Gang symbol concerns prompt high school to ban student from displaying rosary

[rainbow4321]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/education/stories/092008dnmetrosary.90879b38.html

Tabitha Ruiz rarely takes off her rosary. For more than a year, she has worn it around her neck at Seagoville High School, but this week Dallas school officials told the 16-year-old to remove it or conceal it under her shirt because a rosary is considered a gang symbol.


Clyde Henderson, a school district spokesman, said DISD prevents students from wearing rosaries because the Dallas Police Department has labeled them as gang symbols. The school dress code bans students from displaying obscene, distracting or disruptive jewelry.

<snip>

Ms. Ruiz, who said she is not part of a gang, said she initially refused to remove the rosary when security officials pulled her aside on Monday as she walked through the school’s metal detectors.


<snip>

Roger Byron, a lawyer for The Liberty Legal Institute, said he plans to contact the district on Tabitha’s behalf to urge them to reconsider the policy. He cited a 1997 federal court ruling that stipulated students in the New Caney Independent School District had a right to wear rosaries outside of their clothing despite a ban on gang-related items.

[kskiska]

1. Rosaries are not meant to be worn as jewelry

These are most likely gang symbols.

[iamthebandfanman]

2. hope she was wearing to show veneration. n/t

[CreekDog]

3. She was wearing copies of the Apostle's Creed, Hail Mary, The Lord's Prayer and the Glory Be?

As for the writer, perhaps they should learn what the "rosary" is and that she was wearing the beads.

And the beads are just for counting, or keeping track. I have a rosary card, which fits in a wallet and has bumps on it for the same purpose.

I'm not really buying her story. However, I'm withholding judgement on the policy until I can think it through more.

[TygrBright]

4. When did it stop being disrespectful bordering on desecration to WEAR a rosary?

I realize I'm old, but when I was imprisoned in a Catholic school for a time back in the twelfth century or so, we were solemnly warned that it was a "serious venial" sin to treat a blessed rosary like jewelry.

Of course I've avoided bells & smells mostly, since I escaped, but I don't recall hearing anything from the Vatican to the effect that rosaries are for helping devout Catholics to accessorize their ensembles.

Anyone else get that memo?

curiously,
Bright

[pnwmom]

9. Since when are public schools supposed to be monitoring how religious

symbols are worn?

Whatever the current Vatican thinking may be, it's not up to the local public school to be trying to enforce it.

[vanderBeth]

5. I need to watch the local news more because that was my school district.

and I had no idea about this. I have no idea if her gripe is legit, but they were real sticklers about anything gang or dress code related.

This is the def the least of DISD's currents problems right now, though. they are falling apart.

[msongs]

6. so who's killed more people gangs or people who wear....? nt

[MercutioATC]

7. I've heard of that gang. They're badasses.

They're always flashing that gang symbol "The Sign of the Cross".

Punks that sit around on Sundays drinking wine and eating crackers...

[pnwmom]

8. This is wrong. If gang members start wearing crosses, can the government

then take them away?

A rosary is a religious symbol. Always has been. It is not up to the government to decide whether she is religious enough, or whether this religious symbol is more appropriately held in the hand, a pocket, or put around the neck.

The rosary isn't jewelry, it's a religious symbol, and freedom of religion means that police aren't supposed to be banning religious symbols.