http://www.wftv.com/news/4378411/detail.html

What a load of bull. In the Wiccan religion there is nothing that says you have to were makeup

Sounds to me more like the religion of "notice me, notice me". I am all for showing the world who you are but I also butted heads with the school system when I was in high school. I graduated in 1979 the style for hair then was long, the longer the better. I took this a bit to far, my hair eventually reached my belt. I wanted to try out for the football team but the coaches told me no because of some policy concerning hair length. Now as an adult I understand the reason for my not being allowed to try out, safety. Kids conform now and when you graduate you can, tattoo, pierce, make-up and dress how you please.

Rules are in place for a reason, reguardless of wheather you understand them or not.

Don't follow the rules, don't expect to get special treatment.
This is nothing more than an attention-grabbing spoilt brat who will wind up expelled and living in a garbage dump.

hahaha... I really don't get the frustration. So a kid wore some makeup. Big deal. He can wash it off when he gets home. It's not hurting anyone, and I hardly think that it's 'distracting'.

It is unfair though that the females of the school can wear make up and this guy can't... Some days at my high school I don't even recognize girls any more cause of the mass amounts of make up. I think the school is unfairly picking him out. I don't wear make up personally, but I would respect the next guys choice to wear it.

I agree it is unfair its just make up. Whats the big deal. I had male friends in school who dressed in drag and wore dresses and stuff that. There was never an issue at least with the school over that.

I seriously doubt that he did it because of the Wiccan religion, but it is still his decision and it is on his face.

And for those of you who say he is a spoilt brat and an attention seeker: So what? He wants to wear make-up for whatever reasons. What is it hurting? Nothing. Go ahead and let him do what he wants. It is his life, after all.

The school should stay out of his decisions. I know some girls who look like clowns when they leave the house in the morning. Is anything said to them? No. Besides, it isn't grabbing attention. Maybe it will the first or second day, but after that no one will care. What a load of BS.
If anything, they are causing more attention by suspending him.

You could say that about the girls that wear make-up as well. Whether its part of religion is irrelevant, and if it truly is, and they plan to ban that, then out with the crosses and other symbols as well.
And if its just makeup, then they shouldn't be picking him out. I too have seen girls with makeup plastered onto their faces; personally I find it rather disgusting, what ever happened to natural beauty (or at least, mostly natural, my word)

So if they don't want him wearing it, ban it for everyone.

Dudes... we should have freedom to wear what we want (unless its derogatory to a certain minority or something) it's unfair to the kid.

Cripes! It's just a little make up...sounds like we have a case of a school who doesn't like people expressing themselves. I had to deal with that all the time in school...anyway just relax he's not hurting anybody.

It is unfair.

Just like it's unfair that in the real world, you have to dress up smart and possibly wear a suit to work. Women can wear skirts, but if the man does, he'll probably be fired.


As i said, the rules are there for a reason, it's to ease the children in school into the real world of bosses and regulations. If you can't follow the rules outside of school in the workplace, you'll lose your job and have no income.
The school has every right to tell the students what they can and cannot wear. Outside of school he can dress up as a fairy for all it matters, in inside, it's his place to follow the rules set, because they are set for a reason.

I don't think that is really what is the problem is. Look how most kids dress when they go to school, Jeans and t-shirts, piercings, long hair, shaved heads, multi colored hair, ect ect ect Nobody in a public school dresses like they were at work and any combination of the above mentioned attire would probably also result in you getting fired from a job that required a suit and tie. So if that is the case than why aren't schools instituting a very strict suit and tie atmosphere to prepare kids for the real world? When I was in school I had purple dread locks, the teachers didn't like it but they weren't able to do anything about it either, and when I graduated college and entered the real world I was just fine and I do quite well for myself. I was just being a kid and having fun doing it and when it became time to be an adult I eased into that situation just fine...that's what college is for. I don't know anyone who dressed or look wierd in High School having a hard time adjusting to real life at all.

I'm sure a great deal of the problem here is the atmosphere of the school...probably a little on the conservative side...I would have to assume.

Not to mention I have a big problem with public schools stifling the creativity of students, the whole process weeds out individuality and anybody willing to go against the grain of that system is okay in my book.

Alright, we'll take that approach. On that basis, my point about men wearing skirts, is completely valid.

If you're a guy, you wouldn't wear a skirt to work, you'd get fired.
So why would a guy be allowed to wear makeup to class. You'd be suspended.

School shouldn't be like a job. Its a place to express yourself. He wasn't harming anybody. Sure, Burnside I can wear a skirt to work, but I'll just say its a kilt. Work places have rules like that for their image. They want to look good, so they can make money. (well most places... you never know. Some places let guys wear skirts but I don't think burnside is talking about those kind of places. I am assuming he means like a law office or something of that sorts.) Schools don't have the right to tell that guy he can't wear make-up. It would be like saying to all male teachers that are married they can't wear their wedding ring cause it is jewelry. Also we say that all girls can't wear pants because they might be mistaken for a guy with long hair. Girls then also can't wear sneakers, cause at the scene of a crime at the school it could be mistaken for a boys shoe. Heck, lets just take all the girls from metals, woods and gym and stick them in a cooking class along with a nice sewing class. They are ladies and they should stick to lady stuff, right Burnside? Anyways, I don't agree with it at all.

I do believe that we should all be able to look the way we want to look, whenever we feel the urge. It's all about making yourself happy. After all, it is our life to live. But the consequences of our life are our own as well. It's not fair. Hell, life isn't fair. Once you graduate high school, you have full control of your decisions. If you want piercings and tattoos, and you don't care about certain career obstacles, than more power to you. I used to be a cocktail waitress at a casino and I had to cover up my tattoos. I love my tattoos, but it was a pain in the butt to have to cover them everyday. Wearing makeup to high school seems so petty; but if it is a rule, there isn't anything you can do but obey or not(and possibly be stuck there even longer ). It sucks, but hey--it is high school. I am pretty sure that high school sucked for everybody. Why change it now?

I do agree with you, absolutely.
Don't think i didn't go through my own fair share of censorship when i was in high school either. Having to take out piercings and whatnot for jobs, hell i was told off in high school for wearing to much black once.

But the point i'm making is, the school board DOES have a right to tell you what you can and cannot do, and that includes what you can or cannot put on your face.
And it sucks, but that's the rules, and you have to either follow the rules, and get your education, or don't, and wind up on the curb. It's as simple as that.

Once someone is allowed to get away with breaking one tiny rule, whats next? This kid will go through life bending rules, and he'll pay for it. Where do you draw the line? As you pointed out in your post, there's hundreds of limitations to what people can and cannot wear or do. So, where is the line drawn? It has to be drawn somewhere.

Ha, Thats great... glad I didn't go to your school.

But I don't understand how the school board just single out that one guy. Its sexist and it sounds like the school board is stuck back in the 50's. I mean come on a little make-up? If there is a written rule that says that he can't wear make-up its unconstitutional.

DO I HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPRESS MY OPINIONS AND BELIEFS IN SCHOOL?
Yes. In 1969 in Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District the Supreme Court held that students in public schools – which are run by the government – do not leave their First Amendment rights at the schoolhouse gate. This means that you can express your opinions orally and in writing – in leaflets or on buttons, armbands or T-shirts.

You have a right to express your opinions as long as you do so in a way that doesn't "materially and substantially" disrupt classes or other school activities. If you hold a protest on the school steps and block the entrance to the building, school officials can stop you. They can probably also stop you from using language that they think is "vulgar or indecent," so watch out for the dirty words, OK?

Also, school officials may not censor only one side of a controversy. If they permit an article in the official school paper that says that premarital sex is bad, they may not censor an article that says premarital sex is good.
ACLU on Student Rights of Freedom of Expression

It doesn't sound like a little makeup, it sounds like he was painted up like a clown. I'm sure if it was just a little eyeliner no one would have noticed or cared.

The girls at my school plaster it on like they're clowns. I even see them putting it on during class, and I'm in middle school. And there was this one gothic girl who put eyeshadow around her eyes so she had these black raccoon-like rings... They were creepy.

I'm all for kids expressing themselves. I haven't had to deal with my sons wanting to wear makeup however. Some schools get real rigid about that sort of thing, claiming that sort of behavior is a distraction. Whatever.....let em express themselves!

I say let the kid alone and let him express himself. Hes not hurting anyone so why give him grief. Times are changing- go with the flow.

Source

He is being discrimination against because he is a guy wearing make-up.

Again, it depends on whether it was a little bit of blush and eyeliner, or as it sounds, full out face paint.

Lipstick and eye make-up... thats not his whole fact, Burnside.

this is true....full face paint would be sort of a distraction, huh?

Send him to school here in Australia. Trust me, it would do him the world of good.
What he needs is good kick in arse and this is just the place for him to get it.

I find it very odd, I graduated from High School in 1998, and lots of guys would walk around with eyeliner or lipstick on...I would have thougt in the 7 years since then people would have desensitized themselves to it even further...guess not. I thought I lived in a conservative town growing up, it bogels my mind that some towns are actually worse.

A lot of it does have to do where you live. I was born in North Carolina, moved to Ohio, then Atlanta GA, and now I am stuck in Mississippi. You didn't want to be like anyone else in the first three states, but god forbid you be different in MS. It is full of small towns in the middle of a bible belt, not that that stopped me but the school rules and the curriculum was a lot different. There was only two types of people, preps and skanks. The preps(and their parents) ran the school and got away with everything, while the others were treated like red headed step children.


I also want to say that considering the number of school shootings, the school officials have to be a little weary of student behavior. Maybe it is all based on fear of the unknown.

I do think the schools should be alert about unusual behavior, but to single out the students that look different isn't really fair either.

My daughters high school is really relaxed. They allow dyed hair, piercings and goth make-up.
Even though it's only a public school they excel in studies and sports. If the kids are doing well, what does it matter how they look.

Why should it matter if they are a good student or bad student? Here I thought that all rights were granted to equally to everybody...

If he wants to wear make-up let him, screw the school board and their discriminating views. As I said in my earlier post whats stopping the school board then to take all girls from metals, woods, and gym and throwing them all in a cooking and sewing class because girls don't belong in "boy classes"? Girls then couldn't wear pants but skirts, because pants are a "boys thing". Then tell the girls no they can't go and get a job, they need to stay home, have kids and keep a hot meal on the table at 6 when their husband gets home. To say a little eye liner and lipstick covers the id of a person, is just wrong. How many girls look the same before and after applying make-up?

Honestly, as long as kids aren't showing up to school half-naked or wearing offensive clothes (I'm talking things like racist slogans as an example) they should be allowed to wear whatever they want. I mean really, when else are they going to get the chance to look however they please? High School is the time for doing that, they have the rest of their lives to look professional.

My thing is there are rules in life you just have to grin and follow them. We all do it through out our lifes. It is not the issue of make up but rules if you cant follow them you are never going to be a productive member of society so just check your self out now.

hahaha.... have you met a teenager lately? All they do is break the rules and test their limits. This is what it's all about.

As long as it's not hurting anyone, let 'em do it.

People like this make me sick Just beacause the kid does something diffrent he gets in trouble its not as if hes forcing his beliefs on other people by wearing makeup i really dont understand the big deal in my school lots of people do guys and gurls alike geeze some people!

What do you mean by forcing his beliefs they are trying to say there religion says they have to do that and as I posted way at the beginning that is bull. The wiccan religion says nothing about make-up

I dont think he is exressing his wiccan religion, but I do the he is expressing himself, which he shouldnot get suspended for if they suspend him for expressing himself then the school might as well just expell all the students who are different! Hello reality check everyone is different whether or not they admit to it they should let him be himself. What kind a message did they think they were sending to the students? I am a student and from my point of veiw I am hearing "Dont be yourself be walking talking little robots, like we want you to be!" I know plenty of girls who go out looking like a clown but they allow that! I dont think the school actualy thought it out before they just suspended the poor kid!

he doesn't even know who he is or what he believes, how can he be expressing himself? Unless wearing makeup is his way of expressing his confusion maybe?

Those rules you talk about are there so no one will change. People hate change. When someone comes along and wants to do something different from everyone else, he gets suspended or fired. The school does not have the right to do that unless it contains racial slurs, otherwise discriminating comments, etc. Make-up isn't doing any of that.
As for your face-paint comment, he wasn't wearing face-paint. He was wearing lipstick and eye make-up. Hardly face paint.

As for school preparing us for the real world by enforcing rules, they aren't doing anything. These kids will probably grow out of the phase by the time they want a serious job anyway! Honestly, how many people do you know that dressed wierd, wore make-up, and had odd-colored hair as they were growing up and don't live normally now.
Yes, there are those out there who screw up their lives with drugs, but not all of them are the 'wierd people' you knew in highschool.

In conclusion, the schools should not be able to tell you what to wear. These rules do not teach anyone about the real world. Life teaches us enough of that without the help of stupid rules that schools try to enforce.

Let them do what they want as long as it isn't hurting anyone. Perhaps they'll stop if they think they'll be fired. Maybe they won't. Whatever they do, it is their choice and no school is going to change that.

Ah, but whatever. To each his own opinion.

I would love it if a guy came into my school wearing make-up. It is such a bloody strict school, we were told last week that we looked cheap and trashy by the head mistress, as some of the girls skirts were too short.

A guy I know let my friend put make-up on him for a joke in class, and the teacher saw and signed his Conduct Card for 'Wearing Make-up in school'. He had on lipgloss, eyeliner and foundation. And he swears he is not gay...

David Bowie wore makeup for many years, and he was (and still is!) uber-sexy. If a guy wants to wear makeup, it's fine by me.

Oh, gee, that's really going to make someone feel good about themselves. She thinks she's so much better for talking to people like this? No one said anything to her?

The guy I was talking about was joking, though.

I think the guys from Kiss were very cool with their make-up. I know another guy who wears a little bit of eyeliner, and it actually looks really nice on him. He is kinda punky, you see.

Interesting combination..... black lipstick and red eyes....... seems pretty pretty to me........ I should try that, lol .

I know! And she wears ridiculous suits with mini skirts anyway. We have absolutely no identity in school. All I have that is different, is a Blink 182 keyring on my inside blazer pocket.

If I went to that school, I would have been expelled because the first time she said something like that directed at me, or the group I was in, I would have said something.
Yelling at someone when they have actually done something wrong is alright, but telling someone they look like trash? No. Not right at all.
If the skirts are so short that they reveal too much, tell them to change. Don't call them trash.

Well, as it seems, a few other people in my class heard about this before me, which shows I need to watch the news more than I already do... But their opinion is that he should be able to do what he wants, cause, like many of you said, he should grow out of it by the end of high school. Personally, I think that the school could have taken it a bit easier, but they did the right thing by doing something about it. Of course, those in my class agree that the dress code could use some major work.

Does anybody know if they even asked him to wash it off or just quit wearing it before they suspended him?