue is a simple matter of discipline. Before the 1960s, no one would have sided with the girl.


72 posted on 05/26/2005 11:45:31 AM PDT by aQ_code_initiate
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To: Antoninus
I once wore a shirt to school that said ESCHEW OBFUSCATION and got suspended for three days.
73 posted on 05/26/2005 11:46:22 AM PDT by JusPasenThru (http://giinthesky.blogspot.com)
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To: M0sby

Hmmm - ok. The way I see it is: this is the ending of the school year. She could have just turned 18. When she returns in the fall, she'll be an 18yo senior. She could graduate just before her 19th. b'day ...maybe ... perhaps.

Regards,
Jane


74 posted on 05/26/2005 11:46:23 AM PDT by SkyDancer ("If Love Can't Buy You Happiness, You Don't Know Where To Shop")
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To: freepatriot32
Hanna Smith, 18, a junior at Tift County High School

Perhaps if Hanna stopped worrying about T-shirts with slogans and started studying she could graduate HIGH SCHOOL before her 21st birthday.

75 posted on 05/26/2005 11:46:49 AM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: M0sby

"Well..that confuses me a little. "

I don't know how it is in other states but in MS and LA lots of kids, whose bithday falls after graduation, graduate at 17. My birthday is in March and I was 18 at graduation. My girlfriend's birthday was in October, she was still 17 when we went to college. 18-year-old junior = flunked somewhere along the line down here, possibly twice, depending on birthdate.


76 posted on 05/26/2005 11:47:33 AM PDT by L98Fiero
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To: xzins

Nobody chooses to be a midget. He chose to be a drunk driver. If kids pointing that out is disruptive, he shouldn't be employed.


77 posted on 05/26/2005 11:48:56 AM PDT by sharktrager (The masses will trade liberty for a more quiet life.)
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To: xzins
"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.

Obviously, the chickee-poo and her mommy have some kind of problem with the principal.

These kids are our future

Scary thought.

I think they should be treated with a little more respect

Most kids, because of poor parenting, don't realize "respect" is something you earn, and it's a two-way street.

Their opinions count. Their thoughts count

No, they don't. And continuing to believe that they do will have dire consequences.
78 posted on 05/26/2005 11:49:33 AM PDT by motzman (now whatda?)
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To: aQ_code_initiate
I'm sure you'll be on her side when, after she gets out into the work force, she insults her boss and is fired.

As I'm sure you would be on the boss's side if a woman had been fired while working at the WH in 1999 ...

Her shirt:

Rape is a Crime!

Don't tell me to Put Some Ice on It!

79 posted on 05/26/2005 11:49:41 AM PDT by af_vet_1981
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To: motzman
Obviously, the chickee-poo and her mommy have some kind of problem with the principal.

Just like people had problems with the corrupt Clintons and the corrupt Clintons had lots of fans ...

80 posted on 05/26/2005 11:50:46 AM PDT by af_vet_1981
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