School clothing hang-ups

By William R. Toler

Three girls.

Two schools.

One problem.

They all got in trouble for their clothing decisions… and it’s not like they were dressed like whores.

Texanna Edwards, a senior at Gibson County High School, showed up at prom with a dress displaying the school colors of red, white and blue. But when she tried to walk in, she was denied.

The reason: her red, white and blue made up the stars and bars of the confederate battle flag. School officials told her it was “offensive and inappropriate.”

Hudson says ‘Let the Students Speak’

By William R. Toler

Over the past year I’ve added a number of books to my personal library that compose what I’ve dubbed my “Liberty Shelf.”

Included on the shelf are four books each by Judge Andrew Napolitano and Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX). Also on the shelf are seven books focusing on First Amendment issues. The newest addition is a topic that I have a fond interest in.

Let the Students Speak is a history of the fight for student speech in public schools. The author, David L. Hudson, Jr. is quite the authority on the subject. He’s a scholar with the First Amendment Center and teaches law and Vanderbilt University. The Independent Register often refers to Hudson for local speech issues.

In the book, Hudson chronicles not only well-known cases (such as Tinker v. Des Moines or “Bong Hits 4 Jesus“) but a bevy of smaller cases. Those cases run the gamut of speech and expression, including speech outside of school.

Budget crunch crushing Wake schools

By Ryan Graczkowski

Wake County schools are facing a crisis in the budget. The budget deficit has doubled from $20 to $40 million.

The doubling has occurred as a result of a 3 percent cut from the state government; coupled with reduced revenues from state and county sources, they pose a formidable problem. Families may come to bear this problem in the form of later start times and ever-more crowded classrooms, not to mention teaching layoffs.

This news is especially significant given the nature that money played a part in the school board’s decision to end the diversity policy. The reasoning board members gave was that poorer students were not necessarily improving on account of being shipped amongst affluent schools. By concentrating them, they stated that it would be possible to channel resources in a more efficient manner directly to the students.

Sent home for silence

By William R. Toler

An Onlsow County middle school student was sent home today. His offense: refusing to take tape off his mouth.

Thirteen-year-old Patrick Richmond was participating in “Silence for Christ Day” by wearing duct tape over his mouth, according to WCTI-TV.

Richmond had informed his teachers at Trexler Middle School ahead of time what he had planned to do, but when he refused to take it off in class, his teacher sent him to the principal.

Richmond and his sister were among several students symbolizing silence. Patrick, however, was the only one to hold his ground.

“The teacher asked them to remove the duct tape because it was interfering with instructional time,” said Dr. Barry Collins, assistant superintendent of Onslow County Schools. “When the teacher asks them a question, then they can’t interact, that does interfere with the academic learning process.”

1877 is not Year 1

By Nina Kilbride

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is in the process of overhauling the curriculum for North Carolina public schools.  The DPI has asked for feedback on the proposed curriculum through Feb. 15.  I reviewed the proposed curriculum.

There is a glaring problem with the proposed history instruction in North Carolina high schools.  The proposed curriculum eliminates the teaching of United States history prior to 1877 in North Carolina public schools. A few pre-1877 concepts are covered in other parts of the curriculum, but the proposed curriculum would not teach children:

Who came to the Americas and why
The states were once colonies of England
We fought a war to free ourselves from an imperial crown

School uniforms force conformity

By William R. Toler

School uniforms are one topic that is really wearing on my nerves and liberty-focused mind.

The indoctrination centers known as public schools are rapidly subscribing to the draconian practice of incorporating school uniforms as an enforceable policy.

Why? What happened to the idea of “individuality” that liberals were pushing for a decade ago? Now it’s those same liberals, along with conservatives, supporting the issue of clothing conformity.

The proponents of this preposterous principle claim that uniforms help keep order. They say children learn better when not focused on who’s wearing what; that everyone is equal and no one has anything better than anyone else.