Texas school says it's OK for students to wear black-as long as they aren't "goth"

[chelseagirl]

Jr. high OK with black clothing

By ALAN NIESCHWIETZ / Staff Writer Monday, February 18, 2008 2:52 PM CST



The administration at Brenham Junior High is OK with students wearing black as long as you aren’t a “goth.”

Nobody likes being told what to wear or not wear, especially school-age kids, so when the student body mistakenly came under the impression that a ban on black clothing that applied to goth students also applied to everyone else, there was something of a brouhaha.

According to principal Artis Edwards, administrators never forbid the wearing of black for the student body as a whole, it was “another one of those rumors that was out there and they (the students) jumped on it.”

He said the entire thing got started early last week when administrators were trying to determine who among the black-clothed student body was and was not a goth. In addition to that, a student who had his black jacket decorated with padlocks temporarily taken away from him seemed to become a bigger event than it really was.

Edwards explained that schools in the Brenham school district have a long standing practice not allowing some students to wear clothing that identifies them as part of a group. This practice not only applies to groups such as gangs, but also to groups like goths.

He said that although there is not a definite cause and effect, young people who are also goths tend to suffer more from depression and self-destructive behavior, especially the practice of cutting one’s self.


In addition to being known for their affinity for black clothing, goths also frequently dye their hair black, sometimes wear make-up (both sexes) and often wear silver jewelry.

He said it is the administration’s duty to act to help protect the safety and well being of students and the banning black clothing in this case is a part of that.

“I’m not a psychiatrist, but when we see all black, we know what comes next,” he said.

Edwards said he held a “Black Out Day,” in which students were encouraged to wear black, on Friday to dispel the rumor that the ban on black applied to the student body as a whole.

He said he has nothing against black clothing and frequently wears it himself.

Regardless of the intentions behind the ban though, some see the effort as a bit heavy-handed.

A mother of a student who frequently wears black pants and T-shirts said her son was asked by administrators if he was a goth. In her eyes, a policy like the junior high’s unnecessarily gets the students riled up and is ultimately ineffective, she said.

“You can wear any color and cut yourself,” she said.

Some students see it a call to action as well, and started a Myspace group called “Against BJHS,” which has 27 members.





http://www.brenhambanner.com/article...ews/news02.txt



How utterly retarded.

[Tam Li Hua]

I think that these folks are forgetting that it isn't the Goths who have been shooting up the schools lately.

[I know that sounds cold, but it's true; it's the regular people folks would "never suspect".]

If they had left it at the gang thing, then I could sort of understand it. But to go on thinking that just because a kid is 'Goth' then they are dangerous is just stupid and ignorant.

[KontanKarite]

*sigh*

Black clothes, the bane of existence.

[KontanKarite]

On another note, banning clothes as if wearing black magically makes you insane, does not stop someone from hurting others. But logic escapes most leaders. It's not what the problem is, but how the problem is presented. It's all about looks.

[AngelikDemonik]

Originally Posted by chelseagirl

In addition to being known for their affinity for black clothing, goths also frequently dye their hair black, sometimes wear make-up (both sexes) and often wear silver jewelry.

The same can be said of supermodels, rockstars, movie stars, and pretty much anyone you come into contact with. What idiots.

[Beneath the Shadows]

If those morons want to prevent certain groups from wearing certain types of clothes, they need to institute a school uniform.

[Alethea]

Easy way around that. "I'm not goth. I just like black." ^-^
Plus, isn't that invasive of the right to express oneself through clothing and fashion? It's like saying you can wear black all the time but you can't be goth, or do they wish to control what people wear everyday? And for that matter, if it was to prevent depression or shootings, then why does clothing have anything to do with it? I mean will forcing people to stop persuing their interests keep them from depression or dislike? Or will further instigate the idea that people who are themselves or express themselves via their interests are to be disliked? Or further grind the thought that those people who are affected by this rule are in fact hated or disliked for their clothing choice? What if you don't identify yourself as part of the gothic subculture, but enjoy dressing in a macrabe fashion? Yep. People are sure strange...

How are they able to define people based on lables for that matter? Eh. This school has a few screws loose. If they really wanted to effect every lable or subculter, shouldn't they simply assign a dress code?

[blackwater1110]

Where is this High School, exactly? I can't help but think it must be out in the middle of bum-fuck nowhere. Perhaps I'm in denial, but I really didn't think this whole politically correct censorship crap had yet gone as far as deciding your clothes for you, for your own good.

[KontanKarite]

Remember, so long as you control what people look like, they wont want to kill you. Perfect logic.

[Pantherlette086]

Wow, that's lame. I went to Texas schools. One school I went to had standardized dress, and one had casual (wear what u want). Damn, I was lucky.

[Miss Cogs]

Originally Posted by KontanKarite

Remember, so long as you control what people look like, they wont want to kill you. Perfect logic.

When are people going to learn that, something like that doesn't always work, eh? You can never control people.

[Bete Noire]

Oh for fucks sake that is utterly ridiculous.

[KontanKarite]

Originally Posted by Miss Cogs

When are people going to learn that, something like that doesn't always work, eh? You can never control people.

It never works. IF someone wants to kill someone, they're going to do it. It doesn't matter how many layers of fishnets they aren't allowed to wear.

I just find it sad that it's going to take yet another school shooting or massacre that enforces a dress code that's very anti-punk/goth to prove simple logic.

All they're doing is trying to ease the minds of fucking herd minded parents that couldn't reason themselves out of a burning shack.

[Tam Li Hua]

This may be terribly cold, shallow, and morbid, but I hope the next school shooting involves someone in a bright pink outfit who is a die-hard fan of Barry Manilow or Destiny's Child.

[That having been said, I'd also like to go on record saying that I deeply wish there would be no more school shootings at all.

[dark_dragon_of_ice]

It won't change a thing.

[Lapin]

Originally Posted by Bete Noire

Oh for fucks sake that is utterly ridiculous.

(Nods)

Kontan is right too.

[Breathless Horror]

Originally Posted by KontanKarite

Remember, so long as you control what people look like, they wont want to kill you. Perfect logic.

Quoted for truth...and excellent use of sarcasm.

[Godslayer Jillian]

I kid you not; I was absolutely expecting this to be about my high school.

[Graveyard.Crow]

That is so funny. No seriously.

[A Simple Poet]

Didn't George Strait once sing a song ...

"All my ex-goths live in Texas?
That's why I wear black paint in Tennessee?"

Run! Run for your LIVES! Run to Tennessee for freedom, my suppressed Texgoth friends!

Poop on George Strait anyway.

I'll shut up now.

[HumanePain]

Don't they realize that real Goths would hang themselves in their closets instead of shooting a bunch of innocent people? O_o

[blackwater1110]

Originally Posted by HumanePain

Don't they realize that real Goths would hang themselves in their closets instead of shooting a bunch of innocent people? O_o

Of course not. Manson's the leader of the goths, and he caused Columbine, remember?

[Delkaetre]

My responses to this so far have been
- *snicker*
- no, seriously, wtf?
- *snicker*
- you poor, poor sods over in America. Heehee.

[Renatus]

Originally Posted by blackwater1110

Of course not. Manson's the leader of the goths, and he caused Columbine, remember?

If you were a more established member that joke might work. But seeing as I don't have any idea if you have a brain or not, both Mansons have nothing to do with goth, we have no established leader but if we did it would definately not be one of them. The guys who did Columbine were not goths , the goth subculture does not condone acts of hatred and unprovoked violence. If we were as violent as you claim would you still be alive right now?

[Apathy's_Child]

Originally Posted by Renatus

If you were a more established member that joke might work.

Yeah! No jokes until you've made 10, 000 posts!