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.

Johnston County pierces through teen’s religious rights

By Joanna Carter

Officials in Johnston County need a refresher course in the First Amendment.

Ariana Iacono, a 15 year old student at Clayton High School, was suspended for having a nose ring that violated the school’s dress code. When she returned to school with her nose ring still in place, she received 5 days of suspension on the second go around. If she returns to school with it yet again, she will then be written up for 10 days and have a referral to alternative school attached along with it.

Ariana has commented with “I think it’s kind of stupid for them to kick me out of school for a nose piercing. . . It’s in the First Amendment for me to have freedom of religion.” What religion exactly, you ask?

School uniforms are worthless

By William R. Toler

As anyone who reads this blog knows, I am completely against school uniform policies.

Courtesy: WRAL

Supporters of these stringent policies that turn all of our children into look-alike robots, purport that uniforms help keep order and children behave better.

Pat Whitford, the head football coach at Pamlico County High School once told me that he could see a difference in the attitudes of students with the policy in place.

While I respect Mr. Whitford and his opinion, I will have to respectfully disagree with him on that point.

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.