Tiggergate proves expensive for Napa Valley school district

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | December 14, 2007 | Nanette Asimov

[DryFly]

(12-14) 17:53 PST NAPA VALLEY -- A Napa Valley middle school's decision to bar a child from class last winter for wearing a pair of Tigger socks has proved costly.

The Napa Valley Unified School District is on the hook for at least $95,000 in lawyers' fees under a legal settlement announced Thursday between the district and five Napa families who challenged the school's dress code.

That's enough to pay the salaries of two teachers for a year, but it's only about a quarter of what the district would have had to pay if it went on to lose the Tiggergate lawsuit instead of settling.

[Racehorse]

Scrap the dress code.

Require district wide mandatory uniforms.

[neodad]

As a father of 2 middle school boys, and 1 just starting high school, I’m all for dress codes and uniforms. If nothing else, it makes shopping easier.

[Old Professer]

In other news, Foghorn Leghorn was elected Coop Commander for his fourth term.

Chicken Little has filed her usual demand for a recount...

[Starwolf]

Going to a uniform in CA has some specific rules, like opt out, which the school was trying to avoid. This school dress code was an end around and the school got caught on it. They counted on passivity from the parents to go along like good sheeple since it was “for the children”.

The District should pay all costs out of administrator salaries. They (not teachers) did this particular bonehead maneuver.

[labette]

The wonderful thing about Tiggers
Is Tiggers are wonderful things!

Their tops are made out of rubber
Their bottoms are made out of springs!

They’re bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy
Fun, fun, fun, fun, FUN!

But the most wonderful thing about Tiggers
Is that I’m the only one!

[William Tell]

neodad said: "The idea behind civil disobediance is that you are willing to accept the consequence of said disobediance."

Yes. And in this case the consequence was a complete judicial victory upholding freedom of expression even for people with children who are forced to attend public schools under our compulsory education laws. It sounds like the consequence was pretty well received.

[William Tell]

neodad said: "If nothing else, it makes shopping easier."

Yes. Nothing like having the majority dictate to everybody else how to make their lives easier.

[GOPPachyderm]

Two teacher’s salaries? I’m thinking that is not an accurate idea of the cost of teachers in California!

[traditional1]

"I have some Superman underwear"

LOL.

That's probably under the category of "too much information"...

[kingu]

So you think this kind of crap should cost a school district $95K +. And that 95k should come from the district’s funds? This could have been settled with out a team of lawyers.

What settlement? Here's your dress code. Students knew of the dress code ahead of time, and purposefully wore clothing out of code to create this problem. That 'crap' should never have involved a lawyer. I'm the least supporter of the 'nanny state' out there, and constantly critical of nonsense efforts - but school dress codes work when enforced. To say a school can't set standards is to wonder where that horizon ends - Can't set appearance standards, can't set academic standards, and I won't even get into the destroyed moral standards.

The district should never have settled, gotten a law school student to run their defense, and stopped participating in the feeding on government entities by far overpaid lawyers.

[Red_Devil 232]

Oh now I see. I was confused.

[Little Bill]

When I went to High School, 60’s, Suit Jacket, Tie, white shirt, and trousers, no denims. Admittedly a private school.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

School dress codes and mandatory uniforms...?

[skinkinthegrass]

of the ACLU of Northern California....I wonder if; the ACLU, is hoping to get part of the "settlement" fees.

[kingu]

Who do you think is getting the 95k in attorney’s fees?

[kingu]

Having been a student during the 1980’s and suffered through a zillion neon colored sweaters and shirts - I don’t see a damn thing wrong with that picture. Then again, by Internet rules, you’ve lost the argument by resorting to pictures related to Nazis.

[metmom]

Public Education Ping

This list is for articles relating to public education. mcvey and republican professor have asked me to take over the list. If you want on or off this ping list, please FReepmail me.

[metmom]

"Wow, I think it's, like, really great that we've got it finally settled," said Toni Kay Scott, 14, who wore the controversial socks with the Winnie the Pooh character on the first day of school last year. "It's pretty awesome."

"I wasn't, like, too nervous because it's not like I was going to go to jail or anything," she said. "I thought it was pretty ridiculous. It's a Disney character. All the little kids wear it, and once we're in middle school we're not allowed to wear it anymore? That's over the top."

The mother was more concerned with what her kid could wear than how she can speak? Obviously, the lack of education this girl got wasn't enough of an issue for the mother to take action, but not being able to wear Tigger socks? Well, I guess that just crossed the line.

[brytlea]

They are not willing to accept the consequences of much of anything tho. Neither are the parents.
susie

[Amelia]

Obviously, the lack of education this girl got wasn't enough of an issue for the mother to take action, but not being able to wear Tigger socks? Well, I guess that just crossed the line.

I never thought I'd see a thread where the majority of FReepers sided with the ACLU...but here's an example of why the public schools can't do their jobs and why there is little or no discipline in many. How many stories have we see where schools try to uphold standards of dress or discipline, or against cheating, and some parent sues?