Family of shooting victim files suit against Hueneme School District Options

[Hartmann]

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008...gainst-hueneme/
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/c...1&cset=true

This is the story of the cross-dressing boy that the district allowed to cross-dress, more than likely so they wouldn't get sued for discrimination. The boy is shot and killed and now the parents are suing the school district for not enforcing dress code.

The sad part is that they will more than likely win.

We've almost completely removed parental responsibility from the equation.

Another angle of this thing is the fact that the family is calling for "acceptance", not "tolerance". They believe the school should teach about accepting people. Wow. What a dream world. Everyone is not going to be accepted all of the time.

[Mommy]

I don't know. I kinda see the college years as the time when people are supposed to "find themselves." I mean, that's when I did. Kids are supposed to have rules so that they mature. Those rules are supposed to lay a foundation that they are to build upon. When they get to college or move out of the house and out on their own, then they can do whatever. College kids are a lot more accepting than high school kids and below. It really is dangerous for kids to be different, not that it makes it right for them to be threatened, but I live in the times. I know it's dangerous to go out at night alone so I don't. Kids can't dress in extreme fashion because it's dangerous. I don't know if I am making a whole lot of sense, but I have a baby in my arms so I'm distracted.

[James]

I don't know. I kinda see the college years as the time when people are supposed to "find themselves." I mean, that's when I did. Kids are supposed to have rules so that they mature. Those rules are supposed to lay a foundation that they are to build upon. When they get to college or move out of the house and out on their own, then they can do whatever. College kids are a lot more accepting than high school kids and below. It really is dangerous for kids to be different, not that it makes it right for them to be threatened, but I live in the times. I know it's dangerous to go out at night alone so I don't. Kids can't dress in extreme fashion because it's dangerous. I don't know if I am making a whole lot of sense, but I have a baby in my arms so I'm distracted.

I know what you're saying and there's a disconnect. You're rationalizing the protective culture of the late 20th-early 21st centuries. Maybe it's because you're a mommy now and don't want anything to happen to your precious child. As an educator, we're required to take a few courses on the development of the human being - psychologically. Granted, the courses could've been one-sided, but everything pointed towards identity as something the children yearn to obtain in their early teen years - clicks (sp?) anyone?

Now, I know no one's going to let me get by with "I read it in a book," so I have more to add to that. I've actually seen it in my school. These kids are definitely trying to find themselves and mesh with the most accepting or the most like them or whatever. Yes, they find more when they get to college, but I can assure you that if they haven't started receiving that freedom to explore before going to college, not all will. Let me say that again: if the person doesn't begin finding themselves at the right stage of life, that person may never find themself.

I'm against strict dress codes. They're more of a distraction than the ones they're trying to prevent. Everyday, we have to make sure all the students are abiding by the pages of rules. Some are silly - no facial hair, for instance. Boys have a pretty good imagination already; it doesn't really matter what the girls wear or don't wear.