Dos Palos students protest after school forces sophomore to remove American flag

[Lanie]

DOS PALOS -- Students at Dos Palos High School protested Thursday -- by wearing patriotic regalia to school -- after a sophomore student was forced to remove a T-shirt depicting the American flag.

Officials at the Merced County school confirmed Thursday that Jake Shelly was forced to take off a red, white and blue tie-dyed American flag T-shirt on Tuesday. The shirt said nothing offensive, just: "United States of America, Washington, D.C."

The school's assistant principal issued Shelly a bright yellow T-shirt that read "DCV: Dress Code Violator" to wear for the rest of the day. He was given his shirt back after classes ended.

"It was really embarrassing and humiliating to have to wear that all day -- and just for supporting your country," his sister Kaycee Shelly said.

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/275/story/460170.html

The kid is not disrupting by wearing a patriotic shirt, but the Vice-Principal disrupted the entire school with his punishment for it. I hope they at least call the VP to the carpet for it.

[Crazy Horse]

DOS PALOS -- Students at Dos Palos High School protested Thursday -- by wearing patriotic regalia to school -- after a sophomore student was forced to remove a T-shirt depicting the American flag.

Officials at the Merced County school confirmed Thursday that Jake Shelly was forced to take off a red, white and blue tie-dyed American flag T-shirt on Tuesday. The shirt said nothing offensive, just: "United States of America, Washington, D.C."

The school's assistant principal issued Shelly a bright yellow T-shirt that read "DCV: Dress Code Violator" to wear for the rest of the day. He was given his shirt back after classes ended.

"It was really embarrassing and humiliating to have to wear that all day -- and just for supporting your country," his sister Kaycee Shelly said.

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/275/story/460170.html

The kid is not disrupting by wearing a patriotic shirt, but the Vice-Principal disrupted the entire school with his punishment for it. I hope they at least call the VP to the carpet for it.

Good read on it.......................

[DarkHalo]

I have to wonder if the vice principal would have been so quick to punish if it had been a shirt showing support for any given lib cause? Back in my day in school it might have been seen as disrespecting the flag. But today? Somehow I doubt it.

Actually when I was in HS schools in Ca were just starting to drop dress codes saying it curbed the students freedom of speech. And just by coincidence thats the same time test scores starting dropping like a brick and they quit holding back kids that didnt pass tests.

Arent we just so much better since the libs gained control of the school system? [/sarcasm]

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

There's a poison pill in this:

"Certainly we are taking responsibility for it and it will not happen again," [School Superintendent Brian] Walker said. "A shirt that has an American flag, a shirt that has a Chinese flag or a Mexican flag, is certainly not a violation of that part of the dress code."

Maybe I'm just a pessimist but it seems he's saying. "I'll give you jingoists something to cry about."

[Ptarmigan]

I have to wonder if the vice principal would have been so quick to punish if it had been a shirt showing support for any given lib cause? Back in my day in school it might have been seen as disrespecting the flag. But today? Somehow I doubt it.

Actually when I was in HS schools in Ca were just starting to drop dress codes saying it curbed the students freedom of speech. And just by coincidence thats the same time test scores starting dropping like a brick and they quit holding back kids that didnt pass tests.

Arent we just so much better since the libs gained control of the school system? [/sarcasm]

Interesting. Well, technincally wearing a flag on a shirt is desprectful, but it is just some code of honor. We had dress codes and strangely in high school they were looser than in middle school. I took a standardized test in high school and aced it. Schools that do well are because parents are more involved than in less performing areas. We spend $10,000 for one student and in some areas, like DC $13,000 per a student and they still are failing.

[rich_t]

Dos Palos principal apologizes, and Legion's response

http://notebook.mercedsunstar.com/dos_palos_principal_apologizes_and_legions_response

[rich_t]

Ok.

I did some digging.

I found the dress code of the school mentioned.

http://www.dpol.k12.ca.us/sections/schools/hs/students

Click on the "Student Hanbook"

Pages 22-23 cover the dress code.

I think the vice priciple basically screwed the pooch in her interpretation of:

Shirts/blouses/outerwear

G. No shirts/blouses that promote specific races, cultures, or ethnicities.

The United States is not a specific race, culture, or ethnicity.
Nor does the US flag represent such.

[Lanie]

Ok.

I did some digging.

I found the dress code of the school mentioned.

http://www.dpol.k12.ca.us/sections/schools/hs/students

Click on the "Student Hanbook"

Pages 22-23 cover the dress code.

I think the vice priciple basically screwed the pooch in her interpretation of:

Shirts/blouses/outerwear

G. No shirts/blouses that promote specific races, cultures, or ethnicities.

The United States is not a specific race, culture, or ethnicity.
Nor does the US flag represent such.

I suppose one could say that American is a culture and therefore the shirt represented American culture. Still seems a little silly though.