Middle School Mischief Of The ACLU

Once again, the ACLU sticks its prodigious proboscis in where it really doesn't belong. Student dress policy should not be an overriding concern of a supposed civil rights protection group.

Quite frankly, students rights of free expression in Middle School should be reasonably limited and no one is infringing on their right to attend school.

How to dress appropriately may well be part of the education process when the parent or guardian fails to meet the educational requirements at home. Paying your taxes does not buy you the right to send your child to school as you see fit.

It is this parents kind of attitude that will be passed on to the child thus spawning a societal malcontent. These are the people who live to protest any and everything. It is at the very heart of the ACLU.

The bottom line is, no harm has come to these children other than the lesson their parents are preventing them from learning and the bad example they are setting.

Of course, the ACLU is there to foment unrest and rebellion even in Middle School. The recruitment starts early.

Protect our values and traditions from the ACLU.

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The student dress policy at Napa's Redwood Middle School has caught the attention of the American Civil Liberties Union.

The ACLU sent a letter to local school officials on Tuesday saying the school's "appropriate attire policy" violates the California Education Code.

While several Northern California schools bar students from wearing colors that suggest links to street gangs, Redwood requires that students wear only clothing in solid colors and prohibits denim or denim-looking material, logos, pictures and patterns.

The ACLU complained to Napa Valley Unified School District Superintendent John Glaser that Redwood's policy "restricts far more than could reasonably be determined to threaten the health and safety of the school environment" and "children were deprived of class time due to their failure to comply with the policy."

Glaser said the ACLU is a late arrival to the debate, and that the school district is already considering revisions to the policy.

"By the end of next week we can tell you if there is even a problem," Glaser said. "Once we have looked at what the law says. We may have to revisit what kind of standards we would like to hold for Redwood Middle School. We will be working closely with parents to resolve this in a way that is right for everyone."

According to the ACLU, California Education Code section 48907 denies school administrators the authority to engage in censorship of student expression. The group says Redwood's code violates that law. The ACLU has intervened on behalf of two women whose children attend Redwood.

Donnell Scott and Kim Shin sought exemptions for their children on the first day of the current school year, but were denied. Their children were removed from class for wearing jeans.

Scott said that after several failed attempts to meet with Stan Smart, Redwood's director of student services, she and Shin decided to go to the ACLU.

"Wednesday was a nasty fiasco," said Scott, referring to the first day of classes on Aug. 17. "They were held from learning. I pay my taxes and (school officials') job is to educate my child, not to dictate what they wear. That is my job."

The ACLU letter said the school policy infringes upon students' constitutional right of free expression, as well as the children's right to attend public schools.

Scott said she is fighting for her daughter's right to dress how the rest of the district is dressing, and not succumb to the policy enforced by Redwood Principal Mike Pearson.

"We need to nip this in the bud now," said Scott. "I don't know what he thinks he is going to lose" by allowing blue jeans.

While the school reconsiders the policy, Scott's daughter is attending classes and conforming to the policy.

Earlier this year, several Redwood parents wrote letters to the Register about the clothing policy. While some thought it restrictive, others said they believed it led to a more disciplined and mature learning environment.

As of September, school officials said they are going to allow blue jeans on half-day Wednesdays, but students will be mandated to wear a corresponding blue wristband. The wristband requirement is intended to help distinguish between students and non-students who may attempt to come on campus.

From the NapaNews.