High school students sue to wear anti-gay clothing at school

[StorminNorman]

There was a court case that protected Freedom of Speech unless that speech was deemed to risk the safety of the students of the school (by causing fights and what not).

I think it all depends how offensive the clothing is. I mean you can wear shirts that attack a certain political candidate - because there is no reason to believe that it would incite violence with a normal human being. If the shirt is simply saying "I am not gay" or "I don't like gay people" - I think it would be hard to argue it would spark violence.

Does the article give any indication what the clothing says?

Should I actually bother to read it?

 

[Kritish]

As long as it's not hate speech or fighting words, you're correct. But in this case, you're wrong.

If you have a shirt that reads "kill the homos" that's hate speech. I didn't see anything on those shirts that talked about violence towards gays.

 

[Majik1387]

Does the article give any indication what the clothing says?

But the current senior was reprimanded during her junior year on April 20, 2006, a day after the national "Day of Silence," for wearing a self-made T-shirt that read "MY DAY OF SILENCE, STRAIGHT ALLIANCE," on the front and "BE HAPPY, NOT GAY" on the back, the suit says.

Should I actually bother to read it?

Won't hurt any

 

[StorminNorman]

But the current senior was reprimanded during her junior year on April 20, 2006, a day after the national "Day of Silence," for wearing a self-made T-shirt that read "MY DAY OF SILENCE, STRAIGHT ALLIANCE," on the front and "BE HAPPY, NOT GAY" on the back, the suit says.

Won't hurt any

See - I don't think anything in that would then fit the Supreme Court ruling. Thus under the case Tinker v. The Des Moine School Board - these shirts ARE protected by the Constitution.

As far as reading - I normally would of, but I am really not in the mood.

 

[Kritish]

But the current senior was reprimanded during her junior year on April 20, 2006, a day after the national "Day of Silence," for wearing a self-made T-shirt that read "MY DAY OF SILENCE, STRAIGHT ALLIANCE," on the front and "BE HAPPY, NOT GAY" on the back, the suit says.

Won't hurt any

That isn't hate speech, that's called "acting like a ******". These kids should be allowed to wear these shirts just to prove how big of idiots they are.

 

[Dark Vigilante]

What's next? Will we tell people that they can't wear anti-gay t-shirts outside of schools? There's a little thing called freedom of speech in America.
Even if your acting like a jack ass your entitled to the right to be one.

I completely agree, however, doing that in public and in school is completely different. In school we are attempting to educate children and prepare them for the real world. If we have people going around and promoting intolerence and hatred in our schools, not only is it distracting, its contrary to the very idea and purpose of education.

 

[StorminNorman]

I completely agree, however, doing that in public and in school is completely different. In school we are attempting to educate children and prepare them for the real world. If we have people going around and promoting intolerence and hatred in our schools, not only is it distracting, its contrary to the very idea and purpose of education.

"A Student's Freedom of Speech Does Not End At The School Yard Gate"
- Tinker v. The Des Moine School Board Supreme Court Ruling.

 

[Kritish]

I completely agree, however, doing that in public and in school is completely different. In school we are attempting to educate children and prepare them for the real world. If we have people going around and promoting intolerence and hatred in our schools, not only is it distracting, its contrary to the very idea and purpose of education.

The moment those kids show up wearing swastikas I'll agree with you on that. But saying "Be Happy, Not Gay" isn't hate speech.

 

[Dark Vigilante]

"A Student's Freedom of Speech Does Not End At The School Yard Gate"
- Tinker v. The Des Moine School Board Supreme Court Ruling.

Just because it's a Supreme Court ruling doesn't make it right. Would intolerence like that be allowed in a work place. No, you'd be fired. Why should it be any different in schools if we are preparing students for the work place.

 

[Dark Vigilante]

The moment those kids show up wearing swastikas I'll agree with you on that. But saying "Be Happy, Not Gay" isn't hate speech.

It may not be hate speech, but someone who is gay may find it offensive, thusly it has no place in schools.

 

[Kritish]

It may not be hate speech, but someone who is gay may find it offensive, thusly it has no place in schools.

Lots of things are offensive, we can't and shouldn't ban everything that might be offensive to everyone. If that happend nothing would be allowed in schools. Freedom of speech includes the right to offend.

 

[StorminNorman]

Just because it's a Supreme Court ruling doesn't make it right. Would intolerence like that be allowed in a work place. No, you'd be fired. Why should it be any different in schools if we are preparing students for the work place.

Where you work is a choice. Going to school is not. Whether YOU believe it is right or wrong doesn't mean anything - this story is about students suing over this clothing. Sense that means it will be brought up in a Court of Law - the students should have a fairly easy case.

 

[Dark Vigilante]

Lots of things are offensive, we can't and shouldn't ban everything that might be offensive to everyone. If that happend nothing would be allowed in schools. Freedom of speech includes the right to offend.

Obviously we shouldn't ban everything that is offensive. Some of the most important lessons we learn in school involve material that is offensive to some and many (Holocaust, slavery, etc.). However, things that are unnecessarily offensive and only hinder eductaion and distract other students should not be allowed. Freedom of speech includes the right to offend, yes, but you can't call other classmates ******, or ***, or whatever. Its promotes division, something we can't have in a atmosphere that thrives on cooperation.

 

[Kritish]

Obviously we shouldn't ban everything that is offensive. Some of the most important lessons we learn in school involve material that is offensive to some and many (Holocaust, slavery, etc.). However, things that are unnecessarily offensive and only hinder eductaion and distract other students should not be allowed. Freedom of speech includes the right to offend, yes, but you can't call other classmates ******, or ***, or whatever. Its promotes division, something we can't have in a atmosphere that thrives on cooperation.

The homosexual students should have thicker skin than being offended by those t-shirts. Odds are they'll hear a lot worse in adulthood.

 

[Dark Vigilante]

Where you work is a choice. Going to school is not. Whether YOU believe it is right or wrong doesn't mean anything - this story is about students suing over this clothing. Sense that means it will be brought up in a Court of Law - the students should have a fairly easy case.

Yes, but if it is the purpose of school to prepare students for the working world, then it is erroneous where one choose to work after graduating. If that is not allowed in the workplace, it should not be encouraged in school.

 

[Dark Vigilante]

The homosexual students should have thicker skin than being offended by those t-shirts. Odds are they'll hear a lot worse in adulthood.

Thats an assumption. Your basically saying that they should just get used to it and shrug it off. If racism was allowed in schools, would it be fair to say that African-Americans "should have thicker skin" and just shrug it off?

 

[Majik1387]

The homosexual students should have thicker skin than being offended by those t-shirts. Odds are they'll hear a lot worse in adulthood.

Homosexual students aren't the only ones who get offended by homophobic idiots.
And the worse anyone will hear is most likely in high school leading into adulthood. I like to think that adults are mature enough to know how to act around people.

 

[StorminNorman]

Yes, but if it is the purpose of school to prepare students for the working world, then it is erroneous where one choose to work after graduating. If that is not allowed in the workplace, it should not be encouraged in school.

Sure, but school is to prepare students for life - not just work. They are taught skills work by having to fit within the rules of the school - since it is obvious that there is no strict dress code in effect there, the students have not broken those rules.

 

[Kritish]

Homosexual students aren't the only ones who get offended by homophobic idiots.
And the worse anyone will hear is most likely in high school leading into adulthood. I like to think that adults are mature enough to know how to act around people.

Really? How many straight people are offended by homophobic remarks? They might think "that guy's a dumb ass" but I doubt they act the same as the Homosexuals themselves.

 

[Kritish]

Thats an assumption. Your basically saying that they should just get used to it and shrug it off. If racism was allowed in schools, would it be fair to say that African-Americans "should have thicker skin" and just shrug it off?

Not the same thing, Blacks have been crapped on by white people for hundreds of years. That isn't the same as a tee shirt that makes fun of gays.

 

[Dark Vigilante]

Not the same thing, Blacks have been crapped on by white people for hundreds of years. That isn't the same as a tee shirt that makes fun of gays.

Yes, but is that to say that gays are not the victims of immense hatred? Is that to say that simply because blacks have been treated unjustly for longer, they are deserving of more rights?

 

[Dark Vigilante]

Sure, but school is to prepare students for life - not just work. They are taught skills work by having to fit within the rules of the school - since it is obvious that there is no strict dress code in effect there, the students have not broken those rules.

There are no strict clothing rules, but there are very strict behavior rules. I think this is a definite infraction of those rules.

And do we not want a life free of intolerance and of understanding? If schools are to prepare us for life, then should we not attempt to use schools to create a better life?

 

[StorminNorman]

There are no strict clothing rules, but there are very strict behavior rules. I think this is a definite infraction of those rules.

Again - these T-Shirts are not incredibly offensive. Especially not the "Straight Alliance" one.

 

[Dark Vigilante]

Again - these T-Shirts are not incredibly offensive. Especially not the "Straight Alliance" one.

Yeah, I know. This example isn't really that severe. I'm speaking in general terms.

 

[Kritish]

Yes, but is that to say that gays are not the victims of immense hatred? Is that to say that simply because blacks have been treated unjustly for longer, they are deserving of more rights?

That t-shirt is not immense hatred. Homosexuals are going to hear a lot worse than what that t-shirt reads through their lives.