Police State Controls Freedoms In America

School orders boy to cover his T-shirt
'The Real Terrorist Is In The White House' is called a distraction by school officials
By MICHELE BESSO / The News Journal
11/20/2004



Thirteen-year-old Stephen Truszkowski said he's doing what his mother taught him to do - standing up for his beliefs.

But officials at Everett Meredith Middle School in Middletown say he is doing something else - becoming a distraction.

Truszkowski wore a white, short-sleeved T-shirt to school Friday with the words, "The Real Terrorist Is In The White House," written in black on the front, and "End the Tyranny" written on the back.

School officials told him the shirt was inappropriate and if he didn't cover it up, he would be suspended.

Truszkowski covered it up, like he did earlier in the week when he wore the shirt to school, as well as another time two weeks ago. But this time, he confronted the principal with a copy of the school dress code in hand.

"I told him that based on the school code, he had no right to tell me to cover it up," he said. He said the shirt does not violate the school's dress code because it's not profane or violent.

The teen feels the school is infringing on his first amendment right to free speech.

"I think they violated my rights because I wore the shirt to express my opinion, that we shouldn't have gone to war," Truszkowski said. "I'm not saying I don't respect the soldiers, but I think what Bush is doing is inappropriate."

The school's principal, Claude McAllister, did not return calls for comment.

According to the Delaware Code, the school board of each public school district has the authority to establish and enforce a dress code to "promote an orderly, disciplined school environment and to encourage uniformity of student dress."

Student apparel that is distracting, hinders the educational process or "advertises, glorifies or symbolizes any illegal substances, contains derogatory phrases, profanity or glorifies violence or criminal behavior" is not permitted to be worn, according to the Appoquinimink School District dress code. Other Delaware school districts have similar dress codes.

"I don't think my shirt is distracting," Truszkowski said. "Every student who talked to me said they support me, but two of my teachers told me I had to cover it up."

While the dress code does not specifically address clothing with a political message, the shirt is clearly inappropriate, said Lillian Miles, Appoquinimink district spokeswoman. She said several students have complained about the shirt.

"At this point, the shirt has now become a distraction," she said.

Truszkowski said he will circulate a petition next week, and if less than 20 people are offended by his shirt, he said he will wear it again. He may set a date where students can wear the same shirt to school, "to prove how many people are with me."

Truszkowski's mother, Karen Piser, said she supports her son. She said if he is expelled, she will transfer him to another school.

"I don't believe it was right for them to tell him to cover it up or he'll be sent home," she said. "I believe they are violating his rights. There is no foul language involved. You try to teach your kids freedom of speech and it's one person's belief."

Truszkowski's 19-year-old stepbrother, Dan Easterwood, made the T-shirt and loaned it to his brother after wearing it to a Green Day concert.

"I think it's stupid that he can't wear the shirt and voice his own opinion," Easterwood said. "I'm against the war, too. One of my friends died over in Iraq."

Students and parents had mixed opinions about the controversial T-shirt at the school on Friday. Several students chanted "Stephen! Stephen!" as he removed his sweat shirt and revealed the T-shirt.

"I think the school shouldn't make a big deal out of it," said eighth-grader Michelle West, 13. "It says in the code of conduct that you have freedom of speech. I support Stephen all the way. The school can't tell you what to wear unless it's profane."

But seventh-grader Bryan Boyd, 12, disagreed.

"I think we were right to go to Iraq, and I think it shows disrespect to our president for him to come in with a shirt that says we're not right," he said. "He can express his opinion, but I don't think this is the right way."

Susan Nida, a parent, said she would never allow her seventh-grade daughter to wear a shirt like that to school. She said political clothing does not belong in a school setting.

"I think it's just as bad as wearing revealing clothes to school," she said. "I don't necessarily think the student should be suspended, but he should cover it up."

Valerie Huot, president of the Everett Middle School PTA, said officials try hard to keep the school a neutral place and limit distractions. She said parents and students should be aware of the type of clothing that is suitable for school, although teens seem to be making their fashion statements more political these days.

"My son has a political T-shirt, but he knows better than to wear it to school," Huot said. "When you wear a shirt like that, you're wearing it for attention. ... The fact that you can call your own government terroristic after Sept. 11 ... it creates more division than unity."

Contact Michele Besso at 838-3187 or mbesso@delawareonline.com