Constitutional Law

Kan. school drops 'boobies' bracelet ban

By By The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. ? A Kansas high school agreed yesterday to lift restrictions on the popular "I (heart) boobies!" breast-cancer charity bracelets and T-shirts after the American Civil Liberties Union complained about a student's suspension.

An attorney for the Geary County School District, Mark Edwards, notified the ACLU that Junction City High School would take no further action against students wearing the wristbands, T-shirts or any other apparel that supports the Keep A Breast Foundation.

The California-based nonprofit believes a bracelet with a catchy, envelope-pushing slogan is a better way to teach children and teenagers about breast cancer than more traditional methods, such as pink ribbons. But schools across the country have responded with bans.

Edwards said in an e-mail that senior Stephen Wall would not suffer any academic problems from his suspension. The ACLU said Wall received a two-day suspension and was ordered to perform community service for failing to remove or flip over a wristband bearing the slogan.

The ACLU said the teen was wearing the wristband as a show of support and had previously worn a pink breast-cancer awareness wristband for more than a year.

ACLU attorney Doug Bonney said in a phone interview that his clients were "thrilled."

"Freedom has been restored," he said.

A phone message left for Edwards at his office wasn't returned in time for this.

Junction City High School Principal Stan Dodds said in a Dec. 8 phone interview that after receiving complaints, he asked students last week to remove the bracelets or flip them over and cover up the T-shirts or turn them inside out. The underside of the bracelets features a breast-cancer awareness website.

The ACLU has weighed in on the issue elsewhere, including in Easton, Penn., where a lawsuit was filed in November against a school district that suspended two middle school students for wearing the bracelets.

Full post as published by First Amendment Center on December 09, 2010 (boomark / email).