“Which means he was told 40 times his attire violated the dress code. I’d say this kid definitely lacks respect for authority.”
So in your world the young man should have just submitted to the pressure of the school’s authority to limit his free speech.
Do you value your own freedoms?
At what point would you take action to protect your own rights and those of others, and what would that action be?
This young man went to the courts to secure his (and our) freedoms, and seems to have a fair chance of winning.
PS - I doubt you will answer the second question above directly, because I doubt you have really thought this through.
There have been school dress codes for more than 50 years. Do you think the Founding Fathers wrote the First Amendment with t-shirts and belt buckles in mind? Or do you think that MAYBE it was meant to cover speaking against the government without fear of reprisal?
This young man went to the courts to secure his (and our) freedoms, and seems to have a fair chance of winning.
This young man went to court so he could wear a belt buckle and t-shirt that was against school dress code.
And yes, I have thought this through. I pick my First Amendment battles carefully and it isn't belt buckles and t-shirts.