What's New
No baggy jeans are OK by this judge
WATERBURY, CONN. - A Superior Court judge ruled last week that students attending public schools do not have a constitutional right to wear their choice of clothing, especially baggy jeans that could conceal weapons. Judge John Caruso denied a temporary injunction that would have stopped the Waterbury school district from enforcing a new uniform and dress-code policy that affects more than 15,000 schoolchildren in 27 public schools. Four students and their parents brought the lawsuit against the school board. They claimed the dress code violates the students' civil rights and their right to a free public education under state law. An attorney from the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union said there are no plans to appeal the ruling, but the case will go to trial. The parents contend their children should be able to dress the way they want as long as the clothing is neither offensive nor revealing. The city's uniform policy specifies what types and colors of tops and bottoms elementary and middle-school students can wear. High school students have a no-jeans policy, but can wear any color.
Diplomas withheld for graduates' antics
KANSAS CITY, MO. - Before high-schoolers do that cartwheel or shimmy-shake across the stage to receive their diplomas, they'd better think twice. Six graduates at Ruskin High School here didn't and are paying the price. District officials are holding the students' diplomas until they perform 10 hours of community service. Officials said the antics qualified as "disorderly conduct" that violated the graduation plan signed by each of the school's graduates before the ceremony.
Columbine and Heritage students meet
CONYERS, GA.- Columbine High School students from Littleton, Colo., picnicked and played volleyball and tennis with students from Heritage High School here to discuss the tragedies that affected both schools. About 200 students attended the cookout, which was held at a church near Heritage. The students talked about how the shootings affected them, how they are dealing with it, and what they think can be done to prevent school violence. They said they hope the tragedies bring about better communication between teachers and parents.
Teachers Interested in writing for us?
We are always on the look out for 600-word columns written by kindergarten teachers on up to college professors. To submit a "Class Act" column, e-mail Amelia Newcomb at: newcomba@csps.com or write to The Christian Science Monitor, One Norway Street, Boston, MA, 02115.
