1. "On the other hand, it does seem to me that we need our young people to stir things up and protest the status quo."

Isn't part of protesting the status quo getting in trouble for it? If you don't get in trouble for it, is it really the status quo?

Posted at 11:55AM on May 13th 2008 by Meagan

2. I don't know that schools are the proper place for children to be stirring things up. College is another area entirely, but we can't complain on the one hand that schools are not teaching our children and then encourage them to be disruptive and stir the pot on the other.

I adore uniforms. I would have hated them as a child, but as a teacher, parent, and now substitute teacher, I only have positive things to say about requiring children to wear uniforms. I've had both the traditional polyester/plaid type and the type that is really a strict dress code (khaki or navy bottoms/ solid color collared shirt).

The student in question could have worn a wristband, a bracelet, even written on the outside of her notebook, but it is not necessary for her to violate dress code to express her religious beliefs (or any other expression).

Posted at 12:02PM on May 13th 2008 by Karen

3. I wore uniforms and didn't care one bit. It made things much easier for me in the morning. If I wanted someone to know what my beliefs were, I could wear a pin, a necklace, put something on my bag, etc. Or maybe I could just freaking say what I believed. I don't mean to sound overly harsh, but this girl's rights were not infringed - she's either lazy or lacks imagination.

Posted at 3:57PM on May 13th 2008 by CLM

4. This is complete and utter nonsense. The school has a dress code - like thousands of other schools accross the country. If she doesn't like participating int he dress code, she should talk with her parents. If they don't like it they can enroll her in another school.
The whole idea of kids having a freedom of speech that trumps the steps being taken by a school to create a neutral educational environment is rediculous.

Posted at 6:13PM on May 13th 2008 by DPearson

5. Did I read that right? She has done this and been suspended five times? Sounds to me like she is just making trouble for the sake of making trouble and is using the religious expression angle to get support and attention for herself.

And Karen makes a very good point about how teachers can't teach if they are spending all their time dealing with disruptions like this. Are kids at school to learn or to "protest the status quo?"

My kids wear uniforms to school. Aside from the price of them, I love it for many different reasons.

Posted at 11:32PM on May 13th 2008 by Sherry