Questioning uniformity in schools

If school officials believe that certain color attire represents an

affiliation to a known gang, then it becomes incumbent upon them to

ban such a wear. Foremost, school officials must provide a safe and

disciplined learning environment in order for students to benefit

most from school. Most schools that prohibit students from wearing

gang paraphernalia do so in order to prevent problems.

In regards to the students not being allowed to wear shirts

spelling “JESUS (HEART) YOU” (or any other religious or nonreligious

attire that does not represent the theme of the senior class) in its

senior yearbook picture, I believe that school officials made the

right decision. The senior yearbook picture is a memorable lifetime

photo. It is a collective image that captures classmate camaraderie

and represents the entire senior class.

IMAM MOUSTAFA AL-QAZWINI

Islamic Educational Center

of Orange County

Costa Mesa

This is a great reason for going back to school uniforms. There

are several competing issues. The first is the need to keep our

students safe while educating them to read, write and do math. Their

education has been sidelined by an irrelevant discussion on the

appropriate color of clothes to wear.

Let the kids go back to class and make them all wear blue jeans

and white T-shirts with no logos, if not real uniforms. Public

schools across the nation have been moving in this direction for

years. Why turn teachers into dress code enforcers? Let them do what

they trained to do.

Second, teens don’t have the same rights as adults. They can’t

vote, drive or drink alcohol. Theoretically, they still answer to

their parents and are even put on restriction on occasion. I see no

problem with schools adopting policies that are meant to keep our

children safe, even if they appear restrictive. Let them wear pink

shirts in college.

I am ashamed of the celebrities, newscasters and even the

sororities who have made this a discussion of color and not on how a

school is struggling to keep kids safe. Our culture has got to stop

focusing on making issues out of things that are not the real issues.

Don’t we get enough of that in an election year?

SENIOR ASSOCIATE

PASTOR RIC OLSEN

Harbor Trinity Church

Costa Mesa

A more troubling issue than wearing messages on clothing is that

of hardly wearing any clothing. So many of our youth wear

inappropriate, revealing, outrageous attire that underscores the loss

of modesty and the “anything goes” ethos endemic in our society. We

must always be reminded of the fact that what society says is

desirable or normal is not always right.

Turning to the issue of making statements of advocacy or

expressing beliefs through what is imprinted on articles of clothing,

it is axiomatic that there are limits. Messages that are racially

insensitive, that are profane, that advocate violence or depict

weapons, that are vulgar and sexually suggestive cannot be tolerated.

Messages that might well cause disruption or interfere with school

activities or trespass on the rights of others are to be prohibited.

A young person does not have a right to wear a T-shirt emblazoned

with a swastika, or one with a message that physicians who perform

abortions must be “eliminated,” or with a slogan that is derogatory

to women, or one that extols smoking as a virtue, or that advocates

the use of drugs. In certain states, it would be considered

incitement to wear a garment featuring a Confederate flag.

The right to proclaim the conviction in question on one’s clothing

as a statement of religious faith should be protected under our right

to free speech. It is no different to say “Jesus Loves You” than to

wear a cross, which sends the same communication about the wearer’s

affiliation and devotion. Wearing a Star of David on a chain around

one’s neck is no different than a shirt that features an expression

of pride in one’s Judaism.

If a student wears his heart on his sleeve, at least he has a

sleeve! Let the soul shine forth and the body be covered! I would

rather a student reveal his spiritual identification than reveal too

much flesh.

RABBI MARK MILLER

Temple Bat Yahm

Newport Beach

As a citizen, I wonder what has become of “innocent until proven

guilty.” Without more information about these two instances, it is

difficult to offer thoughts other than questions: What authority do

school officials have to make such decisions? Was prior notice given

to students about appropriate and inappropriate clothing to be worn

for such pictures? Was there evidence of gang-relatedness? Were

decisions made more from principle or prejudice? ... perhaps against

certain students (or groups), maybe against the color pink, hopefully

not about Jesus!

Experience with children, particularly adolescents, teaches that

they value contemporary costuming and looking alike; possibly that is

all these cases really demonstrate. Perhaps these students intended

to show their pride at being associated with a particular legitimate

group and state that they are responsible for their affiliation. I am

saying exactly this about being a Christian clergymerson when I wear

my clerical shirt and collar; I understand that my outfit evokes both

positive and negative prejudices and, sometimes, provokes related

behavior.

Given my world-view, I like the “JESUS (HEART) YOU” shirts. Can

that be more offensive than other shirts I’ve seen imprinted with

messages like “Moses Needed MapQuest” and “Mohamed Rocks?” These seem

to me equivalent to shirts with logos and slogans of teams, like

“Dodger Blue Forever” and “Catch Angel Fever.” “God/Yahweh/Allah

Rules!” is a message I’d much rather see someone sporting than those

I do see with messages about Bruins wanting to do profane things to

Trojans and Trojans questioning the heritage of Bruins and/or, God

forbid, Golden Bears or Anteaters.

Of course, these thoughts are mine less as a Christian than as a

citizen.

THE VERY REV. CANON

PETER D. HAYNES

St. Michael & All Angels

Episcopal Parish Church

Corona del Mar

Public schools have always maintained their prerogative to

administer dress codes. I remember my own middle-school days, in

Virginia in the 1960s, when girls where first allowed to wear pants!

And later, “surfer-crosses” were banned as being “gang-related,”

before the term held such ominous overtones.

I believe it is the job of school officials to create an

atmosphere which, they feel, is most conducive to learning. Here at

our Zen Center, we also have a simple dress code (no shorts and no

T-shirts with writing) which, we believe, creates a dignified

environment in which people can meditate.

It is the job of parents, students and school boards to make their

feelings known about dress code policies. If people feel strongly

about a policy, there are many avenues for expression and dissent,

including student councils, PTA and school board meetings, the media,

picketing, walk-outs and even changing schools. Around issues such as

dress codes, students, parents and the school administration educate

one another in the gifts and failings of our democracy and the

responsibilities of its citizenry.

THE REV. CAROL AGUILAR

Zen Center of

Orange County

Costa Mesa