A case for School Uniforms

[MDM4AU 332]

Free speech battle brewing over students' anatomical buttons

WINONA, Minn. (AP) -- High school students here are being admonished for wearing buttons inspired by the sometimes raunchy off-Broadway hit "The Vagina Monologues" and have been threatened with expulsion if they wear risque T-shirts inspired by the show.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota is offering to help students fight any consequences in what's become a battle between free speech and school conduct policies.

The trouble started last month when student Carrie Rethlefsen saw Eve Ensler's play about female sexuality and sexual violence against women, which led the teen and fellow student Emily Nixon, 17, to start wearing "I (heart) My Vagina" buttons.

Despite the threats of serious punishment, Rethlefsen has continued to wear her button to raise awareness about women's issues. As a show of support, more than 100 students have ordered T-shirts bearing "I (heart) My Vagina" for girls and "I Support Your Vagina" for boys.

 

"We can't really find out what is inappropriate about it," Rethlefsen, 18, told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis. "I don't think banning things like that is appropriate."

Principal Nancy Wondrasch said some in school find the buttons offensive.

"We support free speech," she said. "But when it does infringe on other people's rights and our school policies, then we need to take a look at that."

Rethlefsen has had a string of visits with teachers, counselors, an assistant principal and the principal. A teacher has barred her from one classroom as long as she wears the button.

Wondrasch said she has offered the girls a forum to talk about women's rights and violence against women by letting them set up a table at school. But that is contingent on school officials getting an advance look at information provided, Rethlefsen said.

Minnesota ACLU leader Charles Samuelson said he thinks the school leaders might be curtailing the girls' free speech rights. While he agrees school officials can limit speech considered detrimental or dangerous, he points to a 1969 Supreme Court ruling. In that school First Amendment case, justices ruled administrators' fear about how others might react is not enough to squelch rights.

"Free speech is a messy thing," Samuelson said. "People need to understand that opinions that they are not comfortable with, or even opinions they disagree with, need to be allowed."

The girls have not been in trouble before. In fact, they're top students. Rethlefsen, for example, has been invited to a prestigious science and engineering fair for the fourth year in a row. Nixon joked that the assistant principal didn't recognize her when Nixon was called in over the button.

Rethlefsen and Nixon have ordered the T-shirts - paid for with money collected from friends and supporters - and plan to wear them next week.

More than 100 students are expected to wear the shirts, Nixon said.

"They told us that if a single person showed up wearing them, we're going to get expelled," she said. "People are going to wear them anyway."

School officials won't comment on discipline the students might face.

Ann Rethlefsen, Carrie's mother, is a bit uneasy.

"She's a very independent young lady," Ann Rethlefsen said, adding that she understands the school's point. "We just want to make sure she graduates."

Nixon, too, admits to being nervous about what lies ahead, but she's not ready to back down. "We're not trying to offend anyone," Nixon said. "But I want people to think for themselves and come up with their own conclusions."

The same play attracted controversy in February when the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth put restrictions on a student production of the show. The administration stipulated that the cast couldn't advertise the production off campus, or sell tickets, though they could accept donations.

A college spokesman said at the time that the play's views of human sexuality were not in harmony with the Roman Catholic church's teachings.

Link

[Piglet 0]

Meanwhile, are the children learning anything?

If the school hadn't cracked down on the stupid shirts, there probably wouldn't be more than three kids wearing them. Better that the children wear shirts in support of a piece of theater than shirts celebrating Rapmasta KopKilla or whatever sorry new role model they've got these days.

Also, this doesn't seem to have much to do with uniforms. I've thought school uniforms were a pretty good idea for some time now. Get the kids focused on their studies instead of on who has the trendy athletic shoes.

[CCTAU 3,327]

I my PENIS.

But I guess me being a man and all, that is understood. Now If I decide to where a T-shirt or button around with that on it, It might just make a few folks uncomfortable.

But who should tell me NOT to love my PENIS. After all, I may be the only one that does.......

[MDM4AU 332]

Meanwhile, are the children learning anything?

If the school hadn't cracked down on the stupid shirts, there probably wouldn't be more than three kids wearing them.  Better that the children wear shirts in support of a piece of theater than shirts celebrating Rapmasta KopKilla or whatever sorry new role model they've got these days.

Also, this doesn't seem to have much to do with uniforms.  I've thought school uniforms were a pretty good idea for some time now. Get the kids focused on their studies instead of on who has the trendy athletic shoes.

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As the husband of a high school teacher, I see/hear of certain things being worn for the reaction of others all the time. And I am not speaking about getting the "hot" new boy/girl in school to notice. I'm talking about wearing things that are controversial in nature and are sure to get a response from someone. And it goes way beyond simple expression.

If uniforms were mandatory, there would be one less thing for kids to worry with at school. We are all somewhat familiar with the pressures on children today, why not do what we can to ease at least this.

[Tigermike 3,031]

What about the boys or girls (don't leave anyone out) right to wear "I (heart) Her Vagina" buttons?

[WarTim 3,456]

I have a novel idea. What about PARENTS that control what their kids wear to school?

I know this is a stupid idea, but, What the heck!

[Jenny AU-92 0]

What parent let their high school age daughter see The Vagina Monologues anyway?

It is one of those catch 22 issues: express any distaste or refuse to endorse it's right to appear on campus, and you are a mysogynistic pig (if you are male) or a mentally shrouded beaten down slave (if you are female). Just like a company being forced to turn over money to every single MLK memorial out there or be labeled a racist.

To keep my post from a total hijack, NO the high school student should not be allowed to wear the button, as its sole purpose is to disrupt the learing process (assumign some learning actualyl occurs at her high school". Kind of yelling fire in a crowded thater thing.

The VM are disgusting and do nothing to further their stated goal of "stopping violence against women". They are sensationalist garbage with the sole purpose of creating controversy and shock value. If you want to empower women to take control of their own bodies and stop rape and molestation, then teach a concealed handgun class.

Mike Adams puts it best: Link

The Viagra Monologues

Mike S. Adams (archive)

July 24, 2003

Author’s Note: this editorial contains graphic sexual references and heavy sarcasm.

I have been meaning to read The Vagina Monologues (TVM) ever since my university began sponsoring the feminist play several years ago in an effort to promote respect for women. Last week I finally found the time to read it in its entirety. I’ll never be the same.

In the very first chapter of TVM, author Eve Ensler tells the reader that she wrote the controversial play because she “was worried about what we think about vaginas . . .” and because she “was worried about (her) own vagina. It needed a context of other vaginas-a community, a culture of vaginas.” I suppose it takes a village to raise a vagina.

Ensler got the information for her play by talking to other women about their vaginas. One of the questions she asked over 200 women was “if your vagina got dressed, what would it wear?” Responses from the women who agreed to be interviewed included, “A beret,” “a leather jacket,” “Lace and combat boots,” and “An electrical shock device to keep unwanted strangers away.” Nothing shocking there.

In addition to the questions she posed to all interviewees, Ensler did some focused interviews. One was with a woman who participated in a “vagina workshop.” This is not to be confused with the “C*** Workshop” offered at Wesleyan University (their motto begins: “At Wesleyan, we aim high”). In this revealing chapter, the vagina student describes the director of the workshop as one who “helps women see their own vaginas by seeing other women’s vaginas.”

In fact, she helped her change her view of her own vagina. She had previously seen it as “an anatomical vacuum randomly sucking up particles and objects from the surrounding environment” and an “independent entity, spinning like a star in its own galaxy.” Vacuum? Vagina? Vortex? It’s all so confusing.        

Later, after being unable to locate her clitoris with a handheld mirror, the vagina student was reassured by the director that her “clitoris was not something (she) could lose.” I thought that was pretty insensitive to trangendered persons.

Another chapter urges women to spend time looking at their vaginas in order to love them. Here, the reader learns that vagina hatred is a part of the internalized hatred of the patriarchal culture. The book explains, “Like, if we’d grown up in a culture where we were taught that fat thighs were beautiful, we’d all be pounding down milkshakes and cookies.” Or, like, maybe they’d just, like, watch the Anna Nicole Show. Or, like, maybe something else.

Nonetheless, Ensler calls for vaginal unity by urging all “p******” to “unite.” And some have listened to her by forming “c*** clubs” on college campuses. Some of you may have heard them on your campus chanting “viva la vulva.”      

“My Angry Vagina” is perhaps the most disconnected chapter of TVM. The first few pages offer a diatribe against tampons. It then moves into a discussion of the prospect of talking vaginas capable of doing “vagina impressions.” Imagine changing your impression of Groucho Marx to Monica Lewinsky with no additional props. The possibilities are endless!

A chapter called “The Little Coochie Snorcher That Could” chronicles the seduction of a sixteen-year-old girl by a twenty-four year old woman. Another chapter explores women’s answers to the following question: “What does your vagina smell like?” Answers range from “wet garbage” to “God.” Next thing you know, we’ll have a play called “Irma La Douche.”

Perhaps the highlight (or lowlight) of TVM is an interview with a six-year-old girl, which asks (among others) the following questions: “If your vagina got dressed, what would it wear?”  “If it could speak, what would it say?”,  and “What does your vagina smell like?” Of course I wondered why Ensler would ask these questions of a six-year-old girl. Maybe she got the idea from Michael Jackson. Well, maybe not.

After nearly 120 pages of this obscenity, the author does ponder the possible ill effects of her research by asking whether “talking about vaginas ruin(s) the mystery.” But then she dismisses that conclusion as “another myth that keeps vaginas in the dark, keeps them unknowing and unsatisfied.” Finally she admits, “I realize I don’t know what’s appropriate. I don’t even know what that word means. Who decides?”

Of course, many people would like to see TVM banned from college campuses. I disagree with that approach. Instead, I’m going to write my own play called The Viagra Monologues. That way, I won’t be accused of censoring campus feminists. And I won’t have to interview six-year-old boys.

He wrote about good old bammer too!!!

I will also have my friend take some digital pictures of you to send to potential Alabama football recruits. Shortly thereafter, we will send a "hot sorority girls of Auburn" calendar to those same recruits. Once the feminism starts to interfere with the football, you might get the President's attention.

In your letter, you asked me the following question: "Would any sane parent send a daughter to Bama if they could see what was going on there in the name of diversity?" Since we both know the answer, it's time to give them a preview.

Link

[Piglet 0]

What about the boys or girls (don't leave anyone out) right to wear "I (heart) Her Vagina" buttons?

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Oh, well that would clearly be sexism. They'll expel you for that. Of course.