School threatens to suspend boy for wearing anti-Bush T-shirt

[matcom]

<snip>

Thirteen-year-old Stephen Truszkowski said he's doing what his mother taught him to do - standing up for his beliefs.

But officials at Everett Meredith Middle School in Middletown say he is doing something else - becoming a distraction.

Truszkowski wore a white, short-sleeved T-shirt to school Friday with the words, "The Real Terrorist Is In The White House," written in black on the front, and "End the Tyranny" written on the back.

School officials told him the shirt was inappropriate and if he didn't cover it up, he would be suspended.

Truszkowski covered it up, like he did earlier in the week when he wore the shirt to school, as well as another time two weeks ago. But this time, he confronted the principal with a copy of the school dress code in hand.

"I told him that based on the school code, he had no right to tell me to cover it up," he said. He said the shirt does not violate the school's dress code because it's not profane or violent.

The teen feels the school is infringing on his first amendment right to free speech.

"I think they violated my rights because I wore the shirt to express my opinion, that we shouldn't have gone to war," Truszkowski said. "I'm not saying I don't respect the soldiers, but I think what Bush is doing is inappropriate."

http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/local/2004/11/20schoolordersboy.html

[underpants]

1. I wonder what these Delaware hens would say about a pro-W shirt

"I think it's just as bad as wearing revealing clothes to school," she said. "I don't necessarily think the student should be suspended, but he should cover it up."

Valerie Huot, president of the Everett Middle School PTA, said officials try hard to keep the school a neutral place and limit distractions. She said parents and students should be aware of the type of clothing that is suitable for school, although teens seem to be making their fashion statements more political these days.

"My son has a political T-shirt, but he knows better than to wear it to school," Huot said. "When you wear a shirt like that, you're wearing it for attention. ... The fact that you can call your own government terroristic after Sept. 11 ... it creates more division than unity."

[distantearlywarning]

6. If I were that kid's parent

I would ask the principal why he was assuming that either my child or myself valued "unity" over standing up for what we believed in.

[Abelman]

8. Someone

Should explain to Ms. Valerie what exactly a terrorist is.

[NoSheep]

10. I was once sent home from high school for wearing a dress that

I had made from a very long man's shirt. It came to my knees. The cheerleader skirts, however, were very short. There's a double standard. If you are different-you must be silenced and made invisible.x(

[NamVetsWeeLass]

14. I got nailed for wearing a Mini Skirt that was too short

But damn, if you look at the Cheerleaders and the lack of fabric covering their asses....

[underpants]

15. Really? Never noticed

:bounce:

[azoth]

2. Somebody get that kid a username already. Go Stephen Truszkowski!

[Reverend_Smitty]

3. Welcome to America...

Check your free speech at the borders!

[TwentyFive]

4. School needs to let Stephen wear his t-shirt

Stick to teaching the kids...not to stifling their expression.

[underpants]

7. Oh we don't want anything that might start a discussion

Just sit in your chair and memorize this for the standardized tests.

[Fridays Child]

5. Cool kid!

[DelawareValleyDem]

9. Good

It'll piss the freepers off even more when the ACLU steps in and sues the school administration

[progressoid]

11. way to go Kid

You'll probably lose, but you gotta try.

[mseang]

12. Being a teacher...

that just finished a legal refresher course, I have this legal precedent to offer.

The Tinker Case

While the Court recognized that free speech in the schools
may cause problems, it noted that
any word spoken in class, in the lunchroom or on the campus
that deviates from the views of another person may start
an argument or cause a disturbance. But our Constitution
says we must take this risk; and our history says that it
is this sort of hazardous freedom—this kind of openness—that
is the basis of our national strength and of the independence
and vigor of Americans who grow up and live in this
relatively permissive, often disputatious society.

In a provocative comment about education and freedom,
the Court wrote:
In our system, state operated schools may not be enclaves
of totalitarianism. . . . Students in schools as well as out
of school are possessed of fundamental rights which the
State must respect, just as they themselves must respect
their obligations to the State. In our system, students may
not be regarded as closed-circuit recipients of only that
which the State chooses to communicate.

In sum, Tinker held that school officials cannot prohibit
a particular opinion merely “to avoid the discomfort and
unpleasantness that always accompany an unpopular viewpoint.”
On the contrary, unless there is evidence that the
forbidden expression would “materially and substantially”
interfere with the work of the school or the rights of
others, such a prohibition is unconstitutional.

[underpants]

13. WOW! that is a great citing WELCOME TO DU

:hi:

The Tinker case I'll have to remember that.

[mcscajun]

17. Oooo-Eeee, that's a good one!

Thanks for sharing!

[Placebo]

16. Lousy no-good punks, just tryin' to start trouble!

I hope he gets expelled.

...

:9