OT- Ridiculous dress code in Oklahoma

I am not sure if the Administrator has specific training or knowledge of gang related code or not, but MS-13 members used to wear Michigan gear as an affiliation marker.  I know many choose to only associate gangs with LA scences, but many of the well know publicised gangs in the US have pockets of "influencial" members all over the country.  [edit: mentioned above by blacknblue] I taught outside of DC for a number of years, and they quietly warned us about (yes, what UofM jerseys and gear may mean) these issues in certain schools with known elements of gang related activity.  It might not be what we want to hear, nor have UofM associated with, but they have some grounds to ask for the kid to turn inside out on that basis.  Plus, whether as a parent, lawyer, educated person, "adult rights" that we hold dear and argue about don't always apply to minors in a school setting.  Think about how you do it as a parent, does your kid get the right to "free" speech, dress, religion even?  Sorry, but I doubt it.  

We all were kids once, and if free will reigned in schools, things would be much worse. They are already worse, since the entitlement age is still upon us.  If a school system has a dress code, it needs to be followed, as well as supported.  "Your" kids don't have the right to question teachers or administrators about policy, and a parent's only choice, if they don't like school's policies, is to seek other educational opportunities elsewhere.  

I, personally, think that principal applied the rule incorrectly, and should have just talked to the parents first before applying the rule, and then moved on from there if it happened again.  I always approached the situation delicately and on an individual level.  If the parent gets a call and the rule explained, rather than a freaked out kid thinking they are in big trouble over a tee shirt, this would be a different situation altogether.  If the parent went to the press, shame on them.  UofM or not, this is minor, and they could have taken issue with the board, Super and principal without it being made a stink.  

Freedom of expession is one thing, but many, who don't deal with school aged kids very much would be shocked at what kids, especially young women, try to wear to school now a days.  I mean, wow, short skirts be damned! And young men and their pantie dropping is the dumbest thing ever. I wish more people knew it came from prison and what it means.   I wouldn't even let them in my class without fixing themselves.  Thus, schools need a firm policy and support for the sani-fication of the system.  I mean we all do things we don't really want to do quite a bit, but we do it so that we move foward whether professionally or personally.