Joe's Crab Shack T-Shirts not allowed in school?

[Todd&Copper]

These remind me of the "Big Johnson" T-shirts the rednecks used to wear at my high school in 1992! And the "co-ed naked" T-shirts, too.

I agree that they're not appropriate for school. If the kids want to wear them at the mall, fine, but school attire should be more respectful of others.

 

[ophelia]

These remind me of the "Big Johnson" T-shirts the rednecks used to wear at my high school in 1992! And the "co-ed naked" T-shirts, too.

I agree that they're not appropriate for school. If the kids want to wear them at the mall, fine, but school attire should be more respectful of others.

I remember seeing those big johnson shirts in the 80's at my high school. Why is it okay for teens to wear that stuff then but not now? I don't understand why school districts get up in arms over t-shirts or kids wearing black clothes,etc....when they should be worrying about school funding and teachers doing a good job. The only time in which I can see it being appropiate for schools to ban clothing is if it has to do with gang colors.

EDIT: I think that some people are way over-protecting kids these days. Shutting down playgrounds because they 'might' get hurt, not allowing tag at schools. It's getting ridiculous and has to stop. Parents have got to realise that kids are going to be emotionally hurt from time to time, and if they grow up being protected from normal things that kids and teens used to go through then something is going to be missing from them when they grow up. They may end up emotionally stunted in some way, because they have never had to deal with life issues.

 

[JimmyPicker]

When I was in high school (and that's been quite a few years ago), the boys wore Big Johnson shirts all the time. And the Co-Ed Naked shirts too. We never thought it was a big deal.

 

[Todd&Copper]

I remember seeing those big johnson shirts in the 80's at my high school. Why is it okay for teens to wear that stuff then but not now? I don't understand why school districts get up in arms over t-shirts or kids wearing black clothes,etc....when they should be worrying about school funding and teachers doing a good job. The only time in which I can see it being appropiate for schools to ban clothing is if it has to do with gang colors.

EDIT: I think that some people are way over-protecting kids these days. Shutting down playgrounds because they 'might' get hurt, not allowing tag at schools. It's getting ridiculous and has to stop. Parents have got to realise that kids are going to be emotionally hurt from time to time, and if they grow up being protected from normal things that kids and teens used to go through then something is going to be missing from them when they grow up. They may end up emotionally stunted in some way, because they have never had to deal with life issues.

It wasn't OK in my school back then - if some dummy was caught wearing one of those shirts, he had to turn his shirt inside-out or call his mommy to bring him a new shirt to wear for the day.

I still think it is disrespectful to wear these innuendo T-shirts to school. It shows a lack of respect for other students, teacher and the rest of the school staff. Would you wear these suggestive phrases on clothing to church?

 

[Geoff_M]

You can argue Constitutional law all you want, but the fact is that it's been ruled time and again that schools can limit the wearing of such attire when it's deemed "disruptive" to the classroom environment. Sexual and drug references, funny or not, are pretty much "automatics" in schools... and always have been. In the early 70's, my parents gave my uncle a souvenir that got him sent home from school on day. They went to the Virgin Islands and brought him back one of the "I slept on a Virgin (island)!"... with "island" in a very small font. Funny, yes, but also inappropriate.

I actually got away with wearing a similar shirt in high school... I returned from a visit to Washington DC with a t-shirt from a local ice cream parlor. On the back was a line of dancing ice cream cones with the slogan "Eat me at Crumpets of Georgetown". I knew what I was doing, and I wanted the attention from my friends and classmates for wearing such a "cool' shirt. No teacher said anything, but I only wore it to school once and decided to not push my luck. Looking back at it all now, I realize it was pretty juvenile to show it off in school and I wouldn't have blamed the asst. principal if I had been asked to wear it inside-out or go home and change. What I did wasn't about "free speech"... I just wanted a lot of snickers from other kids for a cheap "joke".

 

[PatsMom]

You can argue Constitutional law all you want, but the fact is that it's been ruled time and again that schools can limit the wearing of such attire when it's deemed "disruptive" to the classroom environment. Sexual and drug references, funny or not, are pretty much "automatics" in schools... and always have been. In the early 70's, my parents gave my uncle a souvenir that got him sent home from school on day. They went to the Virgin Islands and brought him back one of the "I slept on a Virgin (island)!"... with "island" in a very small font. Funny, yes, but also inappropriate.

In our school district you can add any references to alcohol or cigarettes to the list of banned items. I don't like censorship either but I have to agree with the school dress code. They are trying to promote sexual responsibility, avoidance of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Why would they allow T-shirts advertising these things? And when the dress code came out I do know of a few parents who got their panties in a twist and contacted the ACLU - they were basically told what the PP said - the courts have held that it is within the school's right to have a dress code.

 

[Belle0101]

I remember seeing those big johnson shirts in the 80's at my high school. Why is it okay for teens to wear that stuff then but not now? I don't understand why school districts get up in arms over t-shirts or kids wearing black clothes,etc....when they should be worrying about school funding and teachers doing a good job. The only time in which I can see it being appropiate for schools to ban clothing is if it has to do with gang colors.

EDIT: I think that some people are way over-protecting kids these days. Shutting down playgrounds because they 'might' get hurt, not allowing tag at schools. It's getting ridiculous and has to stop. Parents have got to realise that kids are going to be emotionally hurt from time to time, and if they grow up being protected from normal things that kids and teens used to go through then something is going to be missing from them when they grow up. They may end up emotionally stunted in some way, because they have never had to deal with life issues.

I'd forgotten that at my son's elem. school tag is now outlawed. Dodge ball too. I grew up playing Kick the Can, Dodge Ball, Red Rover, regular tag, Freeze Tag ... good times!

You can argue Constitutional law all you want, but the fact is that it's been ruled time and again that schools can limit the wearing of such attire when it's deemed "disruptive" to the classroom environment. Sexual and drug references, funny or not, are pretty much "automatics" in schools... and always have been. In the early 70's, my parents gave my uncle a souvenir that got him sent home from school on day. They went to the Virgin Islands and brought him back one of the "I slept on a Virgin (island)!"... with "island" in a very small font. Funny, yes, but also inappropriate.

I actually got away with wearing a similar shirt in high school... I returned from a visit to Washington DC with a t-shirt from a local ice cream parlor. On the back was a line of dancing ice cream cones with the slogan "Eat me at Crumpets of Georgetown". I knew what I was doing, and I wanted the attention from my friends and classmates for wearing such a "cool' shirt. No teacher said anything, but I only wore it to school once and decided to not push my luck. Looking back at it all now, I realize it was pretty juvenile to show it off in school and I wouldn't have blamed the asst. principal if I had been asked to wear it inside-out or go home and change. What I did wasn't about "free speech"... I just wanted a lot of snickers from other kids for a cheap "joke".

I appreciate your honesty. I suspect that kids must do it more for shock value than "free speech" even still.

 

[Todd&Copper]

OT: regarding the "games" kids are not allowed to play in school anymore - my DH had his hip broken in a game of dodgeball in 5th or 6th grade. He went through 20 years of agony every time it rained or was especially humid, until he was finally deemed a good candidate for hip replacement. So, I am on the side with this particular "sport" being banned. Kids are extremely vicious when they "play" this "game".

 

[GeorgeG]

Okay, I guess I'm getting old, but I was a bit thrown back by the fact it seems okay for a kid to where a t-shirt to school, regardless of design or message. When I was in school the only place that even a plain white t-shirt was acceptable was in gym.

It seems we've become too caught up in allowing our kids freedom of expression and not enough about simple disciplines. It doesn't take a lot to dress appropriately for school, or even work. Perhaps we're not concerned enough about preparing our youth for work or functioning in the real world.

 

[ozarkmom]

Some of the Joe's shirts probably not. On the other hand a few years ago my friends dd was in 7th grade and she was wearing the peace love and crabs t shirt. The principal had her mom bring her another shirt and asked the girl if she knew what crabs were and since she thought they were shell fish she had to look up the other definition. This leads to a funny story about another friend in the group. She was teaching at the same Jr. high. She came here from Viet Nam as a teenager. This woman is very intelligent but at times very naive. We're all together talking about the t shirt story when naive friend says I don't get it. I look at her husband and he shrugs. Then once again I don't get it so finally I whisper what the other crabs are. The look on her face was hilarious.

 

[Belle0101]

Some of the Joe's shirts probably not. On the other hand a few years ago my friends dd was in 7th grade and she was wearing the peace love and crabs t shirt. The principal had her mom bring her another shirt and asked the girl if she knew what crabs were and since she thought they were shell fish she had to look up the other definition. This leads to a funny story about another friend in the group. She was teaching at the same Jr. high. She came here from Viet Nam as a teenager. This woman is very intelligent but at times very naive. We're all together talking about the t shirt story when naive friend says I don't get it. I look at her husband and he shrugs. Then once again I don't get it so finally I whisper what the other crabs are. The look on her face was hilarious.

That's the only shirt I've ever seen which is why I wasn't understanding it being banned at school. I was thinking crabs as in food. I mean why would you wish someone crabs as in the itchy scratchies?

Which in turn led to my Dis education on the other shirts. I love the Dis! I've learned so many new things here!

 

[ophelia]

It wasn't OK in my school back then - if some dummy was caught wearing one of those shirts, he had to turn his shirt inside-out or call his mommy to bring him a new shirt to wear for the day.

I still think it is disrespectful to wear these innuendo T-shirts to school. It shows a lack of respect for other students, teacher and the rest of the school staff. Would you wear these suggestive phrases on clothing to church?

Come on...going to a church is different than going to a high school.