8th grader suspended from school for wearing patriotic T-shirt

[ReverendHellh0und]

[h=1]8th grader suspended from school for wearing patriotic T-shirt[/h]
8th grader suspended from school for wearing patriotic T-shirt | Local & Regional | KATU.com - Portland News, Sports, Traffic Weather and Breaking News - Portland, Oregon

GRESHAM, Ore -- You don't have to talk with eigth-grader Alan Holmes for very long to know that patriotism and support for the military are very important to him.

That's in large part due to his older brother, who joined the Marines when he was just 19 and wound up serving abroad in Iraq.

Alan will never forget the day his big brother made it home safely.

"I was proud of him. I remember the day he came home and I was just so happy. I was little but I still remember it, he made me happy," Alan said.

Ever since then Alan has tried to show his support for the troops, something he says he was doing when he wore shirt with an image of the traditional soldier memorial, with a rifle, boots, and a helmet, to Dexter McCarty Middle School on Wednesday.

But he says the principal spotted the shirt and gave him an ultimatum, switch shirts or face and in-school suspension. Alan didn't back down.

What say you? was the school right or was the kid right? My personal opinion is the school's VP is a douche bag. The kid was right and more kids need to stand on their principles.


btw, where is his whitehouse visit invite?

 

[Harry Guerrilla]

What say you? was the school right or was the kid right? My personal opinion is the school's VP is a douche bag. The kid was right and more kids need to stand on their principles.


btw, where is his whitehouse visit invite?

Yea its stupid.
A gun on a shirt, in and of itself does not promote violence.

 

[Mason66]

What rule did he break?

 

[sangha]

The school has a dress policy. The kid broke it. They gave the kid a chance to avoid a suspension. The kid declined

 

[blackjack50]

I believe I would have laughed at the VP and continued on my day.

 

[Far right dem]

He violated school policy. Just like that kid who made a clock.

 

[Erod]

This same VP would likely prefer our military use hugs and understanding for future interventions. Guns kill people.

 

[Captain Adverse]

I'm getting the impression that there is an underlying, insidious process going on here.

That schools are being used to brainwash children into opposing the right to bear arms by demonizing even the idea this way, hoping to raise a new generation of voters who will eventually support the elimination of this right.

How else to explain the "Zero Tolerance" policies that get kids suspended for bringing toy soldiers or wearing t-shirts like this to school?

 

[UtahBill]

He violated school policy. Just like that kid who made a clock.

fyi, no clock was made, the kid just took the guts out of a store bought clock....

 

[Mason66]

I'm getting the impression that there is an underlying, insidious process going on here.

That schools are being used to brainwash children into opposing the right to bear arms, hoping to raise a new generation of voters who will eventually support the elimination of this right.

How else to explain the "Zero Tolerance" policies that get kids suspended for bringing toy soldiers or wearing t-shirts like this to school?

Kids are being taught to fear the sight of a gun real or imagined.

I wonder who will join the military in the next generation.

 

[Harry Guerrilla]

I'm getting the impression that there is an underlying, insidious process going on here.

That schools are being used to brainwash children into opposing the right to bear arms by demonizing even the idea this way, hoping to raise a new generation of voters who will eventually support the elimination of this right.

How else to explain the "Zero Tolerance" policies that get kids suspended for bringing toy soldiers or wearing t-shirts like this to school?

Well, when I was in 7th grade I got suspended from school for "gang symbols" (took a school olympics shirt drew a peace sign, Nirvana smiley, and something else on it).
On the other hand, I was already in ISS, for fighting, I was just pissed that the school didn't punish the other kid.

Edit add: Sometimes they do that stuff to show "who's the boss." Not necessarily have an anti-gun agenda.

 

[Citizen.Seven]

He violated school policy. Just like that kid who made a clock.

Save the school policy, as summarized in in the OP link, banned "promoting violence". A depiction of a rifle, especially in the context of support for the USFG does not promote violence, it acknowledges and expresses appreciation for those in the USFG armed services. An example of "promoting violence" mighr be a "Come and get it" shirt, or a shirt in support of Trayvon Martin or Michael Brown, but an image that just has an unwielded rifle certainly does not. That would be like saying an image of a computer promotes hacking.

 

[justabubba]

according to the cite:

We checked the school dress code and it does bar students from wearing any clothes promoting alcohol, drugs, tobacco or violence.

and the shirt:

i don't see evidence of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, or violence

however, this was the final portion of the article:

The district refused to comment, citing student confidentiality requirements. They said only that weapons on a shirt are not appropriate in a school setting.

the kid did not appear to violate the school's policy unless the policy expressly prevents gun images ... and if it does not, it needs to be changed to conform to the standards being enforced

 

[Paleocon]

What say you? was the school right or was the kid right? My personal opinion is the school's VP is a douche bag. The kid was right and more kids need to stand on their principles.


btw, where is his whitehouse visit invite?

The VP should be fired. We don't need unpatriotic dirtbags who hate the military running our schools.

 

[tech30528]

That rifle on the shirt would look really good with the bayonet planted thru the principal's foot. Pin headed chicken ****er.

 

[Manc Skipper]

according to the cite:

and the shirt:
View attachment 67191408
i don't see evidence of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, or violence

however, this was the final portion of the article:

the kid did not appear to violate the school's policy unless the policy expressly prevents gun images ... and if it does not, it needs to be changed to conform to the standards being enforced

You don't think death in action is violent?

 

[ReverendHellh0und]

You don't think death in action is violent?

I don't think honoring the fallen Soldiers that died for this country is violent at all, no.

 

[soot]

You don't think death in action is violent?

Sure.

It certainly can be.

That said, the tee shirt in question does not depict "death in action".

A battle cross isn't a depiction of death, violent or otherwise, it is a symbol commemorating the life and sacrifice of the fallen.

 

[Fiddytree]

Firearms, knives, swords and other weapons tend to be prohibited on all attire without exceptions. This started to be rolled out across the country in the early 1990s or even prior. Has it been ridiculous to believe that the bans impacted the atmosphere of the schools? Yes. Is this really surprising? No. It's expected. The problem is that whenever patriotism becomes involved (no matter how ludicrously displayed), the advocates for the individual lose all sight of historical or bureaucratic precedent and believe that a great wrong was committed against the individual or it's some dark plot against the country.

See below:

That schools are being used to brainwash children into opposing the right to bear arms by demonizing even the idea this way, hoping to raise a new generation of voters who will eventually support the elimination of this right.

No, it's simply a reaction to a long-standing policy removing weapons from most avenues of the school system, which were in turn an attempt to reduce school and gang violence (prior to the Columbine massacre, by the way). Clothing policies have also long moved against use of illicit substances, particularly during the height of the conservative movement's push for anti-drug policies and awareness campaigns both for adults and children, which in turn intersected with the growing concern of alcoholic and tobacco use from minors. Perhaps these represent misguided school policies, but it's nothing sinister.

 

[JANFU]

I'm getting the impression that there is an underlying, insidious process going on here.

That schools are being used to brainwash children into opposing the right to bear arms by demonizing even the idea this way, hoping to raise a new generation of voters who will eventually support the elimination of this right.

How else to explain the "Zero Tolerance" policies that get kids suspended for bringing toy soldiers or wearing t-shirts like this to school?

Nope- we are bubble packing children and trying to prevent them from seeing anything that may upset them, may hurt their feelings, may impact in a slight negative way on their emotional health. Oh yes, and cause them to question, cannot have that now can we.
We are raising the Borg Generation of children, who will be mainly helpless at dealing with things outside of that bubble packed area.

 

[Captain Adverse]

Nope- we are bubble packing children and trying to prevent them from seeing anything that may upset them, may hurt their feelings, may impact in a slight negative way on their emotional health. Oh yes, and cause them to question, cannot have that now can we.
We are raising the Borg Generation of children, who will be mainly helpless at dealing with things outside of that bubble packed area.

I agree with that...however.

Schools are part of that "village" we raise our children in. For up to 12 years schools have control over the minds of children for about seven hours a day, five days a week. This doesn't count extracurricular activity after normal school hours and on weekends.

During that time kids are not limited the their ABC's; they are impacted by the environment and learn all sorts of lessons from their teacher's and school administrators. School rules teach them social rules. Fear-mongering zero tolerance extremes also teach extreme fear.

What is the primary argument for gun control? FEAR of citizen access to weapons. That's how I am starting to see it.

 

[soot]

Fear-mongering zero tolerance extremes also teach extreme fear.

I don't know.

I went to Catholic school during the Cold War (albeit, the tail end) and was "taught" to "fear" everything from masturbation to the Red Menace (though we did pray for their "conversion").

Doesn't seem to have left any lasting scars.

 

[Far right dem]

Save the school policy, as summarized in in the OP link, banned "promoting violence". A depiction of a rifle, especially in the context of support for the USFG does not promote violence, it acknowledges and expresses appreciation for those in the USFG armed services. An example of "promoting violence" mighr be a "Come and get it" shirt, or a shirt in support of Trayvon Martin or Michael Brown, but an image that just has an unwielded rifle certainly does not. That would be like saying an image of a computer promotes hacking.

Guns are made for the sole purpose of killing a person or animal. Computers are used for a lot of things. Bad analogy. A picture of a gun does promote violence. The kid was given the option of taking it off. He didn't comply so he was suspended.

 

[JANFU]

I agree with that...however.

Schools are part of that "village" we raise our children in. For up to 12 years schools have control over the minds of children for about seven hours a day, five days a week. This doesn't count extracurricular activity after normal school hours and on weekends.

During that time kids are not limited the their ABC's; they are impacted by the environment and learn all sorts of lessons from their teacher's and school administrators. School rules teach them social rules. Fear-mongering zero tolerance extremes also teach extreme fear.

What is the primary argument for gun control? FEAR of citizen access to weapons. That's how I am starting to see it.

It is not gun specific. It is where a student should stand up for what is right. Recall the kid, half blind and crippled, being thumped upon. Well the kid who stopped it was punished.I this case, a common one is school where fight break out, are teaching students to not do the right thing. If you do you will be punished. And they will take that lesson to heart.
Then we have the 0 tolerance for harassment- 6 and 8 year old suspended for idiotic reasons.

 

[Captain Adverse]

I don't know.

I went to Catholic school during the Cold War (albeit, the tail end) and was "taught" to "fear" everything from masturbation to the Red Menace (though we did pray for their "conversion").

Doesn't seem to have left any lasting scars.

Can I check your knuckles for ruler scars please???