This sort of news makes me glad I live in the US

WickedLou9 · 07-18-2007, 04:29 PM

Schoolgirl loses "virginity ring" battle - Yahoo! News

LONDON (Reuters) - A teen-ager whose teachers had stopped her wearing a "purity ring" at school to symbolize her commitment to virginity lost a High Court fight against the ban Monday
Lydia Playfoot, 16, says her silver ring is an expression of her faith and had argued in court that it should be exempt from school regulations banning the wearing of jewelry.
"I am very disappointed by the decision this morning by the High Court not to allow me to wear my purity ring to school as an expression of my Christian faith not to have sex outside marriage," Playfoot said in a statement.

Why do they tolerate that sort of opression? It's not like this is a 3rd world country or communist China.. It's England.

Linzyhop · 07-18-2007, 04:48 PM

oppression?

it's a school. school's have the right to tell you what you can't and can not wear. If she can't wear her chastity ring, other's can't wear their pentagrams or hand of Muhammad's.

I love how the Christians in this story think it's directed completely at them.

WickedLou9 · 07-18-2007, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by Linzyhop

oppression?

it's a school. school's have the right to tell you what you can't and can not wear. If she can't wear her chastity ring, other's can't wear their pentagrams or hand of Muhammad's.

I love how the Christians in this story think it's directed completely at them.

yeah but we allow freedom of expression in our country. This is the equivalent to the black arm bands worn by students protesting vietnam.

Linzyhop · 07-18-2007, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

yeah but we allow freedom of expression in our country. This is the equivalent to the black arm bands worn by students protesting vietnam.

um i went to catholic school growing up and we weren't allowed to wear any jewelry period. It's not really a "freedom of expression" issue. it's a rule of the school with no exceptions. If they make it universal I don't see an issue.

SpicyMcVoodoo · 07-18-2007, 05:25 PM

What's next? Full burqas in driver's license pictures?

"But my faith says so!" is a shitty argument. Your faith doesn't give you carte blanche to break society's rules.

WickedLou9 · 07-18-2007, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by Linzyhop

um i went to catholic school growing up and we weren't allowed to wear any jewelry period. It's not really a "freedom of expression" issue. it's a rule of the school with no exceptions. If they make it universal I don't see an issue.

Private school yes, but not in a public school.

Ardentfrost · 07-18-2007, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

Private school yes, but not in a public school.

See, I say that too... if a school is going to be public (gov't run) and compulsory, then it must follow the rules of the gov't that runs it. But a lot of people don't like that, because it makes it difficult for a public school to have rules.

I just say it's another reason to go private (vouchers). Then you get to choose a school, and if they have a rule you don't like, you can choose another one.

Linzyhop · 07-18-2007, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

Private school yes, but not in a public school.

sounds like a private school to me.

Millais School - There Are No Limits

SpicyMcVoodoo · 07-18-2007, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

See, I say that too... if a school is going to be public (gov't run) and compulsory, then it must follow the rules of the gov't that runs it. But a lot of people don't like that, because it makes it difficult for a public school to have rules.

I just say it's another reason to go private (vouchers). Then you get to choose a school, and if they have a rule you don't like, you can choose another one.

What is so unreasonable about not allowing people to wear jewelry?

Reason # 520934324038 why many of America's public schools are a joke is because the students don't take school seriously. Part of that is because they come to school dressed like they're going out to the club, thugged out, etc.

Almost every work place, public or private, has a dress code. Why should school be any different?

Ardentfrost · 07-18-2007, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by SpicyMcVoodoo

What is so unreasonable about not allowing people to wear jewelry?

Reason # 520934324038 why many of America's public schools are a joke is because the students don't take school seriously. Part of that is because they come to school dressed like they're going out to the club, thugged out, etc.

Almost every work place, public or private, has a dress code. Why should school be any different?

Because you have to be there, you have no choice, the government will come and take you (well, the parents) to jail if you do not.

SpicyMcVoodoo · 07-18-2007, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

Because you have to be there, you have no choice, the government will come and take you (well, the parents) to jail if you do not.

So because public education is compulsory, there should be no restrictions on dress at school? How does one follow from the other?

WickedLou9 · 07-18-2007, 06:37 PM

Originally Posted by SpicyMcVoodoo

So because public education is compulsory, there should be no restrictions on dress at school? How does one follow from the other?

Obviously there has to be some level of regulation. LIke they don't want kids coming to school naked or wearing nazi hate uniforms and stuff. But a plain silver ring? come on now. The girl was wearing a plain silver ring. it didn't have any offensive symbols or anything controversial.

SpicyMcVoodoo · 07-18-2007, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

Obviously there has to be some level of regulation. LIke they don't want kids coming to school naked or wearing nazi hate uniforms and stuff. But a plain silver ring? come on now. The girl was wearing a plain silver ring. it didn't have any offensive symbols or anything controversial.

Who should be the arbiter of what's appropriate or controversial? Why not just disallow jewelry?

Ardentfrost · 07-18-2007, 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by SpicyMcVoodoo

Who should be the arbiter of what's appropriate or controversial?

Which is why you can't draw lines in the sand.

Kytro · 07-18-2007, 08:10 PM

The school probably does it to maintain a level playing field as such, I don't agree with the concept entirely

SpicyMcVoodoo · 07-18-2007, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

Which is why you can't draw lines in the sand.

You get into free speech problems then. If you start naming specific subjects that cannot be put on clothing or jewelry, or if you have teachers making ad hoc calls about which statements or subjects are inappropriate, then you're going to get sued. If you just make a neutral, blanket rule that says no jewelery at all, then you don't get yourself in trouble.

Ardentfrost · 07-18-2007, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by SpicyMcVoodoo

You get into free speech problems then. If you start naming specific subjects that cannot be put on clothing or jewelry, or if you have teachers making ad hoc calls about which statements or subjects are inappropriate, then you're going to get sued. If you just make a neutral, blanket rule that says no jewelery at all, then you don't get yourself in trouble.

When I say you can't draw lines in the sand, I mean the kids should be able to do anything that is legal. As soon as you take away the aspect of forcefully making children go to the school (either through vouchers, or by no longer requiring school by law), then the school can require whatever it wants.

avsp · 07-19-2007, 09:40 AM

ok i'm fairly certain that the school allows some 'religiously required' jewelry.

which was the basis of this girls claim. however its not a tenet of christianity to wear silver rings to symbolise a committment to pre-marriage chasity, (quite the opposite in fact)

as such her claim is seen as a form of low grade racism by some.

OTOH i've heard comments decrying her actions that seem based around distaste for was that are seen as typically 'American', (& thus by extension somewhat undesirable)

WL: good to see you back btw