Yeah, I can see how many on the SDMB would be happy enough with that, toeing the line while sqeeing “I didnt cross it, I didnt cross” is common here.
For myself, fuck’em. Bunch of knobs went looking to annoy people, now people cry because they were told to fuck off home. Cry me a river.
Disrespect is a terrible thing, not only for those it is directed at, but also for those who are seemingly to be taught that you can convey disrespect, just as long as you toe that line.
They were at school? Good, send them home, they might learn something.
Yes. But the First Amendment rights of students in school are not as extensive as adults in society.
This is why Rhythmdvl’s line, “But in a school environment, the administration has a responsibility to prevent incidents,” is precisely in line with Supreme Court precedent. As the Court said in Tinker, administrators can prohibit expressive conduct that would, if done by an adult, be protected by the First Amendment, if it involves disruption:
So what did you mean when you said, “Not so fast?” It seems to me that Rhythmdvl has accurately stated the Supreme Court holding on the issue.
I wonder if we have all the information or if there’s been some ongoing tension where they felt they needed to intervene. If not, then it’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard.
Even then, so they wore red white and blue to protest …what? Cinco de Mayo? Why didn’t they wear French flags? My guess is they don’t even know the significance of Cinco de Mayo.
Personally I think it’s obvious they were protesting a Mexican holiday because they have a problem with Mexicans, but that’s because I don’t have all the details yet.
But conduct by the student, in class or out of it, which for any reason - whether it stems from time, place, or type of behavior - materially disrupts classwork or involves substantial disorder or invasion of the rights of others is, of course, not immunized by the constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech.
This is where lawyers get rich. Personally, I’m not seeing how their behavior or dress materially disrupts (no pun intended, I’m sure) classwork, since the “incident” occured during a brunch break. There was indication in the article of any “disorder,” either. Seems like there is the basis for a valid lawsuit with a healthy chance of winning.
As a recent “emigre” to San Antonio, Texas, I was surprised as to how muted the Cinco de Mayo celebrations were. I actually heard more about the holiday in Knoxville, TN.
There was no punishment. If the students had returned to school in different clothes, I’m confident they would have been allowed back into classes that day.
[/nitpick]
I have a feeling that these 5 students are not at the top of the class for academic achievements. I’m thinking that the acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree, or something like that.
Really?
That’s what they were doing? :dubious:
Expressing their individuality by getting together and dressing alike? :rolleyes:
What’s next? Expressing their creativity through demolitions work? Revealing their compassion for animals by clubbing baby seals? Maybe showing support for gays by crashing the Gay Pride Parade with a burning effigy of Matt Shepard?
And I agree with olives: it sucks that these people can now try and play the victim to a national audience, when the truth is they are just douchebags.
While not likely, they may also have a problem with the political correctness in the school administration, as well. They may have anticipated an (over)reaction by the school staff.
Also: I received a recent mass-chain-email going around showing the image similar to the one shown here:
Probably prompted by the newly resurrected immigration debates.
This type of email may prompt young and (overly) enthusiastic students to stage their own counter protest.
The only people who would get rich off your scenario are the various lawyers. Schools don’t need to wait until a disruption happens; they can take steps to ensure that the disruption they see coming never happens.
Funny thing is, if you know anything about Montebello High, there might be one or two Hispanics enrolled there. Plenty of ethnic Indians and Chinese, though.
But then they have to defend their decision. With the district not backing them, it looks bad for the VP.
Look, I teach. The entire school is a “disruption I see coming.” Unless the VP saw a growing mob of pissed-off Mexicans about to jump the flag-wearers, I don’t think he has a case for “potential disruption.” YMMV. Inevitably we will get more data that shows everybody in this thread to be wrong.
Yeah. I was trying to find a relatively neutral website to pull the image off of.
Google says Whittier High, where something similar happened, is 86% Hispanic. But the only image I can find is on uncomfortably partisan website. My google-foo is weak.
Dude, since you teach, I find it hard to believe that you haven’t seen all the stories over the years about people sent home for pink or blue or green hair, for mohawk hair cuts, for piercings, for shirts with slogans that the school admins didn’t like, etc.
All of those stories are just from the past 7 years. Schools have HUGE leeway to decide what is and what is not appropriate attire and behaviour for school grounds. I cannot recall once reading a case where the school was later taken to task for it’s actions in these or any other similar cases.
That’s exactly what they’re saying on the Hannity forums.
It’s sad that their assertion that this is what Liberals want makes me feel the need to defend the school’s actions. Shit, I’m a Liberal and, like most here, I think the school is suffering from some serious recto-cranial inversion.
It seems he was saying that the First Amendment does NOT apply in school at all. If I was wrong, I appologize, but that is the impression I got. Also, I don’t think wearing an American flag shirt to school is “being an asshole.”
(Note: I’m not saying that THESE particular kids aren’t assholes, or that they weren’t doing so to BE assholes. But, the school was still wrong, and they had every right to wear an American flag shirt to school that day. Even if they were being dicks.)
