Honestly, is this really a case of free speech, or is a bunch of unpopular misfits trying to call attention to themselves...
Why is that an either / or question. Why should a person's relative popularity have anything to dop with their free-speech rights? After all, free speech is about protecting the rights of those who hold unpopular opinion, is it not? Regardless of what the original intention of wearing the shirt was (Which by the sound of it it may have just been what was on top of her clothes drawer), the school made it a free speech issue by not allowing her to wear it for the picture.
Right, but I'm arguing that it's possible they're making a big issue out of it because they want the attention it's bringing them. I've been friends with quite a few eccentric characters. I've found that some people act genuinely and their actions and appearance serve as expressions of themsevles. I've also found that certain other people will behave in a more extreme manner just to draw attention. One of my friends likes to change hair color every now and then according to her own personal tastes. Another changes her color almost as frequently but as a way to draw as much attention as possible, as opposed to artisitc expression. I'm simply throwing the possibility out there that these girls are making a big deal out of this for nothing. There has always been dress codes in public schools. I was once brought to the principal's office in elementary school for wearing a sleeveless shirt. In junior high, there were dress codes. In HS, there were dress codes (although a bit laxer). Hats aren't allowed, revealing clothes isn't allowed, and there are probably other restrictions that aren't enforced. The primary purpose of a school is to educate, not serve as a forum for free speech. Nobody said anything when she wore the shirt on a regular basis because it didn't cause any trouble. I agree that the shirt was inappropriate for picture day. The school wouldn't give second thought to parents and offending them if a lot of annoyances and arguments and phone calls wouldn't be included as well. This probably wouldn't be an issue if the school officials explained their reasoning in a calm and respectable manner. Most mature and responsible people would listen to reason and compromise. However, I assume that the interaction was confrontational and condescending, thus leading to all this trouble now. Tell me, if someone kindly requests something from a person, they're likely to go ahead with it if it's not too much trouble. Now if someone talks down to you and demands something, then you're going to be more likely to battle harder and be more demanding in return. Before anyone starts going, oh Stuey hates free speech and is evil, remember that everything I say is in context. I understand that this girl was most likely not trying to invite trouble. She has a right to say what she wants and wear what she wants (within reason). The school reserves the right to express disapproval when there's a conflict of interest. Bottom line, the school officials should have requested the girl change the shirt rather than demand it (which I assume they did). Both parties are to blame for this situation; the school for (assumingly) being condescending and disrespectful, and the girl for being confrontational and refusing to compromise.
