School boy wears makeup, gets suspended.
James Herndon, a California High school student has been suspended for wearing makeup.
He believes his rights have been violated. “If I can’t wear makeup, then the girls or the staff can’t wear makeup either,” he stated.
While I am not a wiccan, nor do I condone his “style” of makeup, I believe he may be onto something here, even if on a technicality.
If it is ok for women to wear makeup, then why not let men wear it too? Some might argue that he isn’t merely wearing makeup, but he is face-painting.
Is this suspension akin to what France is doing with regard to muslim women not being allowed to wear their hijabs? (cover their faces)
Is this a law on secularity and conspicuous religious symbols, or is this something against Wicca? Is this merely an attempt to supress freedom of speech (expression)? I can’t really answer those questions, I am not a lawyer.
However, I do not believe he should have been suspended for “face painting” (or as he calls it, wearing makeup). On a lighter note, I knew tons of girls in high school who went beyond merely “putting on makeup” to a point where I thought they were face painting. It was sick, but I didn’t think they should have been suspended for using too much.
Back to the point…
The school says it suspended him under the dress code rules that disallow anything that distracts from the learning process. You know, this kid is expressing himself. Shouldn’t we LEARN that people can be and have different backgrounds, both in their personal and religious lives? Once we learn to deny our own ignorance and try to embrace our differences, I truly believe that any argument to the fact that he was being a “distraction” could easily be quelled. OK, granted it may be weird, but that isn’t excuse to dismiss him so easily and say that he was being a distraction. For that matter, couldn’t the Arabs use the same argument when we send women over there who aren’t covered?
No, I’m not trying to be a tee-hugging liberal here, but what I am trying to convey is the fact that we can’t take an ego-centric view to society. This is America. We are an ever-changing melting pot. Let’s learn to be accepting already, okay?
April 14th, 2005 at 10:04 pm
No fucking way this is James Herndon….. how cool is that shit? Jase, you GOTSTA email this to el Herndo.
April 14th, 2005 at 10:06 pm
i F*cking did. :0
April 14th, 2005 at 10:15 pm
This kid will be allowed back in school after a hearing in the supreme court, if it goes that far. A few years ago the supremem court ruled that hair colors, or styles of any kind does not add a distraction to the learning ability in classes. I’m sure this will be ruled in the same way.
April 15th, 2005 at 8:54 am
I dont know, I wouldnt have wanted this kid sitting in front of me in school. His face painting is nowhere in the ball park as makeup for a women. You can’t disqualify the arguement of a distraction because that is what it is. We need to stop taking rights from principals to control their schools. I would even imagine that this kid was given multiple warnings.
The Supreme Court does not represent the American People anymore. Our Court systems are writing public policy what the majority of Americans simply do not agree.
April 15th, 2005 at 1:50 pm
I didn’t understand your statement about not being able to disqualify the argument about it being a distraction.
Could you rephrase ‘it is what it is’?
April 15th, 2005 at 2:19 pm
“I truly believe that any argument to the fact that he was being a “distraction” could easily be quelled”
I do not feel any arguement about him bieng a distraction could be quelled. How many kids have to be distracted by this one kid for him to be a distraction. The fact that the kid is a distraction is why he was sent home.
I cant promise that this kid did distract the other kids, but you cant promise me that he didnt.
April 15th, 2005 at 3:53 pm
No, I can’t and I didn’t say I could. I said “Once we learn to fight against our own ignorance and try to embrace our differences”.
I said “once we learn…”.
I bet at least one person at one school across America has been distracted by a muslim girl’s need to wear a face covering. Does this make it a distraction warranting suspension? I think not.
April 15th, 2005 at 3:55 pm
well… I disagree. I don’t believe the kid is a distraction to the learning ability in a classroom. Once you’ve seen a kid dress like this your used to it after a while. I remember once in high school, a kid named Brandon had his eye brows waxed after years of having a uni-brow being there. In every class, this boy caused people to go up to him, and tease him, or say that he looked good. Or that something looked different about him, but they couldn’t quite put their finger on it. Brandon’s waxed uni-brow caused a problem in all our classes, but does that mean he should get suspened from class, because other people are too ignorant to focus on what they are supossed to be doing, rather than what some kid did to his face?
According to you Joey, anyone who poses as a distraction should be sent home. Since you agree that James Herndon, should have been sent home. That distractions should be suspended. According to you:
“I do not feel any arguement about him bieng a distraction could be quelled. How many kids have to be distracted by this one kid for him to be a distraction. The fact that the kid is a distraction is why he was sent home.”
So basically what I got from your comment was that if you pose as a distraction, then you should be sent home. Especially if you were given warnings.
So this guy Brandon from my high shcool, should have been sent home just because he waxed his brow? I think not. I get distracted by how thinck some women’s make-up is, but it doesn’t mean they should be sent home. I have no problem with men wearing make-up. I have not problem with men who have tats all over their bodies, and no problem with men wearing femine type clothes. But when I see women wearing make-up, or bad clothes, or tats all over their bodies, it cause a distraction to me. I’m sure to everyone they have their own little distractions, but it doesn’t mean that one person should be singled out because people from another generation, don’t like what they see.
April 15th, 2005 at 4:24 pm
Ditto said
“but it doesn’t mean that one person should be singled out because people from another generation, don’t like what they see.”
The problem with that statement is that this kid is choosing to be singled out by dressing different.
Look, if the kid wants dress like that and wear face paint then that is fine when he is not at school. When he goes to school, he has to follow the rules of the principal.
I dont believe a kid should be sent home just because he is a distraction. I do believe that a kid who has been warned about his behavior OR dress style can be sent home on the principal’s descretion. This can apply to women as well. I just dont agree with the idea that the kid can do whatever whenever he wants in school.
April 15th, 2005 at 5:30 pm
yeah he chooses to wear makeup. Just like the arabs choose to cover their face. It isn’t so much that they are “choosing” but that they are following their religious belief.
April 16th, 2005 at 11:03 pm
At my public high school all styles were at the final discretion of the principal. If something was a distraction, you could be asked to “change� it. If not, you were suspended. This was actually used on a number of occasions when a guy tried to grow excessive facial hair and die it different colors and when a girl shaved her head. The school administration had final say so over what was distracting.
But really, if a girl wore her make up like that to the same school she would *probably* be told the same thing. Wear makeup in a way that does not draw undue attention to yourself. Frankly, I think he could wear make up and get away with it just as long as it did not draw undue attention to his self. Perhaps he could have wore a little fleshy pale color lipstick that can be used to lighten shades down as well as used alone for a more natural look. Of course, on some it may appear to be a little peachy, but it’s definitely not a horrid sheer pink with a touch of glisten….anyway, I digress.
The political protests and all or fine, but there comes a point when your laws have to be used with a bit of common sense. Really, isn’t that the whole purpose of the principal? Someone we put in authority that we trust to use wise discretion. You can not legislate every technicality. If you could, you would not need a principal. Just a lawyer to enforce the “laws�.
April 17th, 2005 at 8:14 am
I’m not as well versed in civil liberties and political correctness as the rest of ramdac’s members are. So I’m sure you’ll rip me a new one. But a big reason we have kids killing each other, internal terrorism, and even plain ol’ accepted mediocrisy is that we have become a nation of “Accept Everything”. Tolerate everything. One may not like that this freak of nature was sent home because of his makeup, hair, and dress. But any reasonable person would see this kid and agree he is a distraction to the learning process. Why SHOULD his classmates have to “get used” to his look? The kid was warned multiple times. The principal had every right to send him home to change or face suspension. You know why this is even getting national attention? Because he and his weirdo Mom are Wiccens (sp?). You take a look at both and quickly figure out they were outcasts to begin with and latched on to a deviant religious following because most of society rejected them.
If the kid wants to wear makeup and dresses, he can do it like most guys would… at home in his bedroom.
April 17th, 2005 at 9:55 am
When you think about it, that is pretty much the direction we are moving in, though. I’d be willing to bet that in most of the cases with school shootings and now all these teacher molestation cases, we would have weenie principals who maybe had bad vibes about the person, but didn’t have any “reason” to either expell or fire.
Compare the following two stories:
Winston Poole arrested for writing about school shooting
Jeff Weise shoots everyone at school
I noticed several similarities between all these stories, but one striking difference, including alot of “freedom of speech” advocates yelling in the two cases that their freedom of speech was being violated. Yet, many of these “advocates of freedoms” wonder why no one noticed that Weise was posting on Nazi post boards.
Also interesting is the fact that the guard at Weise’s school was unarmed. What the heck is the use of having a guard then??? I guess they didn’t want to send the wrong messege to students . . . Seems like that worked splendedly.
What really stands out to me, though, is the following quote:
Despite the fact that the boy was placed in the “school’s Homebound program for some violation of policy,” he the principal did not see him as a trouble maker (though obviously others at the school did).
Anyway, when we place this story within context, we’ve got to understand why certain decisions are made. As Ryan said, we need to use common sense. Unfortunately, we cannot legislate that.
Anyway, I can’t say this kid probably would have gone off and shot people . . . . I don’t know him or know much about the story other tan this article. But I do know we can’t attack a principal for doing what he things is best then placed in the context of what is going on today. I’m sure he’s not after the kid just because of his makeup. In fact, I would be willing to bet there are some kids at the school that look similiar whom he hasn’t had any trouble with. The fact is, that most people, though not all, don’t go around looking for others to pick on . . . . but when they sense that someone might be a trouble maker, they do get defensive.
April 17th, 2005 at 3:30 pm
Just beacuse a kid wants to dye is hair some pink, or a drastic red, doesn’t mean he’s doing it to be singled out. Just that he’s thinking, “Hey, that color looks awesome.” I don’t think that a principal should be allowed to decide what color is approiate to dye your own hair. Personally, I don’t think that a lot of people dye their hair to a flattering color. But it doesn’t mean that someone should tell them it looks bad, when the person who has their hair dyed thinks it looks good.
For instance, those of you who know me would say, Brandy, you’d look horrible as a blonde, but to me I may think that it’d look great. Just as this boy thinks his hair looks good red, doesn’t mean it’s gonna look so good to everyone else.
Most principals, don’t really go by what would be best for the students, or for the greater good, but what they personally think, is approiate to wear.
In Plano, Texas, students don’t have a dress code. Of course students aren’t going to go to school naked, but that particular school district has one of the highest scores in TAKS, or TAAS (state required test) than anyone district inthe state. These students do well in their classes, even though they have such “distractions” to deal with on a daily basis. Then other school districts such as Dallas, Texas who have very strict dress codes, do very poorly in State Test, they have one of the lowest scores every year. SO do the facts tell you that dress codes are in place to force students to keep thier nose in their books, or that students without dress codes, manage to keep their noses int heir books without being forced, as much as other school districts?
April 17th, 2005 at 4:30 pm
My high school had an extremely strict dress code compared to the surrounding high school. We were only allowed to were a certain brand of gray pants and either a white or navy blue shirt. Our ACT scores, on average, were 2 - 3 points higher than that of the surrounding schools. When I got to college, I and those I graduated with were more than prepared. In fact, every year, each college at our university names their “top freshman.” Three of the four (education, Arts & Sciences, Business, and Nursing) named graduates from my graduating class.
It is not just the dress code, but it is the whole environment that comes with it. Some school don’t need dress codes because they are already performing. Others need them, as well as other steps, to begin moving in the right direction. As a student, I had to develop discipline. I learned there was a time and place for everything. I too, have have gone through those periods where I have died my hair blue and purple. However, I did it during the summer . . . NOT during the school year.
We shouldn’t tie a principal’s hands from making the decisions he deems most appropriate. We should just each of these situations on a case by case basis . . . not make some all encompassing law. As it stand now, principals ARE able to make decisions case by case, but we are steadily moving towards a place where Senators in Washington and state capitals and others who have never set foot inside a classroom (as an educator) are making decisions for those who are trained professionals in their fields. Look, for example, at many of these Zero Tolerance Policy laws. In some places, a child can be expelled for bringing something that even LOOKS like drugs to campus. They may not even realize what they are doing at the time. Why is this? Because of legislature and laws saying we have to do this stuff ALL of the time, not treat situations on a case by case situation. If this principal had a history of throwing everyone out of the school, and you had a pattern of teachers disenting, that would be one thing - it would deserve an independent investigation to look into the matter to see if his motives are right. I suspect, though, that this kid was a trouble maker and had a terrible attitude towards his teachers and other faculty members before this situation ever happened.
April 17th, 2005 at 7:33 pm
Josh, you said, “…decisions case by case…” I agree with this. Each situation should be dealt with case by case. It was a very good point about your personal high school appearance. When i was in high school, I remember plenty of times where the district tried to voet for different uniforms for our students to wear. This voting process wasn’t done by teachers, or students, but by parents, and the parents said no to it. Uniforms as you had in high school, are different from having a dress code, like my high school had. With uniforms, I automatically, think that their isn’t any freedom to express yourself with your appearance. I think that if a person isn’t allowed to express themselves, then whats the point in existing. Its only natural to want to separate yourself from everyone else. To be unique, and different. Although a uniformed school district may produce higher ACT scores, doesn’t meant hat the student is allowed to find something out baout themselves before they have to go into the world by themselves.
April 17th, 2005 at 7:38 pm
I remember lots of rules when i was in high school concerning the dress code, but most of them weren’t enforced. We weren’t allowed to wear sandals, or wear high gaged ear rings. Guys werren’t allowed to have earings, or long hair, or wear nail polish, or make-up. But all the time guys and girls did all of these things.
I do think that some teachers single out certain students to punish for their dress code. I remember that plenty of times I was wearing something out of dress code, but I never got in trouble, not once, not even a warning. I had teachers comment on it, but they never sent me to the office. while some other students got in trouble for the same thing, and got sent right away. But hen again most of my teachers loved me. I wasn’t a teacher’s pet or whatever either. Or at least I didn’t try to be.
I used to wear midriffs, scandles, short dresses, and skirts, tank tops, and cleavage. I never got in trouble. I’d go into a class with a jacket or something, and then about 15 minutes into the class I’d take it off, and bear my shoulders, or whatever to the class. No one ever said anythng to me about it. I remember in Tech Theatre, whenever we had to do building, or electrical work, or painting, I change into a pair of really short shorts, and a tank top, and get to work, the principal would walk in and not a word would be said.
I know never getting in trouble was because I was the world’s greatest student, because I only graduated with a 3.069 GPA, and I remember plenty of times of not doing homework, and I failed algebra my freshmen year, and barely passed it every year after that, due to not doing homework. I hated, no I hate Math. I’ll do it if I really have to, but if I don’t then I won’t. Its just the one subject that I hate the most. Its boring, and well its just numbers. Nothing to great about it!
I think It was because I’m so sweet, and kind to everyone. So my teachers, and such respected me, and over looked it. Thats my thought at least.
April 17th, 2005 at 8:50 pm
I can remember my high school having a dress code forbidding girls to wear revealing clothing.
But when I started out in college…….Damn!
My inability to focus on anything but the long-legged hottie in Daisy Duke shorts, not to mention the two midgets hiding underneath her really tight T-shirt, may have lowered my college GPA, LOL.
I recall an incident in high school where I had to wear sunglasses for several weeks, because of medication making my eyes extremely sensitive to light.
You would have thought getting permission to do that from high school administraters was no different than getting into the CIA.
Speaking of algebra.
I’m thinking of writing my high school math teachers and thanking them for wasting my time (as well as hundreds of dollars spent on private tutors)……..seeing as how I’ve NEVER used it in the real world.
April 17th, 2005 at 10:28 pm
Thats a wonderful idea… I might borrow that, and write my teachers as well. Or perhaps, I’ll visit them, and tell them, that I wasted days of my life, sitting in this desk here, scratching symbols into it, and blankly staring at that dry erase board, day dreaming about being in the sun swimming, or sleeping in my warm comfy bed. So that way it has more impact to her, when I can show physical evidence.
April 17th, 2005 at 11:50 pm
I understand this sentiment. Yet, at the same time, I do see the advantages of a dress code.
I think that, instead, we should focus on trying to get the students to deal with their problems and ‘discover’ themselves internally. Alot of times, we think we are trying to “be different,” but the “different” is exactly the same as someone else. There is nothing new under the sun. We should focus on attitudes, and should teach students do develop a disciplined life style. I don’t see character development being exclusive to being just like everyone else who dresses different from ‘the norm.’
I think you nailed it right on the head when you summerized your own situation. You are an example of why case-by-case situations are important. If your principal’s hands would have been tied one way or another, your high school experience wouldn’t have been as good as it was. You had a good attitude, and your teachers knew this, so you weren’t singled out . . . even when you ‘broke’ the rules.
One of the biggest things I’ve learned post-high school is that rules are pretty flexible in most situations. And I think that is a good thing. Most teacher at my university put on their syllubi that if you skip X amount of classes, your grade will be lowered. However, I rarely see this enforced. It has been at times, but only if the student was a troublemaker. For the most part, I could skip class as much as I wanted and still make an A, while another student could skip class less then me, but cause trouble while in class, and the rule would be enforced. I suspect the dress code is the same at most schools. The point is, “having a bad attitude” isn’t a good reason to either drop someone from your class or expell them from school, though it does merrit it at times. And my teachers are responsible with these rules . . . . basically, as long as you put forth an effort, they are willing to work with you. But, if you are wasting their time, they will allow you to waste your money (by paying to be in their class).
April 18th, 2005 at 10:10 am
hmmmmm - Sounds like my boss. I see a lot of “progressive” *thinking* people graduate from school (high school/college) and have an extremely tough time holding a job. Mainly, because they do not understand that not everything is a democracy and yes, your boss can tell you what to do and what to wear. And if you fight him too much, he will fight you…right out the door.
Why should school be so much different? Now my boss is accountable to his “board”. And if he does not produce results, out HE goes. It is supposed to be the same with the principal…here is a lot of authority and personal discretion. If you don’t produce results..out you go. And yes, I have seen principals ousted multiple times in my district.
April 18th, 2005 at 10:27 am
I totally agree jimvford on your post number 12.
hmmm - I give you all the latest rage of 4 e-props.
April 18th, 2005 at 10:36 am
Ryan,
The difference between school and a job, is that school you’re being forced to go to, and a job is hopefully something that you like to do. So if you have a job, and you enjoy what you do, then hopefully, you won’t mind wearing the dresscode. You get paid by someone to wear what they tell you to wear it gives you a whole different perspective to do it. In school, I never got a pay check, but I still enjoyed what I did, but I also didn’t follow dress code very well.
In college you pay to be in school, so hopefully your going to follow the rules, but most colleges don’t really have a dress code.
April 18th, 2005 at 10:41 am
Josh,
“There is nothing new under the sun. We should focus on attitudes, and should teach students do develop a disciplined life style. I don’t see character development being exclusive to being just like everyone else who dresses different from ‘the norm.’ ”
I do agree with this. I’m not trying to bash dress codes, because I do realize that they are in place for a reason. I do think that if you learn to dress more approiately at a young age, then it’ll stick with you later on in life. Your right it is an internal developement. What you wear ont he outside doesn’t determine who you are, but it may help you realize what it is that you have taste in, or help you make good decisions about yourself when you’re going to have to prepare yourself for a Presentation or something.
April 18th, 2005 at 10:50 am
Joey,
“I do believe that a kid who has been warned about his behavior OR dress style can be sent home on the principal’s descretion.”
I look back at this statement and I do see your point of view with it. Some things should be kept at home and not brought into public. For example… there is this old man who lives down my street who has breast implants… I think tha the should be kept inside because I don’t want to see that.
Sorry to some of you, but I’m not making this up. If you want to become a women then I think you should go the whole nine yards, and get a full sex change done. If a guy came to school like that, I wouldn’t show up myself. It would really bother me, because this guy is trying to be different, and its weird to me.
I don’t have a problem with people who have operations, or who even dress like the opposite sex, but I think that if your going to have breast implants done, why not have the full operation done.
So basically some things are not approiate to have in school, dress codes are there to protect us from guys wanting to get breast implants. From girls getting pregnant due to sexy clothing, and from guys wearing make-up and nail polish, to prevent them from that slow change into the opposite sex. The last thing I want is for the guys I knew in high school to get breast implants.
April 18th, 2005 at 10:56 am
But what is the *purpose* of the school you are forced to go to?
It is to teach you the required behavior and skills to acquire and hold a job/activity that is contributing to society.
Schools are not a democracy. The school’s job is not to worry about what “bothers” you. It is there to make sure you get an education and that you learn to follow rules whether you agree with them or not.
Now how successful they are at this….ughhh…Ill leave that alone.
April 18th, 2005 at 11:00 am
well the thing is Ryan, is that when I was in school, thats all I ever heard. “God, I hate school” Or “I can’t wait till I’m outta here” ect…
Unfortunatly most students aren’t worried about college until their senior year… I know of plenty of students who never planned to go to college until right before graduation.
April 18th, 2005 at 12:28 pm
“I know of plenty of students who never planned to go to college until right before graduation. ”
I do to . . . . and, now that I’m two weeks away from graduation, I can say most of them didn’t make it past their third semester.
People curse themselves by the attitudes they have early on in life. If they “hate” school, they will hate alot of things. They typically won’t be happy in their job, even if they are lucky enough to get a well paying job. If they aren’t happy in high school (where you are ENCOURAGED to have an extracurricular life), they definitelly won’t be happy when they have a boss breathing down their neck expecting results on a daily basis.
Unfortunately, there are very few situations in this here life that are “truly” enjoyable. You have some good times . . . don’t get me wrong, but if you don’t develop an attitude to be content in bad situations - to find happiness outside of your circumstances - then it’ll be a long road.
April 18th, 2005 at 1:06 pm
I completly agree with you Josh.
April 18th, 2005 at 2:38 pm
Basically, the idea of doing whatever I want to do is a myth.
We live in a society that has freedom of speech and expression, but we also live in a society that has consequences. I support this young man’s right to play dress up, but I also support the consequences that are laid on him. This country has become to politically correct.
I reserve the right to judge someone based on appearances. Some may few that as wrong, I am just being honest.
April 18th, 2005 at 2:47 pm
its true, most people do judge on appearance. I do to! However, I have this thing that goes on in my head, that I have to be nice to everyone, even people I don’t like. If they call me I’ll talk to them like their my best friend, but I have an issue of not telling people that they bother me, or that I feel weird about them. So with my problem, I can sometimes get past their appearance and find out who they are, and such. Many people I’ve met have changed my view of them just because I talked to them and got to know them, thats the difference. Trying to learn about them, or just ignoring.
April 18th, 2005 at 3:32 pm
I am not implying that I dont give people a chance. I deal with the public on a daily basis, so I allow people the chance to change my mind. Bigots are the ones who dont give poeple the chance to change their minds.
Someone can make a snap judgement, and still be a fair person.
April 18th, 2005 at 3:46 pm
very true Joey!
April 30th, 2005 at 12:58 pm
This may be too late in the game, but consider this bit. Muslim women wearing garments that cover their faces are doing so out of a devotion to their religion, not in an attempt to shock or get attention. It’s not a rebellion- indeed, it’s quite the opposite.
This kid was rebelling. His ’self expression’ was really the same thing as throwing his middle finger up to the entire world around him. Why? What he did and what all goth-types do, knowingly or otherwise, was take the exact opposite of what is generally considered a social norm and paint it all over himself.
If we continue along this path of political correctness, we will become blind to the differences between expression and rebellion, and that is a very dangerous thing. Not that I am against all progressive ideas, I just think that some social boundaries should definitely not erode.
If you have a career, as I assume most of you do, imagine the consequences of showing up to work with a mohawk and eye shadow. Christ, imagine the consequences of showing up wearing a tie with a stain on it. The cold, hard fact is that appearances speak volumes about character, and in the real world it’s one strike and you’re fucked. The only people who care about the plight of some freak in California are the people who have the extra time on their hands to be idealistic (i.e., those who don’t work and, therefore, have little or no pull in society).
And as for this going to the supreme court, how is this a matter for the highest court in the land? If our legal system is even slightly efficient this will be killed in a very low-level apelate court.