Students defy pink clothes rule

[hippiechick]

http://www.indystar.com/articles/2/134247-8702-102.html

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. -- About 100 middle school students wore pink to protest restrictions imposed by school officials concerned that the color was associated with gang activity.

Joiner said he understood that students might feel the policy is unfair, but he said the protest -- which included roughly one-tenth of the student body -- distracted from education.

"I will continue to listen to any student who wants to tell us how they feel. But it's really important that students not pour fuel on fire," he said.

...

Administrators last week urged students at the district's high school and two middle schools to avoid wearing pink clothing or accessories out of concerns that a Chicago gang had adopted pink and black as its colors.

Superintendent Tony Lux said the policy had been misinterpreted as a ban. "Students are not banned from wearing pink clothing," Lux wrote in a letter sent home to parents Wednesday. "However, the wearing of any color when worn by groups of students to set themselves apart as an exclusive group ... will be investigated as possibly violating the student handbook regarding the wearing of gang colors."

Does this mean they can't wear team jerseys or cheerleading outfits ?

Lux said that gangs have not infiltrated the Northwestern Indiana school district because "our administrators try to head off any potential problem with the sole interest of keeping our schools safe from inappropriate behavior."


Uhhhh ... if gangs had not 'infiltrated' the school, then why did they ban clothing that may be associated with gang activity ?? I'm confused. Good on the students for standing up to the bullshit.

:yourock:

[bloom]

1. I would say

the ban itself "distracted from education"

[ET Awful]

2. This really begs the question . . .

What self-respecting gang wears pink? I mean, don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with pink, but it's not exactly a "tough" color :)

[Melinda]

8. I'll show you a "self-respecting gang" that wears pink:

:hi:

[ET Awful]

11. That's not a gang, it's an admirable group of ladies :).

n/t

[trogdor]

3. unfair? Try stupid.

They were just BEGGING for this. I could have predicted it.

[Paranoid_Portlander]

4. Is Indystar doing an April fool?

I can't tell because I can't access the Indystar link with my webtv unit. It certainly reads like April fool. It would be a reverse April fool if this turns out to be serious.

[hippiechick]

5. No, this is for real.

The Star's been following the story for a few days.

:hippie:

[Kikosexy2]

6. Heaven forbid...

this is going too far! Golly if a guy wore pink he would be labeled to be 'gay'. Okay, so maybe there might be gay thugs out there--hehehhehe! This is soooo ridiculous. The school districts really need to concentrate on more important issues like getting more funds from the Chimp--okay? Parents need to challenge the Board of Educ. and school policies to see if there's even a dress code. Be sure to wear your pink tomorrow!

[MadinMD]

7. Maybe this is just the start

Maybe this is just the start of that Gay Apocolypse we've been hearing so much about.

[MissMarple]

9. It's a girl gang, The Pinks.

They all carry a picture of Pink in their bookags.

:D

[quisp]

10. The reason uniforms are a great idea...

I can't believe I'm saying this, but now that I have 3 kids in school I think school uniforms are the answer.

Uniforms are economical. No more fights over what to wear.

It removes the whole "fashion" distraction from the education equation. EVERYONE looks like crap in khakis, black dress shoes, and a white polo shirt.

I may be showing my age, but if you should find some other way to express you individuality than clothes.