Baltimore school compels students to wear purple, or else ...

[Ron Sellers]

Apparently there is no room for opposing viewpoints in at least one Baltimore school.

Ravens' pride overzealous at Roland Park Elementary/Middle, say some parents - baltimoresun.com

Go purple, or go to the library.

That was the warning some teachers issued to parents at Roland Park Elementary/Middle School regarding student participation at Friday's Ravens-sponsored pep rally in advance of the team's conference championship game Sunday against the New England Patriots.

"Students must wear purple or Ravens attire to attend, as there will be many TV cameras there," one teacher wrote to parents in an email obtained by The Baltimore Sun. "Not wearing purple or Ravens attire means making a choice not to attend."

Another teacher emailed that "students must wear purple in order to attend. If your child does not wear purple or you do not wish them to attend, I believe staff will supervise the students in the library."

 

[BradfordPatsFan]

Ha.

I just taught my 5th graders their math lesson using the Patriots roster. They were learning about converting height and weight measurements.

We used the roster on the team website and calculated height in inches, weight in ounces, the weight of each unit in tons, etc. They had a blast. There was even a kid in a purple shirt in the room. I should have sent her to the library to work.

 

[NEP4Life]

Philosophically, I chafe at the idea of a public school effectively endorsing a private, profit-making enterprise.

What if the school held a Coke rally and told students to wear Coke apparel?

Otoh, it's not like a typical Baltimore public school is going to produce the next Einstein. Better to have the little hood rats root for the Ravens instead of car-jacking, crack-dealing and other gangbangery.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

A student in NO got sent home from school for wearing a Colts jersey on the day before their superbowl.

Stupid in both places.

But that was private school. At a public school you have a serious 1st amendment issue.

 

[i82much]

Otoh, it's not like a typical Baltimore public school is going to produce the next Einstein. Better to have the little. hood rats root for the Ravens instead of car-jacking, crack-dealing and other gangbangery.

Roland Park is an outstanding school. If you had the benefit of an education there, you might have learned to do a little research before you spout off on the Internet.

Roland Park Elementary/Middle School, Baltimore MD School Profile, Ranking, and Reviews - SchoolDigger.com

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Roland Park is an outstanding school. If you had the benefit of an education there, you might have learned to do a little research before you spout off on the Internet.

Roland Park Elementary/Middle School, Baltimore MD School Profile, Ranking, and Reviews - SchoolDigger.com

I wouldn't trust the school to teach my child about the constitution, particularly amendment #1.

 

[NEP4Life]

do a little research before you spout off on the Internet.

Not likely.

 

[Koma]

Ha.

I just taught my 5th graders their math lesson using the Patriots roster. They were learning about converting height and weight measurements.

We used the roster on the team website and calculated height in inches, weight in ounces, the weight of each unit in tons, etc. They had a blast. There was even a kid in a purple shirt in the room. I should have sent her to the library to work.

That's great. A really good way to make the subject relateable to the students.

For extra credit, you should ask "A Gronkowski coverts to how many Woodheads?"

 

[RobertWeathers]

Philosophically, I chafe at the idea of a public school effectively endorsing a private, profit-making enterprise.

What if the school held a Coke rally and told students to wear Coke apparel?

Otoh, it's not like a typical Baltimore public school is going to produce the next Einstein. Better to have the little hood rats root for the Ravens instead of car-jacking, crack-dealing and other gangbangery.

Constitutional rights are certainly compromised here but your commentary is in extremely poor taste, insensitive and comes across as ignorant.

 

[i82much]

I completely agree that this is inappropriate behavior by the school.

Sorry for being snarky, but if someone is going to offer low-class uninformed commentary on my hometown, then it's tough not to rebut.

 

[Lurks_All_Day]

Philosophically, I chafe at the idea of a public school effectively endorsing a private, profit-making enterprise.

What if the school held a Coke rally and told students to wear Coke apparel?

Otoh, it's not like a typical Baltimore public school is going to produce the next Einstein. Better to have the little hood rats root for the Ravens instead of car-jacking, crack-dealing and other gangbangery.

Car-jacking, crack-dealing and other thug behavior is taught in the home.

 

[Lurks_All_Day]

Actually Roland Park is one of the best public schools in the area, and there are academic qualifications to get in. I went there 6-8th grade, and many of the students go on to top college prep highschools. But your stereotyping is typical of the chowder eating n word screaming stereotype I pictured YOU as

Here ya go, son....

 

[RobertWeathers]

Actually Roland Park is one of the best public schools in the area, and there are academic qualifications to get in. I went there 6-8th grade, and many of the students go on to top college prep highschools. But your stereotyping is typical of the chowder eating n word screaming stereotype I pictured YOU as

Please don't bundle him in with us other, "Chowdah Eatin-Word Screamin'" Patriots fans.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Actually Roland Park is one of the best public schools in the area, and there are academic qualifications to get in. I went there 6-8th grade, and many of the students go on to top college prep highschools. But your stereotyping is hilarious and typical of the chowder eating n word screaming stereotype I pictured YOU as

No doubt the cheerleaders are visiting a nice school in burbs.

But the folks there flunked the 1st amendment.

 

[jah]

People take these things too seriously.

 

[i82much]

Please don't bundle him in with us other, "Chowdah Eatin-Word Screamin'" Patriots fans.

You know what's great about this forum? A lot of people on here read what is actually written instead of just jumping down someone's throat just because they happen to be a fan of another team. And you guys seem to have a pretty good sense of which folks are instigators and don't automatically take their side because they happen to be Pats fans. Awesome.

Actually my best friend is a Pats fan. That's pretty much the only thing I can think of that's wrong with him

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

People take these things too seriously.

I take the first amendment seriously.

 

[Deus Irae]

Actually Roland Park is one of the best public schools in the area, and there are academic qualifications to get in. I went there 6-8th grade, and many of the students go on to top college prep highschools. But your stereotyping is hilarious and typical of the chowder eating n word screaming stereotype I pictured YOU as

I'm not sure that helps your argument...

 

[BingoBrown]

As long as they wear all black on Monday.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Apparently there is no room for opposing viewpoints in at least one Baltimore school.

Ravens' pride overzealous at Roland Park Elementary/Middle, say some parents - baltimoresun.com

Wow talk about violating 1st amendment freedom of speech. Do the idiots at the school board not know that they can get sued for this by irrate parents who would have a legitimate chance of winning?

Philosophically, I chafe at the idea of a public school effectively endorsing a private, profit-making enterprise.

It's not the fact that they are endorsing a private enterprise that is the violation. It is the fact that they are FORCING kids to wear purple or be excluded from a public school event. That is what violates the freedom of speech, the school is dictating how the students express themselves in terms of what they wear. And please leave the stereotypes out of this. What the school is doing violates the constitution period.

From the article:
Having grown up in a state notorious for its football fanaticism, Brody said he appreciates the city's rallying behind the Ravens, but not at the expense of his three children — who regularly wear black and yellow — in kindergarten, first and second grade. Brody moved to Baltimore in 1998 and supports other Baltimore teams, like the Orioles.

"I like the town getting behind the team. I like Purple Friday," Brody said. "But this is about standing up for their right to just be themselves, to not have to pretend that you're a Ravens fan to go to an event during the school day. I shouldn't have to send my kid to school to have them sit in the library."

That is creating a hostile environment for kids based on the teachers' insistence of purple as the color being worn. Either wear purple - or be exiled to the library. That is just not right.