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SUMTER, SC (WIS) - A Midlands parent called us about a shirt with President Barack Obama on it, that she says her child was not allowed to wear to his public elementary school.
"He's our first black President of the United States," says fifth-grader Elijah Smith. "It makes me real proud."
Smith was excited to wear his Barack Obama shirt to school Tuesday, but then had second thoughts.
"That morning he stated that he may not be able to wear the shirt," says Elijah's mother Veneica Byrd.
"That's the principal's rules," says Elijah.
Elijah's mother says she immediately called Principal Liz Compton at Sumter's High Hills Elementary School.
"I did speak with Mrs. Compton, and she did state that it would not be a good idea for Elijah to wear the shirt," says Byrd. "I proceeded to ask her why, and she said that she didn't want to cause any conflict. What she really meant by that in details I'm not sure, but she was very vague with her answer."
Personally, I side with the principal. The question isn't whether the shirt is offensive, it's about distraction. The principal's trying to make sure students pay attention to math class, not what some other student's wearing. This election has created strong feelings on both sides, that could make a shirt like this distracting.
I side with the principal. In my opinion I think all schools, public and private, should require school uniforms.
Absolutely, the principal is correct, and I have been an Obama supporter since he started his run.
Schools have every right to eliminate anything that can be disruptive, and living in South Carolina, I can assure you that that shirt would be disruptive and may start a fight. The first amendment does not apply to students in schools.
School uniforms would eliminate the display of a lot of differences, political and otherwise. That is a most excellent idea.
Our local High School forbid students from wearing candidate shirts. Whats wrong with that?
Candidate? He's the damned President of the United States. Absent a requirement for school uniforms, wearing a shirt with the image of the President of the United States is clearly free expression as numerous decisions by the Supreme Court amply point out.
Dress codes are great when theyre executed correctly. Our district has strongly opposed a wide dress code policy because the "test school" abused the dress code/uniform in question. They made it impossibly difficult to obtain the clothes (especially in a very rural and poorer area) and there were so many rules, the teachers became more worried about critisizing every little thing about what students are wearing, rather than teaching. It turned many people against the policy, including myself. Uniforms are great for schools that can handle it and have some common sense, around here thats not common.
I doubt that this is politicallty motivated in any way. I'm sure they do not allow "I Love W" shirts either. Such things are not approriate for school attire any more than a shirt with a pot leaf on it.
Personally, I side with the principal. The question isn't whether the shirt is offensive, it's about distraction. The principal's trying to make sure students pay attention to math class, not what some other student's wearing. This election has created strong feelings on both sides, that could make a shirt like this distracting.
What?
He is the President of the United States. How is the shirt a distraction? The district doesn't have a uniform policy, so what the kid wanted to wear is within the school district dress code. I highly doubt someone wearing an Obama shirt is going to distract a kid away from focusing on Math. I had Math class the day I wore my Obama shirt this week, and you know, it was no different than any other day.
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