F r e e d o m sF r e e d o m s ?How free are we ?How free are we

By: Nathalie LlorcaBy: Nathalie Llorca

D r e s s C o d e D r e s s C o d e Those opposed to uniforms contend that they threaten students’ free-Those opposed to uniforms contend that they threaten students’ free-

expression rights and parents’ liberty interests in rearing their children free expression rights and parents’ liberty interests in rearing their children free from government intrusion. They also argue that dress codes and especially from government intrusion. They also argue that dress codes and especially uniforms discourage individuality and critical thinking.uniforms discourage individuality and critical thinking.

Students should be able to show how different and unique they are by the Students should be able to show how different and unique they are by the clothing they wear. Being creative is a quality of growing up and giving new clothing they wear. Being creative is a quality of growing up and giving new ideas.ideas.

You should have the right to show your opinion through your clothing (sports You should have the right to show your opinion through your clothing (sports teams, musical artists, heritage, political, life style, etc.). You have the right teams, musical artists, heritage, political, life style, etc.). You have the right to be an individual. You shouldn’t have to change the way you dress to be an individual. You shouldn’t have to change the way you dress because of your opinion about something you like or because of your because of your opinion about something you like or because of your religion. religion.

P le d g eP le d g e After the 9/11 attacks, school officials in Georgia suspended two high school After the 9/11 attacks, school officials in Georgia suspended two high school

students for failing to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance. A bill was students for failing to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance. A bill was introduced in Colorado that would have required all public school students introduced in Colorado that would have required all public school students to recite the pledge. to recite the pledge.

Schools should not take such drastic measures and over react in such a Schools should not take such drastic measures and over react in such a way. That is pathetic and an embarrassment to the high school by pretty way. That is pathetic and an embarrassment to the high school by pretty much forcing something on students. Students have a right.much forcing something on students. Students have a right.

Due to personal or religious reasons, people have the right not to recite the Due to personal or religious reasons, people have the right not to recite the Pledge, but must stand to show a sign of respect to others.Pledge, but must stand to show a sign of respect to others.

S p e e c hS p e e c h Sometimes it isn’t students’ speech but their choice of symbols that is Sometimes it isn’t students’ speech but their choice of symbols that is

interpreted by school officials as harassing or hateful. There is perhaps no interpreted by school officials as harassing or hateful. There is perhaps no symbol more controversial in the public schools than the Confederate flag, symbol more controversial in the public schools than the Confederate flag, which supporters say is merely a symbol of heritage, but critics charge is a which supporters say is merely a symbol of heritage, but critics charge is a symbol of hate. Many students have been suspended for wearing such garb symbol of hate. Many students have been suspended for wearing such garb or even for drawing pictures of the flag in class.or even for drawing pictures of the flag in class.

People may get offended by the Confederate flag, but it is a symbol of People may get offended by the Confederate flag, but it is a symbol of heritage. Just like verbal words & dress code, it is a freedom of speech and heritage. Just like verbal words & dress code, it is a freedom of speech and shows where you come from. People have the right to express who they are shows where you come from. People have the right to express who they are and where their family has been and came from.and where their family has been and came from.

The Confederate flag is assumed to mean hate but in reality it is just a The Confederate flag is assumed to mean hate but in reality it is just a heritage with a bad association. heritage with a bad association.