Bacon's Rebellion

Democracy Thrives in Sunlight

Alternative T-shirts for the Culture War in Schools

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by

James A. Bacon
in



The High School student from Waynesboro could make a t-shirt with these images of Confederate veterans and the Battle Flag.

It would be interesting to see if this is provocative speech.

Tolerance means tolerating things you don’t like seeing or hearing. It means controlling yourself. If schools can’t teach that individual self-control, then what do they teach – Nannyism?

My 4th grade teacher of Virginia history, Mrs. Scharf from NYC, didn’t have problems teaching about the complexity of issues in Virginia during the late Unpleasantness. Of course, that was in the 50s, when schooling was about education more than indoctrination.

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8 responses to “Alternative T-shirts for the Culture War in Schools”

  1. Larry Gross Avatar
    Larry Gross

    looks like there are two paths.. either outlaw everything (school uniforms) or… be prepared to rule on a case-by-case basis using some criteria that will be just as controversial as the language on the T-shirts.

    But here’s a question for those who support the “free speech”. What is different between someone wearing a “statement” to work.. and someone wearing a “statement” to school?

    Could it be that the nasty and dictatorial “censors” in charge of the company don’t think that non-business activities … contribute to a “productive” environment?

    How about if you showed up for a game of golf with such “statements” on your person? Would you be suprised if it pissed off people who you otherwise might be able to actually have a game of golf with?

    How about a funeral? Your kids soccer game? How about a reunion?

    What is wrong with the “business” of learning being just like most businesses?

    Why is school ‘ok’ for making personal statements and businesses are not okay?

    This is great.. school administrators and teachers.. we all know.. don’t have enough on their plate…

    can we be more destructive in our approaches to this?

  2. jamie Avatar
    jamie

    Great Point, Larry.

    If you wear something that your manager considers disruptive (which includes clamdigger pants for women and blue jeans for everyone where I work), then you have to go home and change. It’s wholly accepted at a place of work, why is it not accepted in a school system?

    And you are 100% correct. Teachers and administrators are completely overworked and underappreciated.

  3. Arator Avatar
    Arator

    The difference is a public setting (state school) versus a private setting (like most businesses). As a result, the First Amendment applies in restraining the state from abuses.

    I don’t disagree with any of the comments about maintaining proper discipline within a school, but there are set standards for all of this already in place. The schools’ act like there is some gray area, but there is not. Since 1969, the Supreme Court has been clear about when a school can limit “free speech.” The test is whether or not the conduct/speech “materially and substantially” disrupts the school environment.

    Irregardless of message, content, ideology,etc., if it does not materially and substantially disrupt the school environment, the school can not limit it — no matter whether it is the Confederate flag or Che Gueverra.

  4. Larry Gross Avatar
    Larry Gross

    bizarre is the word that comes to mind.

    The Post Office is a public place but I’ll bet you a buck that you’ll never
    see the clerks wearing Che Gueverra outfits…. ditto for the lady at the tax payment window in your local county or your average Officer Friendly….

    Just imagine what our day-to-day would look like if everyone would start sporting their politics on their outfits. Why… we’d probably end up like those islamofacist types.

    I stick to the idea that schools “business” is learning… not soapboxing…

    We’re a stupid society.. in my view… when we cannot agree on what is the best learning environment for kids and for those tasked with teaching them. The kids are watching.. and laughing…

  5. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Students are not government employees: in fact, they are captive audiences. It’s totally appropriate to ban stuff that proves disruptive, but inappropriate to ban it just because people don’t like it.

    Of course, the idea that schooling wasn’t about indoctrination in the 50s is so laughable that I wonder i JAB ever even went to school. Schools today are far more honest and sensible about subjects like science and history, the schreeching of right wing and left wing activists to the contrary.

  6. James Atticus Bowden Avatar
    James Atticus Bowden

    Kids are compelled to be in school. Adults have freedom of association with work in this right to work state. Big difference.

    Aw shucks, Anon, questioning my schooling. Walter Reed Elem, Swanson Jr. High and Yorktown High (Cl 68).

    The difference in science between now and then is how much more we know in each area of science and how much confusion has been added by junk science.

    The difference in history is the Liberal historiography which uses the lenses of the Liberal trinity of race, class, gender(s).

  7. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    “The difference in science between now and then is how much more we know in each area of science and how much confusion has been added by junk science.”

    What junk science are you talking about? The reality is simply that science is a much more robust and sensible discipline today than it was 30 years ago, let alone in the 50s. It’s better defined, for one thing, and far more consistent.

    “The difference in history is the Liberal historiography which uses the lenses of the Liberal trinity of race, class, gender(s).”

    When you actually read a modern history book, it contains far more, and far more accurate and objective information that history books in your day. I’m willing to bet that you dislike it not because it’s more propaganda, but because it’s less of the sort you like.

  8. James Atticus Bowden Avatar
    James Atticus Bowden

    Anon: Name a modern history book that is more accurate and ‘objective’.

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