15 students suspended over Confederate flag T-shirts

al.com ^ | 10/16/01 | ap

[shuckmaster]

MOULTON, Ala. (AP) -- Fifteen students at Lawrence County High School got suspended for wearing Confederate flag T-shirts to school Monday.

Principal Ricky Nichols said he suspended the students for three days each because they defied a ban he placed on rebel flag clothing on Friday.

"School is not an open forum," the principal said. "It is a place for learning."

Seven of the students and two parents protested later Monday at the Lawrence County Board of Education's parking lot.

The suspended students all wore T-shirts by Dixie Outfitters. The shirts have emblems on the front and back that contain the Confederate battle flag. The students said the shirts aren't meant as a racial statement.

"In Lawrence County, it's almost like a fashion statement, the same way people wear Tommy Hilfiger," senior Casey Hughes said.

Some students said they wear the shirts as an expression of Southern heritage, but the principal said none of the students could tell him if their great-grandfathers fought in the Civil War.

[PleaseNoMore]

This was taken from the ACLU's website a week ago. It isn't there now. Guess this issue isn't important huh??

"In our system, state-operated schools may not be enclaves of totalitarianism. School officials do not possess absolute authority over their students. Students in school as well as out of school are 'persons' under our Constitution." -- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Abe Fortas, Tinker v. Des Moines School District (1969

[JAWs]

This action is definitely contrary to many SC decisions on the matter.

[GODblessAMERICAagain]

Pathetic! There is NOTHING wrong with the CONFEDERATE flag.....just as everyone has a freedom of speech here. SOME people are actually proud of their heritage. Being a "Rebel" does not mean that one is Pro-slavery these days. It just means.....you are PROUD to be from the South! Get a grip on reality, folks.

[jae471]

I doubt any of their great-grandfathers fought in the civil war. I'm 21 now, and all my great-grandparents were born between 1899 and 1912. Great-great-great-grandfather may be more appropriate for this age group.

[Arkinsaw]

Does it matter if it was a shirt with a Confederate flag on it or a US flag, or the Pledge of Allegiance, or God Bless America? The constitutional principles are the same and the school administrators banning them are the same.

[Alpenkatze]

I don't consider this to be a protest. I were the Austrian and German flags on many shirts of mine. I also have a German flag in my room. I also have many Croatian flags/symbols. I'm proud of my heritage... let them and all of you be proud of yours...

[F.J. Mitchell]

I thought you had it right the first time NAAPCCP, with the exception of CP on the end. National Association of Politically Correct Colored People. Either that or you were saying it the way they demand it now....National Association of People of Color.

[Alpenkatze]

Ditto Ditto Ditto... My brother lives in Georgia... he loves his flags too...

[Alpenkatze]

Your right... I stand corrected... I'm really tired tonite. Will probably make more mistakes - so BEAR with me O.K.?

[the_rightside]

"15 Students Suspended For Wearing Flag T-Shirt To School".

You wonder why? Some have pretty good reasons.

CLICK HERE

[Eaker]

Post #16

Cheap shot....and you missed.

Eaker

[aomagrat]

"School is not an open forum," the principal said. "It is a place for learning."

If there is no open forum in school, there is no learning, just indoctrination.

The war on Southern Heritage continues.

[Alabama_Wild_Man]

"...This is happening in Alabama? Gezzz..."

Scary stuff....

My home town is about 40 kliks from there. Most of that bunch is soo Red-Neck that their ankles are pink.
(Heck, I'm proud to claim that area as home!!)

Trust me...several folks around there will be more than happy to give that fellow an 'Attitude Adjustment'....

[Fiddlstix]

DAMN! I'm Sick and Tired of This Crapola!

I have ONE Great-Great-Grandfather Who Was a "Union Officer" (A Colonel under Gen. Grant Himself)
I Have One Other Great-Great- Grandfather who was an Officer in the Army of the South!

Damn It! Now Just What the HELL Does that make me?????
All These Years Later, After the Fact!

I SHALL Salute Both "Banners"! I Am a product of Both! I Have the Right!

As I Said......I'm Sick and Tired of hearing about this....It Is History! It IS American History!
It is Done and Over With... It Is "Water under the Bridge"!
Let It Go!
What's Done IS Done......Nobody Can Change That!
There is No Reason to keep 'Fussin' bout it!
It Only Divides US!
As I Said..... I Shall Salute Both Banners in respect for MY Fathers AND This Great Country!

(Anyone Who Thinks they're Big Enough......'Come on and Stop Me!!!)Iffn ya think ya can...

God Bless America!

[StopGlobalWhining]

What would have been the response of the principal if the students showed up wearing

Gay Pride

tee-shirts instead of the Confederate flag?

Many of us are proud of the Confederate flag, and find the notion of "gay pride" repulsive.

I suspect that the school would find a "gay pride" tee-shirt preferable to an American flag shirt.

[general_re]

Tinker has never been directly overruled, but in the subsequent years since then, the Court has narrowed its scope somewhat. See Bethel School District No. 403 v. Fraser, 478 US 675 (1986), and especially Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, 484 US 260 (1988).

[cactmh]

Actually, my great-great grandfather fought in the Civil War. I am 23...

[concerned about politics]

"School is not an open forum," the principal said. "It is a place for learning."

So take down the posters advocating the gay lifestyle.
Stop teaching the kids fisting, abortion, earth worship.
I agree, let's start teaching kids to READ and WRITE again.

[Nomo Lies]

If the principal was really concerned with the education of these students, he would have marched them down to the gym and issued them PE shirts to wear for the remainder of the day.

[F.J. Mitchell]

You really are tired tonight, I was just making a little joke, not trying to correct you. You will probably appreciate the irony better tomorrow. I make plenty of mistakes myself, even when I'm not tired.