Hoover High School Alabama

Hoover High School defends decision to ban pro-gay T-shirt

HOOVER, Alabama -- The principal at Hoover High School today released a statement, saying the school allows students to exercise their First Amendment rights "unless such expression disrupts the learning environment or deprives the rights of others."

The statement came in response to a letter from the Southern Poverty Law Center , which informed Hoover school officials this morning that the group would file a federal lawsuit if the school does not stop censoring students. The issue at hand involves a 15-year-old student who the Southern Poverty Law Center says was told by the school that she could no longer wear a T-shirt that read, "Gay? fine by me."

Hoover High Principal Don Hulin issued the following written statement:

"At Hoover High School, we have a tradition and practice of respecting the rights of students to exercise all of their Constitutional entitlements. We are fortunate to have a diversified student body and we work very diligently to encourage a culture of tolerance and understanding. In the tradition of the United States Supreme Court case, Tinker v. Des Moines, students at Hoover High School exercise their First Amendment rights without restriction unless such expression disrupts the learning environment or deprives the rights of others."

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center , school officials told the girl who wore the T-shirt, Sara Couvillon, that they were concerned for her safety, but Couvillon said she did not experience threats of violence, nor did school officials confirm there had been threats. Couvillon had routinely worn the T-shirt during the previous school year without incident, the Montgomery-based group said.

The group said it would file a lawsuit if the school did not rescind its practice of censorship by Sept. 12.

C'mon, let's get real here. The child wore the t-shirt to get attention and cause a stir, nothing more. The fact that this is a news story is a very strong case for the school not allowing this kind of political/social message clothing to be worn at school. If each student Hoover wore some lame "statement" t-shirt every day, the learning environment would be full of distraction. That's just common sense, and if you deny that your ideology is clouding your rational thought. As stupid as Alabama students and teachers are, we don't need any hindrances to learning. What is Hoover to do? Say "Ok, kids you can all start wearing your political/social statement t-shirts and trying to outdo each other until it just gets ridiculous and somebody wears something way over the line. Until then, carry on." Of course not, only a fool would advocate that. Where has common sense gone? At least Don Hulin has exercised a little in this case, and the Elf applauds him. @Hoover High Kids: If you want to express your ideas and views, there are better ways to do it than by simply going to the mall and buying some lame t-shirt with a slogan festooned on the front and wearing it to school. That's just stupid.