When I was in high school, I was suspended multiple times for not following oppressive rules the school system made, which I will outline. First, our school made rules on a whim in the middle of the year about wearing shirts with a backwords R on them, as some idiot on the board thought it to be satanic. Much of the student body protested by wearing Toys R Us shirts. We were suspended. Some parents filed a lawsuit, and the suspensions were repealed and the rule repealed. Then, in the same ignorant way, skulls were not legal. The same thing happened. Then they made a rule that there were to be no shirts depicting blood on them, unless they depict the crucifixion. Some friends and I wore a shirt that I won't describe that show another version of the crucifixion, and were suspended. The same thing happened. Then, 911 happened and there was a call to pledge to the flag in the mornings, which of coarse, before, was skipped by all. They announced that any student that doesn't stand and salute would be suspended. We didn't and they did. This time, the parents wanted their kids just to do it, but we were being oppressed. There was a semi drawn out war and finally my mother stepped in, as she is a member of the board of education, and threatened a lawsuit against the school. Again, the suspensions were repealed and such.
The point is, what is it that makes the school system so oppressive and people so ignorant. The constitution holds the right to assemble, protest, promotes the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion, yet these were all rights that the school system set out to break. Do our children need rules set to brainwash and make them follow what other people believe, or do they need to understand rights and understand that free thinking is an important part of what makes us the greatest country? I will still not stand and pledge, and how the supreme court has upheld the mention of god in the pledge is beyond me, and personally think it is grounds to dis bar the justices who voted to let it stand, but sometimes, that's what we need to do. Question authority, hold people accountable, and strive to end oppressive rules and behaviors everywhere. Even if you are a christian, does anybody think schools should be able to require certain things of students that are unconstitutional, or do we want to promote free thinking and absolute understanding and the application of our rights. Anybody else have experiences from Tallahassee, please, share because the school system I speak of (Marlington Local Schools, Alliance, Ohio) is about 1200 miles away, so I doubt anyone was with me during this scherade.
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8 comments:
We had similiar rules at my school about clothing. Even though I disagreed, I understood how some people would be offended so I respected it that.
I am all about free speech, right to assemble and protest and whatever floats your boat. I think if anyone seriously tries interfere with that right you should do everything in your power to stop it. But was not being able to wear one of your tshirts to school really a big deal?...to the point you felt the need to buck the system? Your school was a little over the top but I don't think on that matter they were trying to oppresses the students.
I understand where you're coming from on the pledge. You don't believe in God so why would you say 'one nation under God' and I think you should protest if anyone tries to make you say those words.
But the pledge isn't all about religion. It's more about the great country we live in. No matter what religion you are, no matter what you believe, you live in this country and benefit from priviledges that other people fought for you to have. You could have atleast stood up, recited the words for 5 seconds, leaving out the ones you didn't believe.
As I said in a previous post to you, I can completely relate. And for a country that is as I mentioned before, a melting pot of other religions and cultures, having people pledge to god is outdated. What about those from other religions? You cannot force these people to stand and pledge to something that they do not believe in. Even the founding fathers of this nation, as in the lecture outlines given by Mr. Quinnell, had their doubts about god. So who are we to say that they have to?
That also leads to the mention of school clothes, while I am for uniforms for various reasons, if you are in a school that does not use uniforms, you cannot tell them what they can and cannot wear due to religion. Just like the R backwards. I am not Christian, why should I, or any Buddhist, Muslim, Wiccan, or Confusianist have to follow that rule? If that be the case, then any Jew can also say, seeing a tee shirt with Christ nailed to wood is offensive to them.
The most trouble I had to go through was mainly due in part to my sexuality. Being a bisexual in the bible belt has its troubles. On more then one occasion did they try to suspend me, and another girl by the name of Amy, because we were, "a threat."
"Every Knee Will Bow".. In a world that thirst for knowledge, I challenge you JD and Lindsay, to find the meaning and the source of that quote. As we decide te stand up for things I think it would be most noble for us as people to stand up for things that really matter. Many people don't even have the means to eat,drink, have clothes for their back or shoes for their feet, not a house to live in, or survive, yet we in America under that flag, have the never to complain about what clothes we can wear to school. How Petty are our though's America How Petty. Are we to have our scholl system overwhelmed be such trival things. You did win in you Quest JD, you only proved that our school system have limited time and funds. Your rebellion to authority only hindered someones chance for a better education. Perhaps you and I can truly come up with something that will really help those who are less fortunate then you are. Society have rules and laws to govern them to keep order and to portect it's people, even for your own safety. Lindsay "God" can never be out dated, "He is the Alpha and Omega." Most often then not, when the young are rebellious against authority, they are rebelling against their parent or parents for some reason. Find the source so you can deal with whatever it is.
Lamar Turner this is a really good comment. I'm very glad you said it.
The Supreme Court has clearly ruled that minors do not have the full rights that adults do, particularly in schools. Generally speaking, many school districts will go as far as they think is right -- or as far as they want to -- until someone pushes back. Once parents come in with threats about lawsuits, schools frequently back down. And the Supreme Court has explicitly said that a student can't be required to say the Pledge. As with most rights, though, people regularly violate those rights and they get away with it unless someone fights back through the courts.
Everyone listens when it hits them in the pocket, the school system is not immune this fact.
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