Les reports, unsympathetically, about a case of clear religious oppression! Not.
Tracy Prochnow said Highland High School in Indiana suspended her daughter, Brittany Brown, on Monday because the junior wore a Christian-themed T-shirt.
No — it’s because she wore any t-shirt, and any shirt with any slogans or logos on it. Because that’s against the school dress code, which requires kids to wear khakis and polo shirts without logos..
“I don’t believe it matters what she’s wearing — whether it be a T-shirt and jeans or polo and khakis — as to what she’s going to learn,” Prochnow told WRTV.
That may well be. Dress codes are controversial. But Ms. Prochnow is not just claiming that a general freedom of expression case — probably because (a) she’s not after general freedom of expression, but her particular desired expression, and (b) the courts have made it clear that school dress codes in general pass Constitutional muster.
No, Ms. Prochnow is arguing that her daughter is being religiously oppressed by being prevented from wearing a Christian t-shirt to school.
And we’re not talking about someone surprised by an oppressive dress code or something. Brittany wasn’t suspended because she wore a Christian-themed t-shirt — it’s because she wore a Christian-themed t-shirt for the fourth time.
Prochnow said the school may be violating her daughter’s rights, and she has asked the school board to change the code.
But never fear — while it’s doubtful that a Goth, or a political activist, or a pagan, would get any traction on the case, since it was a Christian …
A city council member, Ollie Dixon, said he would work to change the policy. It wasn’t clear what changes he would favor.
I’m not sanguine about dress codes in school — but it sounds like the school is within its legally-tested rights to impose it. It’s not targeting Christianity, or even religion. Everyone’s being treated equally — arguably oppressively, but equally. To play the “religious freedom” card — especially about a Christian t-shirt — smacks of seeking favoritism of a particularly annoying kind.
Dave, that is the point.
Just like the yahoos that got upset about the Hindu giving the prayer in congress awile back. While it is difficult always being the “oppressed” Majority, they seem to revel in it.
Of course that’s the point. That’s what makes it particularly objectionable.