A Texas student was recently suspended for wearing a John Edwards shirt to school. The school's dress policy states: “T-shirts, other than WISD clubs, organizations, sports, or spirit t-shirts, college or university t-shirts or solid-colored t-shirts, are prohibited". Clearly, the student was not suppossed to wear this shirt but is considering suing the school for infringing on his First Admendment Rights.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,299148,00.html
An Alaskan teen was asked to remove his shirt, which read "Bong Hits for Jesus". His case went all the way to the Supreme Court, which ruled against him. The Supreme Court decided schools could restrict clothing that supports drug use.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286649,00.html
These are just a few examples of the ever-growing "First Amendment" epidemic. Students (and the ACLU) continually convince themselves that schools have no right to govern the dress of their students. This means dress codes and uniforms should go out the door.
I disagree wholeheartedly. Enforced dress codes, notice the emphasis on enforced, create a learning environment that is semi less distracting. The Supreme Court's decision on the Alaskan teen's drug t-shirt was correct. The teen has every right to wear the shirt, but at school, he needs to respect his fellow students AND respect the school establishment. My generation lacks a respect for just about everything.
I believe this is one of the biggest problems with our public school system. We have an entire generation of children growing up believing that every right in the Constitution is without stipulations and that they are completely entitled to each right. The Constitution is the Supreme Law of the Land. It is an important document in the American government and I support every right that is in it. The problem is, these rights have limits. There is a certain point where his rights to wear the shirt and my rights to not seeing the shirt begin and end.
School is supposed to be a learning environment. One could argue that the shirt is a learning experience because the students were exposed to a political view that might not have known before. But high school is supposed to be structured by teachers and the administration of the school. Our public school systems are terrible, but that has little correlation to the issue of the First Amendment in school.
Side issue: One easy answer to the entire wardrobe issue would be implementing a dress code. I'm not sure where I stand on such an issue but I see the benefits more and more each day. It eliminates the difference between high and low class clothing. It would eliminate distracting attire such as low riding pants, cleavage, etc. I've also talked to many friends that wore uniforms in school and they loved it because there was no stressing over clothing. It would eliminate another pressure that we put on our children in schools. Is it possible that a uniform for all public schools is an answer?
So, does the First Amendment apply to offensive and political shirts in school? Is there some limit to what the schools can allow and disallow? Is my generation just Constitution crazy?
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Dress codes are put in place for a reason.
It sounds like at that school they are only allowed to wear T-shirts on very special circumstances anyway; they probably have to wear uniforms the rest of the time...
You don't HAVE to go to school. Public schools are offering an incredible service to people, and complaining that you can't wear a john edwards shirt to school is, well, ignorant.
Private schools impose much stricter dress codes and t-shirts are a commodity and "special treat".
Public schools on the otherhand do allow t-shirts to be worn. The policy at the public high school in my area bans "revealing" clothing. T-shirts are worn on a daily basis by the majority of the students.
http://www.progressiveu.org/user/bamers