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A seventh-grade girl from Merced, Calif., has filed a lawsuit against her K-8 school for being forced to change out of her pro-life T-shirt.It was "National Pro-Life T-Shirt Day" (who knew?) and the girl didn't even get to finish her breakfast before being sent to the principal's office. Tossing that breakfast corn dog into the trash can was probably the best part of her day, because after that she was "forcibly escorted" to the office and told to change her shirt, which had some pictures of developing fetuses (feti?) on it, along with the charming slogan "Abortion growing ... growing ... gone."
She thinks her rights to freedom of speech were violated; the school says the shirt would have been disruptive towards the learning process.
A federal judge in Minnesota has already ruled that students should be able to wear pro-life slogans, but what do you think? Should pro-life or pro-choice propaganda be allowed in schools?
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Tuesday 07 July
By Liza
I'm a seventh grade teacher and I don't think people really think about how something as simple as a t-shirt is an excuse for kids to wreak havoc all day long. Yes, this girl has rights to express whatever views she chooses, however, the t-shirt in question would definitely have caused debate, at best, and possibly physical confrontations among the students in her building. School, when last I checked, was a place to learn and grow. It shouldn't become a politically charged soap box for any issue. If the administrators thought the shirt would be disruptive to the learning environment, that's good enough reason for the child not to wear it to school.
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Friday 19 February
By Gisele Hinderer
How many children came to your class (school) during the last election wearing Obama pictured shirts..??
Friday 24 July
By The Truth
This is another example of the hypthetical thinking. We think there COULD be a problem, so lets just make sure we violate someone's rights.
Isnt this America? If voilence and disruption were so likely, we would already have laws prohibiting shirts with text and logos. It seems that we dont care unless they support a view that we do not.
Many folks pride themselves on being openminded but when faced with the fact that a child is ALIVE and GROWING when the sperm and egg meet, they decide that 'viability' is the deciding factor. No child is viable, if left to their own devices and without shelter most children under 5years old would die. Its not viability, its the fact that people want to have sex and then be able to kill their offspring if they are not successfull at preventing the pregnancy in the first place. Dont hide behind "the mother might die" or "it was rape/incest" those cases are entirely different and microscopic part of what really goes on.
Killing someone is against the law. Why is it legal to kill an unborn child?
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Saturday 27 February
By DCarey2792
The Truth, that is your opion regarding abortion. You are entitled to that. However, the subject is whether or not this T-Shirt would violate her rights of freedom of speech.
The 7th grader in question is entitled to her freedom of speech. However, she is not entitled to disrupt the learning process.
This T-Shirt would definitely been disruptive to the learning environment. The subject is very volitile on both sides. Many people have strong feelings on either side of the subject.
That is why all children should be required to wear uniforms to school. Then there would not be occassion for this T-Shirt to be worn to school. It should be worn in her free time, after school.
Friday 19 February
By kausner
i don't get it either.
if a robber shoots and kills a baby (fetus?) in the womb, he is charged with murder of the baby.
If a doctor aborts and kills a fetus (baby?) he is within the law.
and why do woman who are pregnant talk to and sing to the fetus (baby?)if it is not alive?? I don't get it.
Friday 19 February
By Dawn Saciolo
People who think aborting a fetus (or not) is anybodies business but their own, should really shut up. If someone repeatedly raped their daughter after going on a murdering spree & got her pregnant......... I wonder if they would feel the same way?
Friday 19 February
By amanda w
I believe that a lot of people are missing the point. Any t-shirt that is deemed "provocative" in the middle school where I teach is banned. This includes t-shirts that promote guns (argument- why should a student not believe that their parent's should be able to own and carry a gun?) sexually charged t-shirts (argument- why should my sexual choices be an issue for public debate (both pro-sex and anti-sex, pro-birth-control, anti-birth-control, etc.), and the like. Students are not permitted to wear lewd or inappropriate clothing- period. When a subject matter is too emotional for other students and staff members, promotion of that topic- via t-shirt or class discussion, is hindered. We do not discuss abortion rights in the classroom in seventh grade. We also do not discuss religion, sexual orientation (unless it relates to lessons on tolerance or bullying) or political views (unless they are discussed in the safety of a debate). The rights of both the students and the faculty are violated when one student is permitted to publicly and constantly air his or her opinion all day long by wearing a t-shirt. Schools should not deny an individuals right to believe one thing or another, but they MUST protect the rights of the majority by curbing individuals who use the educational system as a venue in which they offend other's sovereign rights.
Thursday 18 February
By mbjisajjfan
Why do parents use their children to advertise their position on things? There is no 7th grader that would even be concerned about abortion unless maybe she was pregnant.
Anybody that was ever in middle school knows that this surely would cause a commotion.
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Friday 19 February
By Robin
There are 7th graders that are very alert and do care what goes on in our world. These children have not been "dumbed down" and are caring individuals. They are also old enough to know the difference between right and wrong.
By the way, weren't we all dressing ourselves at that age? I know I was and even if my parents bought me an outfit/shirt doesn't mean that I actually wore it. It was my choice what to wear each day. If I didn't like something, I didn't wear it- end of story.
So, don't necessarily blame the parents. Our children are exposed to the news by TV, internet and SCHOOL - and they have opinions of their own.
Friday 19 February
By vin
Maybe this is the problem.
Friday 19 February
By treega
So if a 7th grader (or any aged school child for that matter) wore a pro-Obama t-shirt, or any other t-shirt for that matter that expressed their preference or belief, would it be considered "disruptive to learninbg"?!!
The issue here is not really even abortion (which is an important issue and yes, should be discussed at that level in school since there are so many sexually active middle schoolers these days, and if not, they most likely will be in the near future, so need to think about that issue beforehand), but the real issue is freedom of speech. Sshirts with alcholic beverages should not be allowed because that is illegal for all school aged kids, but in most places sex and abortion are not.
They have to deal with it, so let 'em wear the shirt!!! Let the discussions begin!
Friday 19 February
By Samantha
Free speech-YES. Graphic pics to get people riled up during class-NO
There are many schools that have "dress codes"
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Friday 19 February
By Vin
What if her shirt said " choice" Would they have sent her home?
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Friday 19 February
By vin
If it's a "simple T shirt " that people don't think too much about, how could it possibly cause physical confrontation?
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Friday 19 February
By Eileen Mayhew
Since when is being Pro Life and Anti Abortion "Propaganda?"
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Friday 19 February
By Shawna
This kid obviously has pro life views. So who cares if she wears a shirt that supports it. Who would actually find this offensive? If she supported Haiti relief or the saving of whales then she would be allowed to wear those kinds of t-shirts. What if there are whale and Haitian haters who would be offended? This country has become way to politically correct. What her shirt says should hurt no one. And if it does offend you then maybe you need to look into your heart and figure out why it does.
I can't stand Nickelback, but I can put up with those who wear their shirts. So get over it. :)
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Friday 19 February
By teri
Way to go kid! Protectors of the innocent unborn better wake-up and get in this battle -- the unborn can't do it themselves. Good to know that young people are thinking about these issues and making their voices known. Seventh grade is precisely the age that we start finding our "own voices" in spite of, and often to spite, our parents. Glad to hear this young lady is choosing wisely. Nice story to read on first Friday of Lent as I contemplate my Lord's passion and sacrifice.
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Friday 19 February
By Georgia
I am 100% pro-life and I am also a high school math teacher. I am in favor of students being able to wear shirts that reflect their values &/or political views - within reason. What I mean is, they shouldn't be allowed to wear a shirt that says "Obama is a ********" (you fill in the blank) but they should be able to wear a shirt promoting a T.E.A. party. They should be able to wear the shirt as shown above but they shouldn't wear a shirt that has aborted baby parts in graphic detail on the pictures. The opinions can be expressed (and should be able to be) in reasonable & tasteful ways. Also, as a christian, I ask my students not to say "J-C". Should they complain, I also tell them that they shouldn't say anything that would be offensive to Jewish people, muslim, etc...
Lastly, it's ok to say you're pro-traditional marriage or you believe that homosexuality is wrong, but it's not ok to physically hurt anyone or call them derogatory names. We need to pracitce civility by learning how to agree to disagree and still respect each other's right to their own beliefs.
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Friday 19 February
By trepidition
What happened to the country I love. There has already been supreme court rulings that clearly show this girl is in the right. Since I am a man I have no view on abortion one way or the other, but she has every right to express herself. BRING BACK THE FIRST AMENDMENT!
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Friday 19 February
By Lamby
I could understand her complaint if she was in a highschool, where the kids are older and atleast think they are ready for an opinion on abortion.
But this says her school is K-8, she is a rude little girl and has NO right to walk around other people's young children, in a school, dressed in something that says and shows something a parent may not want their kid to see. And then complain like its some kind of discrimination or she was stripped of her rights, get over it and wear your school-deemed inappropriate clothing anywhere but school.
Children need to understand that there is a dress code at school. You are there to learn what they have to teach, not to make out or pass notes, and talk during class, you're not there to spread your opinion about abortion or anything unrelated to the classroom.
I hate seeing all these "news" articles talking about someone complaing to a school after breaking the school's rules.
Is this girl not capable of learning without fetuses on her clothing?
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