# Special needs student can't wear varsity letter jacket. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 28, 2015, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-needs-student-cant-wear-varsity-letter-jacket/716170 "2015-03-28T00:55:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-needs-student-cant-wear-varsity-letter-jacket/716170/1 "2015-03-28T00:55:53Z")
Resolved: That any student should be allowed to wear varsity letter jackets. [Story here.](http://kfor.com/2015/03/27/mother-special-needs-teen-told-he-couldnt-wear-varsity-letters-on-jacket/) A special needs student has been told by his school that he is not allowed to wear the letter jacket that his mother purchased for him because although he plays “special needs” basketball, it is not a sport in which one can earn a letter. Therefore, he is not entitled to wear the letter on his jacket. I believe that the school policy is wrong for the following reasons. 1. Although schools are given a great deal of latitude in determining appropriate dress codes for students, in every case of which I am aware, the clothing objected to was controversial or distracting to other students. In this case, the clothing itself is not being objected to since other students are allowed to wear it. 2. The clothing was paid for by the parents. Unless it is distracting, it should be allowed. To deny the student the opportunity to wear the letter jacket limits his right to freedom of expression without a legitimate societal benefit. Students having “earned” the letter are not having their rights curtailed. 3. No one is harmed by allowing the student to wear the jacket. It does not diminish the recognition of those that “earned” their letters. No one will confuse the effort and ability of the special needs student with those of the varsity team. Unrelated to the reasons above, as a parent, I can’t imagine complaining to the school that a special needs student was wearing a letter jacket that they didn’t “earn”. Shame on them. I’ll refrain from further comment since this isn’t the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-needs-student-cant-wear-varsity-letter-jacket/716170/2 "2015-03-28T01:35:33Z")
I agree with your logic, but there’s one consideration you left out: the letter is an honor with a long tradition. Just letting anybody wear it diminishes it, just like people wearing military medals they didn’t earn. Of course, the two issues are seperated by a huge difference of degree, but the concept is similar. That being said, I do believe in free expression, so I don’t think actual disciplinary action should be taken against the student. But he shouldn’t let his feelings get hurt too bad if other kids remind him that he’s not actually a letterman. Of course, given that he’s special needs, the kids will hopefully just let him wear it and keep their thoughts among themselves. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-needs-student-cant-wear-varsity-letter-jacket/716170/3 "2015-03-28T01:50:03Z")
According to the article, his mother _bought_ the letter. It was not awarded by the school. While I do believe in allowing all students to participate on school teams, I do believe the varsity letter must be earned. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-needs-student-cant-wear-varsity-letter-jacket/716170/4 "2015-03-28T01:53:28Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I agree with your logic, but there’s one consideration you left out: the letter is an honor with a long tradition. Just letting anybody wear it diminishes it, just like people wearing military medals they didn’t earn. The “honor” of it is diminished far more if it’s worn by some douchebag who won’t let a special needs athlete wear it than if it’s worn by the special needs athlete. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-needs-student-cant-wear-varsity-letter-jacket/716170/5 "2015-03-28T01:55:07Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I agree with your logic, but there’s one consideration you left out: the letter is an honor with a long tradition. Just letting anybody wear it diminishes it, just like people wearing military medals they didn’t earn. Of course, the two issues are seperated by a huge difference of degree, but the concept is similar. I believe that it is only illegal to represent oneself as a medal winner and not simply wearing the medal. There is also a longstanding tradition of allowing one’s girlfriend to wear one’s jacket. Presumably that would be against the rules as well. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-needs-student-cant-wear-varsity-letter-jacket/716170/6 "2015-03-28T01:55:18Z")
Wow, what a bunch of Jerks. ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-needs-student-cant-wear-varsity-letter-jacket/716170/7 "2015-03-28T02:02:03Z")
The letter must be earned. I wouldn’t feel any different if it wasn’t a special-needs individual. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-needs-student-cant-wear-varsity-letter-jacket/716170/8 "2015-03-28T02:05:27Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > According to the article, his mother _bought_ the letter. It was not awarded by the school. > > While I do believe in allowing all students to participate on school teams, I do believe the varsity letter must be earned. Yes it was purchased by the mother. That’s one of the reasons why that I believe that the student should be allowed to wear it. If I buy clothing for my child and it is not disruptive, the school shouldn’t make my child take it off. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-needs-student-cant-wear-varsity-letter-jacket/716170/9 "2015-03-28T02:05:46Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > The letter must be earned. I wouldn’t feel any different if it wasn’t a special-needs individual. I would, but only a little. It’s hard to think of something less important than whether someone is wearing a varsity letter they didn’t earn. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-needs-student-cant-wear-varsity-letter-jacket/716170/10 "2015-03-28T02:08:55Z")
Here’s a quote from the mother in the linked article: > [@](#): > > It’s not just my son. It’s every student that was out there last night. It’s every student that’s there on Fridays, that plays their hardest and to the best of their capability, regardless what that is. Should every student get on the academic Honor Roll, as long as they study their hardest, and to the best of their capability? ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-needs-student-cant-wear-varsity-letter-jacket/716170/11 "2015-03-28T02:11:17Z")
For the benefit of non-American readers, what is : -A letter jacket? -A varsity team? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-needs-student-cant-wear-varsity-letter-jacket/716170/12 "2015-03-28T02:11:32Z")
Do I give a shit if every kid goes out and buys a Nation Honor Society merit badge? No, I do not. If your achievement is not sufficient honor for you, if you have to keep others from looking like they have the same achievement, that’s a moral failing on your part, not theirs. ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-needs-student-cant-wear-varsity-letter-jacket/716170/13 "2015-03-28T02:14:21Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > Yes it was purchased by the mother. That’s one of the reasons why that I believe that the student should be allowed to wear it. If I buy clothing for **my child** and it is not disruptive, the school shouldn’t make **my child** take it off. Eek. Your child has to earn a letter otherwise it is meaningless and you are doing your child a disservice by showing your child that achievements don’t have to be earned but bought by your child’s mommy and daddy. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-needs-student-cant-wear-varsity-letter-jacket/716170/14 "2015-03-28T02:14:29Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Do I give a shit if every kid goes out and buys a Nation Honor Society merit badge? No, I do not. If your achievement is not sufficient honor for you, if you have to keep others from looking like they have the same achievement, that’s a moral failing on your part, not theirs. Nobody should be able to _buy_ honors and awards. Otherwise, they become meaningless. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-needs-student-cant-wear-varsity-letter-jacket/716170/15 "2015-03-28T02:17:34Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Here’s a quote from the mother in the linked article: > > Should every student get on the academic Honor Roll, as long as they study their hardest, and to the best of their capability? IMO, no. However, if I go to the store and purchase a T-shirt that says “Honor Roll Student”, I wouldn’t expect the school to make my child take it off. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-needs-student-cant-wear-varsity-letter-jacket/716170/16 "2015-03-28T02:19:00Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > For the benefit of non-American readers, what is : > > -A letter jacket? > > -A varsity team? Varsity team. American high schools typically have several levels of players ranked by skill. Usually a freshman team, junior varsity and varsity. Varsity teams are the “official” school team, the others are development. Varsity athletes are awarded a letter, a cloth letter(first letter of school name) to sew on a [special jacket](http://www.boonsboroboosters.com/PDFs/images/royalvarsityjacket.jpg) in school colors. Usually a small patch thatsignifys the sport is included. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-needs-student-cant-wear-varsity-letter-jacket/716170/17 "2015-03-28T02:20:48Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > Eek. Your child has to earn a letter otherwise it is meaningless and you are doing your child a disservice by showing your child that achievements don’t have to be earned but bought by your child’s mommy and daddy. I agree and I don’t necessarily agree with the mother’s actions. I disagree with the school’s actions. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-needs-student-cant-wear-varsity-letter-jacket/716170/18 "2015-03-28T02:39:04Z")
The special needs student in question can’t earn the letter since the school does not have athletic teams for special needs students. I’m betting it feels pretty shitty to be a special education student. You’re segregated away in special classes. You can’t join any of the sports teams. You’ll never be one of the cool kids in the Homecoming Court or in student council. Try as you might, you don’t really fit in. But at LEAST you can show your school spirit by wearing a jacket. Letters are bullshit. At my school, the performing arts students could get letterman jackets just like the varsity athletes as long as they paid the $75 for it. A letter wasn’t indicative of anything but whose parents had money to waste on a garish status symbol. The same with those shitty rings. Approximately 20% of the waste shipped off to the landfills in the US every year is comprised of old letterman jackets abandoned right after HS graduation.\* Anyone who gets worked up over stuff like this is just as pathetic as that Rob Lowe character in that hilarious DirectTV commercial. \*I made this statistic up. But it sounds about right, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-needs-student-cant-wear-varsity-letter-jacket/716170/19 "2015-03-28T02:44:51Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Nobody should be able to _buy_ honors and awards. Otherwise, they become meaningless. Yes, a letter jacket is meaningless. I agree. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-needs-student-cant-wear-varsity-letter-jacket/716170/20 "2015-03-28T02:46:33Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > The special needs student in question can’t earn the letter since the school does not have athletic teams for special needs students. > > I’m betting it feels pretty shitty to be a special education student. You’re segregated away in special classes. **You can’t join any of the sports teams.** Where I coach, special needs students can join school teams provided they can do the sport. (Wheelchairs just don’t work well on a muddy grass field or track) I coach cross-country and track and both teams have a no-cut policy. I don’t know about the other teams. The coaches award the letters and are free to the students as are the sport pins/patches that go with the letters. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-needs-student-cant-wear-varsity-letter-jacket/716170.md?page=2)