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December 19, 2007
Indiana is fun
I'm suddenly glad I didn't go to high school in Indiana. To quote Snoop Dogg in "Training Day," it sounds like they're a bunch of "civil rights violatin' mothafuckas."
First, there's Brandan Geise, a high school soccer player who was kicked off his team because he refused to get rid of his fauxhawk. The school's superintendent gave a decidedly weak explanation:
"A mohawk haircut is not in the best image that we are trying to promote," explained Dr. Bob Klizman, school superintendent. "... we don't want individuals trying to single themselves out."
Then, to make sure this entire episode would be collectively forgotten, the school then engaged in some Stalinist style photography:
In an attempt to further make things right, administrators told the school's soccer team to re-shoot the yearbook picture without Geise. Without photo evidence of Geise ever having been on the team, the school can set an example for future hair offenders. Cut your hair or be wiped from existence.
Now, if wanting to have a mohawk, which lost its shock value sometime in the 80's, is going to get a guy kicked out of school, a boy who wants to wear a pink dress to his prom doesn't stand a chance:
When Kevin Logan went to his high school prom in 2006, he was hoping it would be a night to remember. What he'll remember, though, will be standing outside in the parking lot while his classmates danced inside.
As Logan walked up to the prom, clad in a pink prom dress, West Side High School Principal Diana Rouse blocked the doorway and refused to let him inside.
Logan, who goes by the name "K.K." and describes himself as a gay bisexual male, filed a suit Dec. 12 against Rouse and the school board, claiming they violated his civil rights by denying him entrance to the prom based on his attire.
It seems to me that teachers and principals ought to know better. If they try to stifle a student, chances are they are either going to get sued. If they don't get sued, they are going to be made to look like asses in the local media. They're not going to come out of it looking good if they do something like that, so I think it's a matter of good policy to let the kids have their hair and wear their dresses.
Meanwhile, in other educational news, another school has banned competitive games at recess. The rationale: 'tis better to foster cooperation than competition.
No longer could they let off their youthful energy — pent up from hours of long division — by cavorting outside for 22 minutes of unstructured play, or perhaps with a vigorous game of tag or dodgeball. Such games had been virtually banned by the principal, Mark S. Johnson, along with kickball, soccer and other “body-banging” activities, as he put it, where knees — and feelings — might get bruised.
Instead, children are encouraged to jump rope, play with Hula Hoops or gently fling a Frisbee. Balls are practically controlled substances, parceled out under close supervision by playground monitors.
Hmm, sounds to me like Principal Johnson is a pinko.
This combination of stories inexorably leads me to one conclusion: I'm homeschooling my damn kids. Especially if they happen to be bisexual soccer players who want to have mohawks and wear pink dresses.
entry no. 1037
Posted at December 19, 2007 01:38 PM