An attorney for Neuqua Valley High School sophomore Alexander Nuxoll says the Alliance Defense Fund will appeal a judge's ruling that Indian Prairie School District 204 officials were correct in banning a student from wearing a T-shirt that says, "Be Happy, Not Gay."
What do you think of the controversy?
Ordinarily I have a soft spot for the First Amendment, but in this case I support the school district's authority to impose rules to maintain decorum in the educational setting. Hopefully no one would think to allow a student to wear a shirt that said, "Be Happy, Not Jewish," or contained some other language that might provoke hatred.
So far the courts have agreed. Do you? Should school officials have permitted the shirt? Also, what do you think of the school's annual "Day of Silence" event designed to promote tolerance of people partial to homosexuality? Do you think the school itself is promoting homosexuality by allowing such an event, or merely fostering an environment where students are allowed to exchange ideas and express opinions, within certain bounds?
UPDATE:
The Alliance Defense Fund issued this press release on Monday, Jan. 7:
CHICAGO — Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund have appealed a federal judge’s decision in a lawsuit against Indian Prairie School District officials. The judge denied a request for a temporary injunction that would have allowed a student to wear a T-shirt to school with the message “Be Happy, Not Gay” while his lawsuit moves forward in court.
“Christian students don’t sacrifice their constitutional right to free speech once they enter the schoolhouse door,” said ADF Senior Counsel Nate Kellum. “The First Amendment protects all speech, not just what’s popular or ‘politically correct.’ These students suffered unlawful discrimination simply because school officials did not like their sincerely-held religious views regarding homosexual behavior.”
On Aug. 27, ADF attorneys filed a motion asking the court to stop school officials, who censored the T-shirt, from prohibiting student Alexander Nuxoll from wearing the shirt while the lawsuit proceeds (www.telladf.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4221). ADF attorneys had originally filed the lawsuit on behalf of another student, Heidi Zamecnik, who had worn a similar T-shirt the year before, only to have it censored by school officials (www.telladf.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4045).
A copy of the notice to appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit filed Monday in Zamecnik v. Indian Prairie School District is available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/ZamecnikAppeal.pdf.
“We hope that this appeal will result in greater protections for the First Amendment rights of all students in the school district,” Kellum said.
ADF is a legal alliance defending the right to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding, and litigation.
This 'anti' shirt should definitely be banned - too contentious - and looking for a fight! This shirt is not really about the 'anti' subject broadcast on the tee - it's about egging someone on. We certainly don't need extra reasons in our schools to disrupt - and I'd expect the educators to see through this ruse.
As for 'rights' and 'freedoms' - well, those were established during a period when 'society' had manners. Disregard manners, be in-your-face opininated = toss your 'rights' out the window.
The offending shirt must go!
How about a "Day of Science" as opposed to a "Day of Silence"? While we're at it, can we substitute a "Moment of Science" for the "Moment of Silence"?
I live here and am willing to pay high local tax dollars so that my children can get an excellent ACADEMIC education. Please - leave the moral,societal,and religious education to the parents. My husband and I can handle it, and I have confidence that my fellow Naperville parents can too.
CB
be happier don't live in naperville
be happy not stupid...
"Be Happy. Not an Incompetent Naperville School Board Member."
Politics, sexuality, religion, and most other hot-button topics should be left out of public schools. Isn't the idea to offer an unbiased equal education for the children of every tax payer? The day of silence is stupid, all it is going to accomplish is invoke the inevitable response of "Well where is the day of silence raising awareness for straight people?" (Not to mention upsetting the parents of children from ultra-religious families who are against all forms of homosexuality and don't want their children exposed to anything related... ESPECIALLY a day of awareness.)
Kids should be going to school to learn the quadratic equation, where the state of Wyoming is on a map, and other things relevant to education. How is whether a person chooses to have a relationship with someone of the same or opposite sex at all relevant at school?
As far as the T-shirt is concerned, I've been an avid supporter of school uniforms as long as I can remember. With a uniform policy, the t-shirt never would have been an issue. ...This of course would have required some forward-thinking by District 204 which I think we're all well aware is completely out of their mental capacity.
Either way, the school district is going to lose this lawsuit. As soon as you start telling someone they can't do something which is any way could be construed to trampling on their freedom of speech, legions of pro-bono lawyers will come oozing out of the woodwork along side countless freedom of speech advocacy groups.
As far as the Day of Silence... in theory it is a good thing to show empathy and support for fellow classmates. I think this can be done another way rather than not speaking for an entire day. Is it really possible to get through an entire day at school without speaking? How do you ask a teacher or classmate a question? How do you give a presentation or participate in a group project? Why not wear an armband or a designated color? I agree with the message, just not the method.
I don't think the shirt has any place in our schools. In this day and age, tolerance and acceptance are important in helping the children of today become the better adults of tomorrow. What purpose would it serve to perpetuate intolerance and hatred? Do we want to go forward or backward?
If the stupid Day of Silence, practically promoting homosexuality is allowed, then the shirt with it's non-offensive message should be allowed as well.
The shirt should be banned. As for Poster Samantha's comment it doesn't hold any merit. What if their was only a small segment of Asians, Blacks, Jews, etc. You can't wear nor should you wear a shirt denouncing others Race, Creed, Religious or Sexual Orientation. Period. Whether you agree with the shirt or not, it shouldn't be allowed in school. The School is correct. And the first amendment doesn't apply. Samantha is correct in her assessment on that. There are plenty of choices in clothing that kids can wear to schools these days and frankly it is much more relaxed than past generations. If I wore that shirt to work...Well, the next stop would be HR.
Day of Silence is unnecessary as well. Both Schools and more importantly Parents should be teaching right from wrong every day.
You can look at this debate in two ways. What about a persons right to freedom of speech. Because this t-shirt is targeted at a small segment of the school population is it wrong? You can't pick and choose when one has the right for freedom of speech. Having said that, I personally would not allow my child to wear something that makes fun of another group. Morally I don't think it's right to just purposefully hurt someone that I don't even know or who isn't even a threat to me. We need to teach tolerance not ignorance. What does anyone gain from hurting another person. Especially someone whom they don't even know.
But again we live in Naperville where I feel the majority of the parents around here have given in to self entitlement for their child. If they want to do it then let them. As long as their happy. Naperville is turning into a town with a lot of very insecure people who have no regards for the next person.
And one more thing to remember. When our forefathers wrote the constitution "freedom of speech" is not what we all think it was intended for. That was included so people could express their feelings on our government without the fear of being killed for it. Much like what is still happening in many parts of the world today.
Absolutely not.
No, do not allow the shirt. It's against the school dress code regarding clothing with offensive markings/writing/slogans.
Day of Silence is not needed either. This sort of stuff should be kept outside the public school. If someone wants this stuff in a school setting, head off to Berkley after graduation.