Posted on 02/25/2008 6:02:56 PM PST by Mount Athos
A pair of Albany teenagers suspended for "gang-related behavior" because they were wearing crucifixes say they were only wearing gifts from their mothers.
Jaime Salazar, 14, his friend Marco Castro, 16, were suspended from South Albany High School recently after they refused to put away the crucifixes they were wearing around their necks.
Salazar said Principal Chris Equinoa saw his necklace and told him to put it away. "I was like, why?" Salazar said. "He says it's related to gangs."
Salazar said he argued and was sent to the office. Instead, he went home. Later, he received a note saying he had been suspended for five days for "defiance and gang-related behavior."
Castro, a junior, was suspended for three days after refusing to take off a string of milky rosary beads, with a crucifix and a tiny picture of the Virgin Mary, that he was wearing around his neck. His mother gave it to him, he said.
Equinoa said religious items are not banned. But, as principal, he reserves the right to ask a student to remove, or cover up, any item he feels could indicate gang affiliation even a crucifix.
The school district backs him up.
Principals have the latitude to determine the difference between genuine religious observance and gang symbols, said Jim Haggart, executive assistant to the superintendent.
"We're not trying to squash any religious symbols and we're not trying to get into religion, but we are trying to get into student safety, and that's what we're really concerned about," Haggart said.
Equinoa said he could not comment on specific student discipline issues. But he said any directive to a student to remove or cover any item, religious or otherwise, would not be made without other information.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
That looks like the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota.
The schools in our area have adopted dress codes and banned gang symbols. But, I don’t see how it solves the problem. Every time an item of clothing/jewelry is banned, the gang members are just going to come up with another way to send signals to each other.
Yup. It may be vaguely possible that this principal knows more that’s going on in his school district than posters to this forum.
Ping.
Ummm - my guess is two boys - Jaime (Jimmy) and Marco (Mark).
If I recall correctly, that’s how it started in Rome.
I believe he does, but banning symbols is ultimately useless, and besides, I don’t agree with banning a certain article of dress.
>>Why was the kid even wearing a Rosary? It’s not jewelry, it’s a tool used for prayer. Unless he’s contemplating a religious life and prays frequently during the day, there really is no reason for him to wear it.<<
Thank you.
If this were a scapular, I would have a problem. A rosary? Their moms should know better.
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