Editorials

2008 TPA Better Newspaper Contest

First Place D4

The Graham Leader

Students learned valuable lessons

Freedom of speech, orderly learning and obeying authority squared off last week when students at Graham High School decided to protest upheaval on campus by wearing T-shirts that were not allowed in classrooms.

As up to 80 students arrived on campus wearing shirts that read "A Day, B Day, Those were the good days," they were met by teachers and administrators and told to change. The vast majority did and went to class without a problem. A handful refused, choosing to spend the day at in-school suspension. Administrators said only one or two students were belligerent, earning harsher punishment.

Some students claim that not being allowed to wear the shirts was trampling on their right to free speech. Administrators say they had no choice but to enforce the rules that students had agreed to previously.

We think both the students and administrators handled the situation well.

The reality is life has been tough for returning students at Graham High School. Teachers, administrators and parents agree. The schedule change mixed with construction has presented challenges few have had to face before. Seniors have it especially hard because they must put up with the construction but will not benefit from it.

In a world where few people are willing to stand up for something they believe in, it was refreshing to see a group of students take a risk to make a point.

The vast majority did so in a creative way and complied with authority when asked to change.

The students who refused to change accepted their punishment without much fanfare, saying they had to stand up for what they believed in. We wish more people would do that.

The students made their stand during National Freedom of Speech Week, putting what they learned in the classroom into effect in real life. That is what teachers hope students will do. Quietly, we suspect a lot of the teachers were proud.

Unfortunately, the debate was not about free speech.

While the aspects of free speech are touted frequently in newspapers including The Graham Leader, Constitutional rights are limited. The Supreme Court has made it clear that schools have the right to limit what students can wear without violating free speech.

At Graham Independent School District, the dress code limits items that can be a disruption to class. Graham High School also has a rule that any clothing item designed to be worn by a group of students must be approved in advance by administrators.

When word got out that the T-shirts were being sold on campus, Dean of Students Jerry Gibson met with the students and told them the shirts had not been approved and would not be allowed. Principal Delesa Styles announced to the entire student body several times that the shirts had not been approved and would therefore not be allowed.

The students seem to have guessed that if 80 pupils showed up in force, the school would have to give in. But to their credit, administrators and teachers proved that at Graham High School, rules do matter.

Any parent who sends their child to school wants the rules to be enforced. Rules that are set at the high school are in place for two primary reasons, to keep students safe and to help them learn.

By enforcing the rules even in the face of large numbers, Graham High School sent a message that it is serious about protecting students and creating an atmosphere that fosters learning.

The T-shirts are now allowed at Graham High School, further proving that administrators were not trying to silence the message.

The bottom line is that free speech does not extend inside a school if it interferes with the learning process. Children go to school to learn how to be productive adults after graduation.

Standing up for something you believe in is something every adult will have to do at some point is his or her life. It is nice to see our students have learned that lesson.

They also learned another important lesson last week — the rule of law must be enforced whether it's popular or not.