CNN reports that a Michigan student was given the choice of removing an anti-Bush shirt or going home.
So rather than talking to the boy and having a rational dialog about why Bush is not an international terrorist and why it's absurd to compare the president of the United States with the dictator of Iraq, the so-called "educators" at the school merely amplify the boy's message by sending him home and creating a media event.
This kid seems like he could be a promising advocate for reason if only his head weren't so filled with anti-war rhetoric.
Wtf? I find myself agreeing with doug. ;) It's easier to send him home then be accused of indoctrination.
School policies usually do not allow clothing that administrators think might (very broad language) cause a disturbance. I was one of the kids that actually read ever sentence of my school handbook, looking for loopholes. I remember seeing it.
Believe that I got in trouble for something similar? Seems the shirt I was proud to wear b/c i had to drive 3 hours to compete in a Beach Volleyball tourney to get it, had the sponsers on the back of it. One of the sponsers was Molson (no slogans just the name). Our assistant principle was observing our teacher or something. "You can't promote alcohol in school on your clothing" is what he told me. He was going to send me home while in 8th period in my A.P. Calc II class! I'm in the advanced calc class, keeping my nose clean, not skipping class and he wants to send me home in the last period of the day because of a t-shirt? What a dick!
Yes, but if they had had a "dialog" with him about how Bush is not a terrorist, then people would have been offended by their "indoctrination" of him. They would have been considered lapdogs of the Bush administration just as much.
The problem is that when truth is considered a matter of personal belief, then there's no way for the educators to do the right thing in this situation. If they talk to him about why he is wrong with the intention of making him take the shirt off, that's indoctrination; if they simply force him to, that's violating his "civil rights"; if they let it stay, that's "irresponsible" if somebody gets hurt as a result.