Posted on 05/26/2005 10:22:33 AM PDT by freepatriot32
A teenager was back in class Friday after receiving a one-day suspension for wearing a T-shirt with slogans including "freedom of expression" and "don't drink and drive" that school administrators considered disruptive.
Hanna Smith, 18, a junior at Tift County High School, said principal Mike Duck told her that if she wore the shirt again she would be suspended for the remainder of the year.
The principal was arrested six years ago for DUI and running a stop sign, the Tifton Gazette said Friday in a story on Smith's suspension. Duck made a public apology for the DUI and was himself suspended for five days.
Smith's mother, Tracy Fletcher, said she would defend her daughter's right to express herself, even if it means hiring an attorney and taking the case to court.
"They want everyone to fit into a mold and there's no room for individuality. These kids are our future, I think they should be treated with a little more respect. Their opinions count. Their thoughts count," Fletcher said.
The principal confirmed that Smith was back in class Friday without the banned T-shirt, which also had a peace symbol on the front and "Veritas" (truth) written on the back.
On Friday, Smith wore a different T-shirt, this one reading "Don't Underestimate Individuality," her mother said. The first letters of those words spell "DUI." Her mother said the teen plans to wear the banned T-shirt again on Monday.
Duck said he could not comment on the suspension.
"We can't discuss children and their issue," he said. "It's a matter of privacy and protection of their rights."
The school system's dress code forbids disruptive clothing, grooming and symbols. Principals decide what's disruptive.
"I have an obligation to maintain an orderly environment," Duck said. "The courts give me the authority and the right to make those decisions and as long as I'm sitting in this chair that's what I'm going to do."
Smith said she learned about Constitutional rights, such as freedom of expression, in class and wishes school officials would honor them.
"I think it's silly that we can't practice the freedoms that they teach us here," Smith said. "You would think that school officials would have respect for the law and people's rights, or at least they should."
That is EXACTLY what I am thinking... There are LOTS of kids who turn 18 early in their senior year or even during the summer... But if you are 18 in your junior year...well...I'm thinking that you started REALLY late or were held back along the way (for whatever reason)...
Neither you nor Clinton were in a high school where the court has ruled that the education mission overrides most everything else.
If the kid was wearing an anti bush shirt, youd all be patting the guy back.
Bill Clinton represented both authority and discipline when he told Juanita to put some ice on it.
The idea is actually oxymoronic. (BTW, per Miss Smith's example, I've just launched two coded insults at you.) Okay, since you want to splash around in the political pond, let's test your principles. What if Michael Scheuer started wearing a t-shirt around the CIA calling Tenet a political puppet?
If you are in leadership and have committed a crime that affects your ability to lead, you should step down.
Or what if a recruit at basic training decides his drill sergeant is an SOB and scrawls something to that effect on his shirt when he falls in for PT? How tolerant would you be of that? Or would you be part of the chorus proclaiming how richly they deserved what they got?
Public schools are not (yet) a government military environment but any DI who commits certain crimes should be disqualified from leadership.
Possibly, but this late in the school year, being 18 and a junior is not that rare.
Rural Georgia courts aren't noted for their willingness to undermine authority, and the principal is correct when he says that there is a lot of precedent for his actions. I say Smith will lose.
it can't help but be better than the version BBC did a number of years ago.
i almost slapped the couple sitting next to me when i saw the preview, i knew it right away but the grrl said something like "oooh! another harry potter movie" then after the title was shown her boyfriend said something to the extent of "oh, there's like 4 books in the series, its just a rip off of LotR"
Again, whether the principal committed assault, rape, or DUI and running a stop sign, he should resign or be removed from any leadership position. Yes, I know the Clinton Fans have a different standard for leaders ...
Oh, so you're advocating that the principal lose his job. Okay, that I can understand, although I disagree with your opinion, because the DUI hasn't affected his ability to do his job - and military leadership isn't in his job description. Miss Smith is merely a gadfly.
It seems to me that the principle running the school is a little angry at this student because she is only reminding the student body what a hypocrite he really is.
I guess he just can't take the heat. He should resign for the good of the school.
Clinton and his fans made the case that his behavior did not affect his ability to do his job and you seem to imply that only military leadership might have made that premise invalid.
Oh, so you're advocating that the principal lose his job.
I wrote as much.
Okay, that I can understand, although I disagree with your opinion, because the DUI hasn't affected his ability to do his job - and military leadership isn't in his job description. Miss Smith is merely a gadfly.
Linda Tripp was such a gadfly ...
That's what I was wondering. I was 15 when I started my junior year.
Which likely wouldn't have happened if the principal didn't go completely overboard in response to the first T-shirt. "Don't drink and drive" is a perfectly positive message. It's crazy that such a message should not be permitted because the he once had a DUI six years ago. I wouldn't go so far as to say (as other posters have) that illegal actions should unconditionally disqualify a principal, but if his actions make him this sensitive to messages that should be heard, then he really needs to find himself another job.
No, we'd similarly disagree with the principal and send him nasty emails. I think I'd rather deal with an anti-Bush HS student than some dope head HS student.
HOWEVER, it's not even an overtly political t-shirt. It's a "Don't drink and Drive" t-shirt.
That's what happens when you start Kindergarten at age 6 instead of 5. Not necessarily caused by having to repeat a grade somwhere along the line.
ABCD snikes?
LMNO snikes!
OSAR2
CMBDI's?
YIB!
MR2 snikes!
With all due respect to freedom of expression, your kids are not my future--I am my future. Your kid will get respect from me when he or she earns it.
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