I wonder sometimes at the American school system. If there is anything as anti-American as the school systems, let me know. Schools ban everything that freedom is about. I was okay when they didn't let my friend Gean print her article on Immigration. I was okay when they didn't allow my Drama Club to perform Footloose because of its' "adult themes" or whatever they claimed it to be, although in all actuality it was because our principal was Baptist. But now, I am not going to just sit back and "be okay."
I believe in God. First, you must know that much. I'm not a Satanist, Skinhead, Atheist, nor am I Agnostic, (and I'm not lumping those four belief systems into one, either) so I am not rallying for anything other than the freedom to express myself and for others to be able to do the same.
A boy came to my school wearing a shirt that said "Jesus didn't die for my sins. He died for his own."
I found this statement incredibly sad, yes. Was I offended? Yes. But, that is basically what America is about. Tolerance?
This boy was suspended by our Baptist Principal.
Did the shirt have any defamation of character of any student or staff member? No. Did the shirt have any sexual themes? No. Did the shirt have swear words on it? No. Was the shirt torn, immodest, or held together with safety pins? No, no, no! Anything that the boy could have gotten dress coded for was not any part of the shirt.
Why must our school systems not understand free speech? We are told when to go to class, when to talk, and when to go to the bathroom. Now, are we going to tolerate what administrators and teachers telling us what to say, as well? I think not! No one expelled our FCA (Future Christian Athletes) club members when they wore shirts that quoted John 3:16. No one stopped their prayer circle around the flag pole that occurred daily, often preventing traffic from reaching its destinations. Then, should this young man be silenced for his beliefs, merely because it does not fit neatly under the club title of FCA? I think not.
I was outraged. When will America get a wake up call? When it truly wishes to be free, it will have to first free its citizens of their past prejudices and intolerance.
SAM
About your "I believe in God..I'm not a Satanist, etc." comment, I get the vibe that you're assuming that any one of these groups would be rallying for this shirt specifically because it would offend Christians. I wouldn't make this assumption if you are though, because there are many people in at least one of these groups (take me, I'm agnostic) that would rally for the shirt just because of freedom expression .. same as you. Just a side note, hope it made sense.
Unfortunately, school is the place where many civil liberties can be legally taken away by the whim of administrators. Minors don't have full rights, and most rights are surrendered in the name of not being offensive or "safety" when in school.
Even so, I don't think that there was anything wrong with the shirt and I don't support the banning of it.
Sometimes offending people brings a better society. Especially those with skins that are way too thin.
As a 17 year old teenager in Australia and currently attending High School, I feel I can definitly speak on the same level as you in regards to your article.
To get this out of the way quickly, I am a Satanist (not a devil-worshipper and not an idiot that runs around screaming "Hail Satan"), and like the person above me commented, I believe that the boy who wore the shirt offensive to Christians had done nothing wrong and don't believe he should have received the suspension that he did. I agree with you that it is becoming quite hypocritical when you display especially the juxtaposition between the Christian shirts to the more "Anti-Christian" (if you will) shirt.
As big a deal as this appears, this is just school we're talking about. Hell, if I was to compare the majority of schools in America to the ones in Australia, we're stuck with Uniforms and get a detention if we're wearing black shoes with white shoelaces instead of black shoes with black shoelaces and sadly that is the school policy.
The best thing I can say is if your baptist principal has the power he obviously does have, just stay on his good side with what you know about him and then do whatever you want once you finish school.
If you wish to contact me in regard to my comment or your story, please feel free to do so.
Todd
Is this a religious school? If not, it is certainly illegal for him to suspend a student based on his religious beliefs. Hell, schools have been taken to court over dress code issues with body piercings and hair color. This one is certainly more serious.
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I agree that everyone has a right to freedom of speech. At the same time, schools (especially those that are private) have the right to abide by their own rules. In this case, I feel that the school took the situation too far, but in many ways, the school does have the right to have rules and make sure that students follow them.