Denver school bans 'patriotic' clothing over immigration tensions

[Grimmlok]

(CBS4) WESTMINSTER, Colo. The immigration debate and demonstrations caused a middle school in Adams County to change their dress code.

Students at Shaw Heights Middle School are no longer allowed to wear anything that's patriotic, including camouflage pants, because they have become a political symbol for a version of patriotism.

"It upsets me that we cannot support our troops, the military," said Kirsten Golgart, an eighth grader who was told she'd be suspended if she didn't change her clothes. "We can't support our country. If we're American, I think we should be proud to be an American."

A letter went home to parents last week that explained for student safety, no clothes were allowed with political messages or flags of any sort.

Myla Shepherd, the principal, said that tensions over the immigration issue were apparent when more than 20 students came to school wearing camouflage jackets and pants, apparently to show what they call their patriotism and American pride.

"We started seeing name calling," Shepherd said. "Safety is my first concern so I'm going to do things to keep us from getting to a point where anybody is hurt or being suspended for fighting."

She said the dress code diffused the tension immediately.

"I don't think that's a solution though because you're punishing 400 students because the action of 100," said Eric Golgart, Kirsten's father.

He gathered signatures against the dress code, but the principal said for safety, freedom of speech can be limited in schools, even as students get involved in the national immigration discussion.

In Longmont, the principal of Skyline High School banned all flags, including the American flag, because of tensions related to immigration reform.

[Barbara]

Camouflage pants are now patriotic in reference to a particular country???? PC stupidity has no limits

[Grimmlok]

Well considering all of them wore it with a specific intent on the same day for the same reason, in this case yeah.

[Barbara]

I hadn't read everything

[NawdleZouss]

I don't care what they did, I love camoflauge pants. FASCISTS. Might as well be banning pants, period.

[Grimmlok]

I'm totally ok with no pants

[Sojiita]

Instead of controlling/maintaining control of their students and trying to educate them on freedom of expression and tolerance and all of that, they just do the easy shitty thing to do and ban stuff. great. American public education at it's best.

[Grimmlok]

Easier than dealing with a 2000 plus kid riot, with the possibility of guns and knives being drawn.

[NawdleZouss]

That's what would happen if they tried to ban me from wearing whatever kind of pants I damn well feel like wearing. This is absurd, it'll only stir people up more.

Yes, I am not one, but 2000 people. With guns and knives.

[Grimmlok]

and a microphone.

[moomies]

UNIFORMS, how bout that!!! you guys are spoiled with all that freedom of expression/individuality stuff.

[Grimmlok]

Meh, there's lots of schools here that have a uniform dress code.. it's funny, cuz all the ghetto kids still try to thug it out by wearing the pants all baggy and their shirts oversized, while the girls try to whore it up by jacking everything over their head and tying their shirts inder their tetas

[moomies]

When I was in jr. High it was pretty strict (public school btw), the skirt had to be 2 cm below your knees and you could only wear the school approved blouse/shirt. We weren't even allowed to use styling products on our hair. I once had used some mousse on my hair and my homeroom teacher told me to go wash it out.

[Grimmlok]

last I heard the Japanese don't have frizzy, hard to manage hair

[moomies]

haha yea though I had a homestay mate whose hair looked like pubes...Once she went and got her hair straightened but it still looked the same as b4