Boy Suspended Over Rosery Beads.

[Rageaholic]

Because they could be deemed "gang related". WTF?

http://www.comcast.net/video/boy-sus...st/1500117177/

Why is this even a big deal?

[Hobbs]

I think the boy's final comment is right on the money. I've worn a rosary to school before and never got hassled for it; except by the uppity stereotypical athiest at my school (she seriously was. I'm not being snarky or anything).

[guywithashovel]

It says that the school's policy says that beads are not allowed.

That does sound petty, but there may be a legitimate reason why. They didn't give a whole lot of details.

I don't mean to downplay the kid's experience, but I've found that when you investigate these incidences, often a larger context is revealed that makes them make more sense.

[HYHYBT]

Generally, that "larger context" is simply a rule that wasn't thought through clearly.

[Ree]

Gang awareness

The use of colored beads is also popular with gang members. The
color of the bead is dependent on the color the gang has adopted for
their gang. The bead can be made into a necklace as illustrated or
worn in the shoelaces, made into a key chain, worn in braids in their
hair and used in other fashions. Colored rubberbands worn in hair
braids or around their wrist can also be indicators of gang membership.
The use of colored rosary beads and other religious articles have also
been noted. These are subtle indicators of gang membership and are
often hard to notice if you are not looking for them. With the
introduction of strict dress codes and the use of uniforms in the school
systems these type of indicators seem to be favored by the gangsters.

This thing of wearing the rosary is a new concept for me. Is it a cultural thing?
I was raised with the idea that my rosary was for praying, and not for decoration. In fact, wearing the rosary as jewellery was considered sacrilegious.
I understand why the boy is wearing the rosary, but if school policy says no visible beads, then that's the policy.
They aren't saying he can't wear the rosary. They are asking him to keep it covered, just as they do for other students.

Wearing beads outwardly violates the school district code of conduct, which forbids the wearing outwardly of anything that would "denote represent or be deemed to be gang-related, including, but not limited to bandanas, colors, flags or beads." The school says students are allowed to wear beads but must keep them underneath their clothing.

[Rageaholic]

I just think the rule is stupid and obsessive, like how a lot of schools are. Would I deliberatly break the rule and wear beads? No, it wouldn't be that big of a deal to me, but to me this is another example of school officals having a bug up their ass.

[Hobbs]

This thing of wearing the rosary is a new concept for me. Is it a cultural thing?
I was raised with the idea that my rosary was for praying, and not for decoration. In fact, wearing the rosary as jewellery was considered sacrilegious.
I understand why the boy is wearing the rosary, but if school policy says no visible beads, then that's the policy.
They aren't saying he can't wear the rosary. They are asking him to keep it covered, just as they do for other students.

It's sacreligious if it's for jewelry/decorative purposes, but the boy said it wasn't; it was in memory of someone who had passed.

I've been wanting to get my Boondock Saints rosary, and once I do I'll wear it. I'll also pray w/ it. It's a spiritual choice.

[joe hx]

When I was in public school, if the school didn't like something, they just had to say it was "gang related" and they could ban it.

Tatoos? gang related.
Scars? gang relared.
Lanyards? gang related.
Yo-yos? Gang related
Sunglasses? gang related.
Unnatural hair colors? gang related
those weird contacts? gang related

Yes, some of it is gang related. But yo-yos?

[Boozy]

Once again, we have everybody-and-their-brother second guessing the judgment of the school administrators who were actually there.

I'm not saying that we should have blind faith in school officials, but could we not at least admit that there are nuances to every situation that require a human interpretation of school policies? This school is concerned about gang activity. They have reasons to prohibit clothes and accessories that could be related to gangs.

Besides, what's the big deal? The boy can place the rosary under his shirt.

[Red Panda]

Its a big deal because some religious folks think they have to be in your face regarding their faith.

[HYHYBT]

No second-guessing here: you've posted the school's policy (or rather, Ree has). It's wrong on its face: ANYTHING can become a gang symbol. If one thing is banned, they'll move on to something else. So banning anything that might be used as one is, at best, silly.

[Red Panda]

You can however ban things that have been used in the past. It will cut down on the options availiable to the gangs. Using rosery beads is a practice that originates in jails, so its not like the school is randomly picking on religious people for no reason.

[McDreidel09]

Its a big deal because some religious folks think they have to be in your face regarding their faith.

As was stated before, the boy was wearing them in memory of a loved one who passed away. I even have a rosary, though I am not religious. I have it because my best friend gave them to me before he went to the Army. I wore them as a reminder of him until he came back.

[BlaqueKatt]

except by the uppity stereotypical athiest at my school (she seriously was. I'm not being snarky or anything).

I'm sorry-you met a fundamentalist atheist, we don't like them anymore than regular Christians like Fred Phelps-we're not all like that I promise.

[Red Panda]

As was stated before, the boy was wearing them in memory of a loved one who passed away. I even have a rosary, though I am not religious. I have it because my best friend gave them to me before he went to the Army. I wore them as a reminder of him until he came back.

If its just a momento then why can't he wear it under his cloths according to school policy?