Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for December 3, 2008 PICK YOUR BATTLES

Would have been a lot less "disruptive" to have let the kids wear their jackets. The "distraction" would have been over within the week. Now, the district is in headlines across the country...

Oh, well...some administrators feel a need to "prove" their position and power.

School principal says oversize photo distracting, violates dress code

Tanya Marshall holds a jacket bearing a picture of President-elect Barack Obama next to the type of coat her two junior high school sons usually wear to school. Marshall was told her sons could not wear their new Obama jackets at Pineville Junior High School because they are too distracting.

By Karina Donica

PINEVILLE — The mother of two students, barred from class after wearing jackets featuring a photo of President-elect Barack Obama, said she wants school officials to explain how the clothing violates the campus dress code.

Pineville Junor High's principal says the same guidelines have been applied for years against oversize photos on students' clothing.

Tanya Marshall said she was surprised to learn her children were not allowed to be in the classroom Monday because the clothing was deemed too distracting for school.

Marshall said her three children got the jackets over the Thanksgiving holiday from an uncle who is serving in Iraq. They feature an American flag and the face of Obama.

Her child who attends Pineville High did not get in trouble for wearing the jacket to that school.

Marshall finds the junior high’s stand disappointing. “Our country has been through a lot. We have over 4,500 troops who’ve died in the war, and it’s just wrong to tell them they can’t wear a jacket” in honor of the country, Marshall said. “I really believe my kids’ rights are being violated.”

Marshall spoke to Pineville Junior High Principal Columbus Goodman over the phone and later met with him, but according to the mother, it was to no avail. “I did not get an answer as to why” the jackets are distracting, she said, adding that she plans to appeal the decision to the parish school superintendent.

Goodman said the decision to ask the students to remove or replace the jackets while in school has nothing to do with violating the students’ rights; it’s a matter of following the school’s dress code.

According to Rapides schools' student code of conduct, “printing, emblems and/or insignia ... whose interpretations by school officials are considered to be disruptive, vulgar or to have double meaning will not be worn.”

At issue with these jackets, Goodman said, is the size of the photo being displayed. It covers the entire back of the jacket.

Goodman said the same guidelines have been applied for years against oversize photos on jackets or on any other outfits worn by students.

“We are about education, and the bottom line is that something was distracting. It has nothing to do with any other issues” that may be raised, Goodman said.

The school has specific dress-down days about three or four times a year during which students have more leeway in how they dress, he said. Any other time, however, he said, his job as principal is to be consistent with the school guidelines.

“It has nothing to do with the president, it’s just a picture."

Marshall said she is trying to understand the principal’s concerns, but the code of conduct is vague on the issue and is not being applied to all students the same way.

“I would understand fully if there was something on the jackets symbolizing gang-related stuff, drugs or violence,” Marshall said. “I read the handbook before I even allowed them to wear the jackets. It doesn’t say that they can’t wear a picture of the American flag (and president-elect) to support our troops in war.”