Where did our rights as Americans go?

Question

When are people going to realise that Americans have rights under the constitution. If it is a public place we as Americans have public rights. Schools are one of the examples. Yes, public schools can set out a dress code, code of conduct and such. There is a fine line though. Many schools do not realise that rules have to be obeyed by all faculty,staff and administrators as well as students. How can you set the example if you are not doing the same? okay....so this is the scoop...
My youngest is going through this phase where he wears black polish and eyeliner. He is a very good student, respectible, causes no problems. Today one of his teachers did not like the fact he was wearing eyeliner so, she reported it to the vice principal who in turn spoke with my son. He asked him to wash it off cause it was a distraction. I disagree. I spoke with the principal and told him that he had to make staff, school officals as well as all other students stop wearing it as well.

He claimed it was disruptive, not appropriate. I agrued with him mentioning my son is a good student. Expressing himself is a way for him to grow. We could not agree and I explained I will and have contacted NCLU. For god sakes I am American and it is a public school. Even kids have rights. Do you think I was right defending my son? Lemme know what you think.

I forgot to mention he also claimed it was gang related not that he was acussing my son because he knows he is a good student. He just disagreed with my son wearing eyeliner and felt it is disruptive. Disruptive but, to who? Him?

Answer 1

Do you have rules in your house that your son has to obey but you don't? Do you go to bed the same time he does? Is he allowed to have a cocktail in the evening if he wants? Can he have a girlfriend sleep over in his bed? Having to obey rules is a part of life. It trains you for the real world, where you're going to have to stand on your own two feet and make a living that will enable you to support yourself. That's the whole point of going to school! The school doesn't give a rat's rear-end about his self-expression. That's not their job. He can run around the house looking like Marilyn Manson on YOUR time, not the taxpayers.

Answer 2

I disagree with you contacting the ACLU. While I believe that you have every right to question school policy. The ACLU has no business getting involved here.

I would be interested in knowing about the school that your son attends. Is it conservative? In a large city? Freedom of expression varies wildly based on where you live.

I live in LA, and my daughter is not allowed to wear a hat at school. The reason is that it could be considered gang related, and as such has been banned. When I was in Oregon for several years, there was no such issue.

One of your comments was "....rules have to be obeyed by all faculty, staff.........." Were there male faculty members wearing black polish and eyeliner? If so, you have a valid claim. If not, you have no basis for your argument.

There is a time and a place for making changes, and using your son as a martyr is neither. Get involved with the board of the school, or the PTA, and make your case there.

In the mean time, accept the principal's decision, and move on with your life. I don't advocate rolling over and saying nothing, only taking your argument to the right people, in the proper forum.

Good Luck!!

Answer 3

I went through the same thing as your son did. After columbine happened I took a lot of abuse as well. I was actually attacked by another student after that incident and on many days on the anniversery of columbine had to be escorted home by the police for my safety.

I was expelled my senior year for 'offending minority students' by wearing a bindi dot...

I was constantly suspended for 'violating the dress code' When my mother went to the school to get a copy of the dress code...she was told by the principal that he wanted a higher quality of students at his school...and I was no longer welcome.

Needless to say, I always got good grades, never really got into too much trouble etc.

Diversity is something that Americans claim to embrace. But anyone different is not embrace. They're put up for example.

Paranoia is patroitic.

Answer 4

Oh my, so the staff and school officials wear black eyeliner and nail polish!

Where exactly is this colourful little school house located, love to see this?

Answer 5

Tell your son to go to school with makeup on tomorrow. When his teacher tells him to wash it off tell him to tell his teacher that he is wearing black eyeliner to mourn the dead soldiers killed in Iraq. Tell him to also tell his teacher that he will continue to wear black eyeliner every day that a soldier is killed. This way he can wear black makeup every day until he graduates.

Answer 6

I'm on your side.