Teen Suspended for Wearing Rosary Beads to School
Why?
School officials have determined that rosary beads have become a gang-related symbol. But that didn’t stop Raymond. They have become a symbol of comfort to him as he copes with the death of his brother and uncle.
I understand the need to be cautious, protect the kids, and prevent gang activity, but at what point does this protect reward the guilty (the gang members) over the victims (like Raymond).
It’s one thing if it was a particular gang sign, drawing, etc. But rosary beads?
This is a normal part of culture. If gangs adopted carrying #2 pencils, or wearing white t-shirts, or walking with hands in your pockets would all that have to be banned? At what point do you stop?
This is stupid. I think school officials have crossed over the line. You can’t ban everything. Sometimes you have to find a different approach rather than infringe on the rights on the innocent.
Right? Or is my point a Hail Mary?
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Steve-Great breakdown. My problem is what other kind of censorship will this lead to? Of course, it is always to ‘help’.
I question first whether the Rosary/gang connection is even true. Could school officials be buying into an urban legend? The connection doesn’t seem too credible at first glance – unless perhaps they refer to gangs from an ethnic Catholic tradition – such as Hispanic.
If it’s an actual connection, the answer is not simple or easy. One feature of gang attire is that is should look “normal” to outsiders, but be recognizable to other gang members. This could be difficult to police and control. But there could be some useful guidelines.
The burden should be on school authorities to show that the attire being banned is used by an identifiable gang, operating in the area from which students of that school are drawn, and used in the manner worn by the alleged offender.
E.g. – if blue attire is a sign of the Crips (and it is), or their local affiliates, and no such gangs operate in the area, you should not be able to ban wearing blue. If the distinctive sign is a blue baseball cap, you should not be able to send some home for wearing a blue plaid shirt, etc.
-Steve
HA!
I don’t remember anyone getting any sort of disciplinary ANYTHING when Madonna made rosary beads a fashion must-have for girls in the 80s…