[mykej]

Sorry, raising a fist is not disruptive. Why can't the other students ignore one silent person with his hand in the air?

[Michael.SF.]

Sorry mykej. It is diruptive.

Why could he just not stand silently?

One must consider the symbolism of raising one's fist, ala John Carlos and Tommy Smithin Mexico Olympics in 1968, as mentioned in the article.

The raising of the fist was then and is now, a symbolic gesture of Black Power, declaring the USA to be a racist state. Although no mention of race was made (that I saw) my guess was that these were Black Students, thus making the gesture very symbolic and very offensive.

What if they had raised their hand in the classic one finger salute? Would you consider that to be disruptive?

[goodieD]

kind of hard to ignore a raised fist. Why should the other kids have to be bothered if one kid wants to be a little creep? Why does the majority always have to bow before one idiot? Besides, it's a school and there are RULES..some people think they don't have to abide by them.

[ijcr]

What if the hand was outstreched,palm flat? would that be disrupting the class?

If the answer is yes,then the same applies for a clenched fist.