Stifling Dissent in Schools
Published by michael November 28th, 2004 in politics, law, education
In researching the ACLU’s position on Proposition 69, I discovered this gem of resistance. In Missouri, attorneys for 16 year old Brad Mathewson are suing the school that has prohibited him from wearing 2 different gay-friendly shirts. One that simply says “FHS gay/straight alliance” and another with a rainbow and the phrase, “I’m gay and I’m proud.”
As an educator and a former rebellious high-school student, I find this reprehensible squelching of student expression especially foul. While I recognize that school authorities have the difficult position of trying to encourage intellectual activity while curtailing overly disruptive behavior, power can corrupt. Zealous regulation can cause educators to step outside of their realm of authority. Teachers can be discouraged from dealing with anything that could be seen as controversial without rigorous “inclusion of the alternate viewpoint,” notification of administrators, and of parents when there is any doubt. Of course if such regulations were followed for each potentially controversial topic a teacher comes across, the amount of red-tape would stop instruction entirely for many.
By erring on the side of excessive regulation, authorities may try to avoid blame under “controversial issues” policies that various districts craft to avoid liability for hot-button issues in schools. According to the ACLU webpage,
Principal Stephen P. Gollhofer now claims he was concerned the t-shirts might offend other students. Students with opposing beliefs on the same issues are allowed to express their views, as anti-gay t-shirts and bumperstickers are common in the hallways at Webb City High School.
The school has yet to demonstrate that any rule in its dress code has been violated. The legal precedent from a case involving the ACLU in 1969, Tinker v. Des Moines, led to Justice Abe Fortas writing, “Schools may not be enclaves of totalitarianism. Students and teachers do not shed their constitutional rights to freedom of expression at the schoolhouse gates.”
Solidarity Brad! I salute your courage and hope that justice may be swift in supporting your honor and dignity.
2 Responses to “Stifling Dissent in Schools”
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What would Mr. Gollhofer do if a student wore a t-shirt to school that read: “Black and Proud”? Ban it with the concern that it would offend the children of white supremicists? F that. F fear. Now let’s just hope Brad doesn’t get bashed.
p.s. How cool would it be in five hundred gay people from all over the country came down and stood on the front lawn of Webb City High School so these little twerps could see just how outnumbered they are.