Kids Sent Home For Wearing American Flag

[akumushi]

Originally Posted by pnoon

Tragic that American kids are being punished for being American.
I have no doubt they did it to antagonize but the school definitely over-reacted.

I don't see where a lawsuit would benefit anyone. Yes, it's a question of First Amendment rights but if the school administration admits it overreacted a lawsuit is pointless and a waste of time.

Also, it's well established precident that students at school do not have full protection of the law when it comes to free speach. If an administrator decides that your t-shirt is inappropriate they can have you turn it inside out, and send you home if you refuse. It happens all the time with bandshirts that have inappropriate imagery or language, or clothing that is known for having significance to street gangs. This kind of censorship is reserved as a right for the school, and is important for student safety and maintaining a proper learning environment and a lawsuit isn't going to change that even if the rules were misapplied in this case. The whole incident is unfortunate for everyone involved and will not do anything to help the students or the school. If anyone is to blame, IMHO, it's these kid's parents. If it wasn't their idea, they stood behind the kids and let them go to school like that instead of saying, "you know, maybe people will find your statement a little disrespectful and this isn't the best idea." Maybe next time the parents complain about the fact that there is no school bus, no library and they have to pay for the textbooks, they should think twice about filing a lawsuit against the school district.

Originally Posted by akumushi

Also, it's well established precident that students at school do not have full protection of the law when it comes to free speach. If an administrator decides that your t-shirt is inappropriate they can have you turn it inside out, and send you home if you refuse. It happens all the time with bandshirts that have inappropriate imagery or language, or clothing that is known for having significance to street gangs. This kind of censorship is reserved as a right for the school, and is important for student safety and maintaining a proper learning environment and a lawsuit isn't going to change that even if the rules were misapplied in this case. The whole incident is unfortunate for everyone involved and will not do anything to help the students or the school. If anyone is to blame, IMHO, it's these kid's parents. If it wasn't their idea, they stood behind the kids and let them go to school like that instead of saying, "you know, maybe people will find your statement a little disrespectful and this isn't the best idea." Maybe next time the parents complain about the fact that there is no school bus, no library and they have to pay for the textbooks, they should think twice about filing a lawsuit against the school district.

Would you consider wearing a shirt with the American flag on it, inappropriate and detrimental to the learning environment, and that this would fall under the reserved right of the school? By the way, Clayton, just trying to understand your stance

[akumushi]

Originally Posted by ChicagoWhiteSox

Would you consider wearing a shirt with the American flag on it, inappropriate and detrimental to the learning environment, and that this would fall under the reserved right of the school? By the way, Clayton, just trying to understand your stance

Again, I think the principal did a stupid move and I think the rule was misapplied, all I'm was saying is that the admin does have legal precident to exercise discretion over what the students wear to school, so a lawsuit might be a lose/lose situation for everybody involved

Originally Posted by akumushi

Again, I think the principal did a stupid move and I think the rule was misapplied, all I'm was saying is that the admin does have legal precident to exercise discretion over what the students wear to school, so a lawsuit might be a lose/lose situation for everybody

I understand, and I think we agree.

Originally Posted by akumushi

Again, I think the principal did a stupid move and I think the rule was misapplied, all I'm was saying is that the admin does have legal precident to exercise discretion over what the students wear to school, so a lawsuit might be a lose/lose situation for everybody involved

The administration needs to act in a non-discriminatory manner, no matter what they do.

This is not only a free speech issue, there is also a Section 1983 action here.

The question becomes why were only the students wearing the American flag sent home? Why not the students displaying the Mexican flag? This is surely just as incendiary to those who are offended by those who insist foreign holidays be celebrated in this country.

It doesn't offend me, but it does offend some. And both groups of students should have been treated equally under Section 1983.

For information purposes, the students are protected by California Education Code 48950.

[akumushi]

Originally Posted by ChicagoWhiteSox

For information purposes, the students are protected by California Education Code 48950.

When was that passed? They certainly did the "turn your t-shirt inside out" thing all the time when I was a student, so either the admin was breaking the law then too, or things have changed. Maybe they have some argument about how clothing is not a protected free speech thing? Thanks for bringing that up, now I'm intrigued about how this plays out.

Originally Posted by akumushi

When was that passed? They certainly did the "turn your t-shirt inside out" thing all the time when I was a student, so either the admin was breaking the law then too, or things have changed. Maybe they have some argument about how clothing is not a protected free speach thing? Thanks for bringing that up, now I'm intrigued about how this plays out.

Im not sure when it was passed.