STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

halleybird · Hermes

"Anti-Flag"

cc · Marc Jacobs

Wow, I would never think that someone could get in trouble for wearing an Anti-Flag shirt. I'm not that familiar with the band but I know they are anti-establishment/government, yet I can't really see that phrase upsetting people, much less to the extent that it was dispruptive. There are a lot of bands with much more offensive names. On the other hand I also went to Catholic schools where we weren't allowed to wear anything with writing on it, even on dress-down days, so part of me thinks maybe schools should just institute no writing/images on clothes to avoid these things. I do feel bad for that kid though, especially other students are running around in ripped jeans.

Andrea Julia · Coach

quote:
Originally posted by: halleybird
"very long story made short: I got in trouble a few months ago for failing to "dress code" a kid who was wearing a shirt that read "Anti-Flag" (it's a band...admin claimed they could dress code him because it was "upsetting" others). The next day, the kid wore a homemade shirt that read "Anti-Flag is not Anti-American. It is anti-war, anti-establishment, anti-capitalism" etc. When I told the admin that they couldn't dress-code him (which is true, under Tinker v. Des Moines, a case I teach every damn year -- you can't dress code a kid for political beliefs unless it "substantially" disrupts the school say), they decided to dress-code him for "ripped sleeves." Now, ripped clothing is technically against the dress code, but you don't see many Abercrombie-looking kids getting dress coded for their ripped jeans -- clearly, this kid was dress coded for wearing that shirt. Obviously, there's nothing I can do now. But what are your thoughts on this? The kid was very upset, and so was I. In fact, I think about this a lot. I know we have a lot of differing viewpoints on this forum, so what are your thoughts? Is the term Anti-Flag disruptive?"

I do agree with you, halleybird. I agree that he should be able to wear that shirt. I don't understand who would be "disrupted" by it. I couldn't imagine when I was in high school being disrupted or offended by something that someone would wear. Being offended by a shirt like that sounds like something a whiny old woman would do, not other students.

However, I think they have the right to "dress code" him if it specifically says in the school rules that this type of shirt is not allowed. I think in order to be consistent and to resist protest, they should also "dress code" the kids who are wearing ripped Abercrombie clothing. It would be very easy for this kid to wear something else. I don't know why he was upset. He was clearly trying to stir something up when he wore the "Anti-Flag is not Anti-American" shirt.

Hermes

I agree with your thinking completely, halleybird. what I would do, is evertime you see a ripped article of clothing on a student report them for dress code violation - it will keep the admin's hands so full they won't have time to focus on a politically themed shirt.

doveanunu · Dooney & Bourke

Grrr. This makes me so mad. I used to get harassed by the high school administration all the time....not b/c I broke the dress code but just b/c I dressed different. Once I was sent home b/c, as the administrator told me, I wasn't breaking a dress code rule, per say, but she just didn't like my outfit. hmmm...fashion police much? They just didn't want the school's reputation to be tarnished by any non-preppy looking students. They even told my friends and I that we couldn't stand in the front area of the building because we gave the school a bad image. It burns me up right now just thinking of it!!!!!

Mia · Kate Spade

quote:
It would be very easy for this kid to wear something else. I don't know why he was upset. He was clearly trying to stir something up when he wore the "Anti-Flag is not Anti-American" shirt. "

Only if you conflate "stating beliefs" with "trying to stir something up". Good for him for standing up to the arbitrary and biased enforcement of a rule.

doveanunu - Wow, that surprises me - the way your school treated you. Isn't that like begging to be sued?

Elle · Hermes

This makes me so angry - The administration is clearly taking the 'dress code' too far. This started happening at my school, too - it was worse in Jr. High than in Highschool. In Jr. High we couldn't wear hats, coats, backpacks, chains, studs, large rings, red or blue hats, etc, etc. I personally believe that the severe restriction of students for no apparent reason (as in Halleybird's case) can drive kids to be rebellious and disrespectful, just to 'rage against the machine'.

halleybird · Hermes

The bottom line is that he wasn't being dresscoded for ripped clothing - he was being dresscoded for an unpopular belief.

Oh, and I think I forgot to mention that he was wearing ripped pants at the time this happened (he wears them, like, every day, actually). The asst. principal didn't even mention the pants either time he was dress-coded.

Ally S · Kate Spade

It's so wrong when kid's aren't allowed to express themselves through a lousy t-shirt, especially one with a band's logo on it.

If ripped clothing is not allowed I would point out just how many kids are wearing torn jeans, etc. If logo shirts are in question that they go after each kid that has any logo/store brand, etc. on their shirt or jackets.

My daughter would have been expelled out of this school a long time ago, she is definitely into the newer punk scene and has a very wide collection of these sort of shirts as well as some others with some funny or double entendre sayings on them.

On a side note, I really like Anti Flag's music, they are quite talented.

RyanJ · Coach

quote:
Originally posted by: Andrea Julia
"I don't know why he was upset. He was clearly trying to stir something up when he wore the "Anti-Flag is not Anti-American" shirt. "

Yes, he probably was trying to stir something up by wearing his "Anti-Flag is not Anti-American"after he was made him change his shirt. THat was because the administraion were being totally unfair. I am huge Anti-Flag fan. I love their music, but couldn't disagree more with their political beliefs. If I were to wear one of their shirts it would be to promote the band- not their political agenda- which I realize that would probably happened anyway, but that would not be my intention. Even if his Anit-Flag shirt was promoting his political beliefs that does not mean that he should have to take it off because someone finds it offense. Does that mean it is acceptable for me to be "offended" by a shirt that is promoting John Kerry and make someone take their shirt off? No,that is ridiculous. I think he did the right thing by wearing his home made shirt the next day. Sorry if this is a little scattered, this pisses me off. I try to stay away from this section of the board, but sometimes I take a look.

-- Edited by RyanJ at 19:52, 2005-01-12

halleybird · Hermes

On a side note, we always end our daily broadcasts with music (the choice of whoever's editing tape that day). Whenever this kid edits, he plays Anti-Flag. It's hilarious, because the administrators and the stuffy teachers have no idea what band is playing (and if you've heard their music, it's kind of hard to make out actual words ) . I probably shouldn't let him do this, but I do I guess it's quite punk of me, LOL. If I had more time and more gusto, I would probably take this up with the Student Press Law Center or the ACLU, because it really does bother me.