War On Free Speech: School Suspends Teenagers For Talking About Not Wearing School Uniforms
THE War on Free Speech spots 24 students at Cowan Road Middle School, Spalding County, Atlanta, suspended for reading and responding to a Facebook post.
Of course, that could be worse. In the UK you can be jailed for that sort of thing.
The Facebook post that got the students rusticated was once encouraging them peers to break the school’s dress code during the final week of classes. The idea was for them to “wear red” on Monday.
One 7th Grade student says her response “I’m in” got her busted.
Then the post got bolder:
“Everything they say we can’t wear, wear. We need the hallways packed and out of control.”
Isn’t the oder to be out of control an form of control? No matter. The damage was done.
The school’s Dress Code is a big deal. The handbook given to all students and parents commands:
The Griffin-Spalding County School System dress code requires students in middle and high school to dress in a manner that is conducive to a good learning environment. Our behavior patterns are affected by what we wear. When students are wearing proper attire, they are more reserved in their behavior. Visitors and our community judge our schools by the appearance and deportment of our students. Impressions of the entire school are influenced by our students’ dress.
You want reserved children. Got it.
One objective of a school is to assist students in preparing for life in the business and social worlds. Our schools, therefore, should help students learn to dress in a manner the public finds appropriate. Many fads in dress have been deemed inappropriate for school. Student attire should reflect neatness, cleanliness and should not distract or cause disruption in the educational process of school.
Is red disruptive? Dunno. The kids never got the chance to wear it.
…
It is not the intent of this regulation to create hardship or stress on any student or parent, but rather to provide a reasonable standard of dress. Recognizing the fact that no dress code is perfect and there may be some who will not agree on all points, we are requesting the cooperation of all students and their parents in adhering to this policy. The following restrictions, therefore, are imposed:
Deep breath – pick our favourite (ours the one for girls with very long/short arms):
During school hours or at school activities, students should wear appropriate footwear. (Flip flops and bedroom shoes are not appropriate.)
During school hours or at school activities, students shall not wear clothing with slits or holes. (Frayed areas and patched holes are not appropriate.)
During school hours or at school activities, students may wear skirts, shorts, skorts, or dresses that fall below fingertip length when arms are held loosely at the side.
During school hours or at school activities, students shall not wear tank shirts, halter tops, shirts or dresses with spaghetti straps. In addition, tops that expose cleavage or midriffs, strapless dresses or see-through clothing are not appropriate during school hours or at school activities.
During school hours or at school activities, tails of shirts shall be worn at wrist level or above. Shirts longer than this must be tucked.
During school hours or at school activities, students shall wear pants belted at the natural waistline. There will be no “busting slack” or exposure of clothing designed and sold as undergarments during school hours.
During school hours or at school activities, students may not wear over-sized clothing, skin-tight pants, or form-fitting clothing. Students may wear leggings if a dress or top is worn over the leggings. The length of the dress or top worn over the leggings must fall below the fingertip length when arms are held loosely at the side.
During school hours or at school activities, students may not wear clothing in a manner inconsistent with the intended design. (Examples: bandanas used as belts, etc.).
During school hours or at school activities, students shall not wear clothing displaying obscene or suggestive slogans or shirts with pictures or patches displaying illegal substances for minors. (Examples: symbols of drugs, tobacco products or alcoholic beverages, etc.)
During school hours or at school activities, students shall not wear clothing which displays or implies profane, vulgar, obscene or racially offensive language, symbols, or sexual innuendo.
During school hours or at school activities, students shall not display emblems, insignias, writing graphics, pictures, badges, tattoos or other symbols where the effect is to cause disruption or interference with the operation of the school.
During school hours or at school activities, students shall not wear hats, sunglasses, caps, visors, sweatbands, skull caps, do rags, headbands or bandanas. (All hats and caps shall be properly stored during the school day).
During school hours and at school activities, students shall not wear large coats and hoods. Hoods on sweatshirts must not be pulled over the head.
During school hours or at school activities, students may not wear chains hanging from wallets or clothing.
During school hours or at school activities, students shall not display or wear any gang article, paraphernalia or clothing that can be construed as being gang-related. (Examples: bandanas sweat bands, head rags, T-shirts, jerseys, jackets, accessories, etc.)
During school hours or at school activities, students shall not wear jewelry that is offensive, studded, or pointed.
During school hours or at school activities, students shall not wear visible piercing type jewelry (other than ears) or paraphernalia where the effect is to cause disruption or interference with the operation of the school. Chains linking one piercing to another piercing are not allowed.
Punishment will be swift:
Dress Code Consequences
Students in violation of dress code polices will:
Change into suitable clothing OR
Be assigned to ISS for the remainder of the school day (Administrator Discretion)Students who repeatedly violate the dress code may be subject to further disciplinary action, including in school suspension.
But the teenagers (most are aged 13) didn’t do anything. They just chatted about being, well, teenagers:
Posted: 5th, June 2014 | In: Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
