the second article... the one with the t-shirt in the school... i guess that really comes down to that individual school's rules.

as far as my experience in public school, school was a time for learning (*cough*), not personal statements. i dont remember there being an official dress code, but... you couldn't have certain things pierced, the girls couldn't wear belly shirts, you couldn't wear baseball hats during tests...

it wasn't an "oppression of freedom," like everything is currently being made out to be.

i read a longer article on the case above where the principal felt it was in the best interest for the kid to remove the shirt, because the principal wanted to avoid a buncha political nonsense (imagine this thread in person ... in math class!) as well as aggressive political situations.

i dont see sucha big fault in that. the same probably woulda happened if someone wore a "terrorist jesus" shirt.

it doesn't have to be political.

hell, when i went to grammar school, any kid who wore a spuds mackenzie ('member him?) shirt was told to take it off, turn it inside out, or go home, because the school didn't want kids to be wearing things related to beer.

sadly, this is now the kinda case that would be settled in courts, rather than with just calm heads and clear thoughts.