Well, in the latest in hysterical responses to Newtown and weapons in
general, a first-grade boy has been suspended for pointing a finger at
someone and saying "Pow!"...
The finger I want to raise to (school spokesidiot) Dana is my middle one.
It makes exactly as much sense as my daughter not being able to wear her Paramore concert shirt to school, because it has a skull on it. Or, not being able toplay tag. Schools are illogical fifedoms that enjoy their seemingly unlimited power. I'd just be happier if you would recognize all of their abuses, not just the second amendment ones . . .
Perhaps, max, you haven't read this blog long enough. I have blasted stupid rules, zero-tolerance policies, and other general idiocy quite often in the past almost-eight-years of writing.
I would recommend that all teachers should read "A Fine Young Man." I've got two sons and one daughter. While they are now in their 20's, I saw the change come about ten years ago. Collaboration and group work were the buzzwords. Competition was frowned upon. Boys thrive on competition. They like the thrill of going one on one. And frankly, this idea that all girls love group work is the absolute 180 from what my daughter felt about it as a GT student. She KNEW she would always end up doing the entire project while the rest of the team languished and benefited. I guess that prepared her for our current society, which incidentally seems to be filled with people who assume someone else is going to do all the work. Coincidence? Not hardly.
I don't have issues with Paramore shirts, but I do have issues with kids who dress like thugs and streetwalkers. I had a girl in class the other day wearing a skintight, short black dress that she covered up with a sweater. Needless to say her every move was distracting. I have similar issues to boys who run down the hall holding up their pants when they run for class and jeggings. Also pajamas and slipper. While I don't give a flip what's on a tee shirt, kids should be covered up and reasonably attired.
The standard for dress codes in CA, at least, is that banned items must either be dangerous to the student, or be reasonably likely to disrupt the learning environment . . . Ellen, everything you mentioned would meet that standard. But a skull, or even a bottle of bourbon or a marijuana leaf on a t-shirt -- would not.
It makes exactly as much sense as my daughter not being able to wear her Paramore concert shirt to school, because it has a skull on it. Or, not being able toplay tag. Schools are illogical fifedoms that enjoy their seemingly unlimited power. I'd just be happier if you would recognize all of their abuses, not just the second amendment ones . . .
ReplyDeletePerhaps, max, you haven't read this blog long enough. I have blasted stupid rules, zero-tolerance policies, and other general idiocy quite often in the past almost-eight-years of writing.
ReplyDeleteThat is true . . .I was specifically referring to dress code issues, in this case.
ReplyDeleteI would recommend that all teachers should read "A Fine Young Man." I've got two sons and one daughter. While they are now in their 20's, I saw the change come about ten years ago. Collaboration and group work were the buzzwords. Competition was frowned upon. Boys thrive on competition. They like the thrill of going one on one. And frankly, this idea that all girls love group work is the absolute 180 from what my daughter felt about it as a GT student. She KNEW she would always end up doing the entire project while the rest of the team languished and benefited. I guess that prepared her for our current society, which incidentally seems to be filled with people who assume someone else is going to do all the work. Coincidence? Not hardly.
ReplyDeleteI don't have issues with Paramore shirts, but I do have issues with kids who dress like thugs and streetwalkers. I had a girl in class the other day wearing a skintight, short black dress that she covered up with a sweater. Needless to say her every move was distracting. I have similar issues to boys who run down the hall holding up their pants when they run for class and jeggings. Also pajamas and slipper. While I don't give a flip what's on a tee shirt, kids should be covered up and reasonably attired.
ReplyDeleteThe standard for dress codes in CA, at least, is that banned items must either be dangerous to the student, or be reasonably likely to disrupt the learning environment . . . Ellen, everything you mentioned would meet that standard. But a skull, or even a bottle of bourbon or a marijuana leaf on a t-shirt -- would not.
ReplyDelete