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T-shirt debate rekindles camp controversy
By Tim Sapp\Staff Writer
Fifth-graders at B.B. Owen Elementary got a lesson in First Amendment rights this week when the school reversed its decision on prohibiting T-shirts displaying a controversial statement.
Fifth-grade students at B.B. Owen Elementary had just started receiving new T-shirts from the school’s PTA that read “I didn’t get to go to Camp Goddard, so all I got was this lousy T-shirt” on the back.
Going to Camp Goddard in Oklahoma had been a long time tradition with the fifth-grade students at Owen Elementary. They would leave class for one week to spend time camping, fishing, canoeing, shooting archery, and having fun. It was considered a right of passage for many of the parents at the meeting.
The school’s fifth-grade class traveled to the camp for the final trip last year. This year’s fifth-graders were the first who did not go.
School officials told students they would not be allowed to wear the shirts to school. Principal Linda Fontes, who had approved the printing of the shirts earlier, said she felt that the message was inappropriate.
Students who had worn to shirts to school were told to turn them inside out or school officials would call their parents to either pick up their child or bring them another shirt to wear. This upset many parents who showed up at a Thursday night PTA meeting looking for answers.
At the PTA meeting parents stayed late to ask questions as to why their students were not going to be allowed to wear the T-shirts.
“I would like to know if the shirts were approved by the school before they were printed,” parent Sandy Walther asked Fontes.
The principal replied that she did approve them, but then changed her mind.
“I now feel that the shirts are not appropriate for school,” Fontes said. “I was the one that told the teachers to tell the students that they could not wear the shirts.”
According to the school handbook, the campus’ principal is the final authority on what is considered abusive or foul language with attire.
“However, I am going to change that and I will allow the shirts to be worn at school. I do feel that they are inappropriate for school and I ask that they not be worn,” Fontes said.
PTA members are printing new shirts that do not have the questionable statement on them.
“I feel the shirts are disrespectful to the (Lewisville ISD) school board members who had to make a hard decision to not send students to Camp Goddard,” Fontes said of the January 2006 vote to cancel the annual camp trip. “They worked hard to find a solution on the Camp Goddard case and had to not allow the camp for the safety of the children.”
“This shirt was a slap at the policy from the school board,” Fontes said. “I would really like the students to exchange the T-shirts for a new one.”
Parents’ reactions ranged from understanding to upset.
“Did you ever talk to any of the kids about this,” parent Chris Howell asked.
“No, and I am not going to,” was the reply from Fontes.
At that point, the parent left the meeting before Fontes could continue the conversation.
“We made a mistake and we are correcting it,” Fontes said. “I realized that the shirt could be taken [the] wrong [way]”
“This is a learning opportunity for our children. When adults make mistakes, they have to correct them,” parent Jorie Bennett said. “We are here to teach our children.”
“I think this was handled inappropriately,” parent Sunshine Thatcher said.
Fontes directed further comments to LISD administrators.
“I am sorry, it was a mistake and we are correcting it,” Fontes said. “If you do not like my response then you can call my boss (LISD Assistant Superintendent of Education) Jeff Wagner”
Wagner’s office referred calls to LISD Public Information Officer Dean Tackett.
“The PTA will replace the T-shirts at no cost to the parents,” Fontes said. “The parents are not losing any money on this deal. The PTA only sold the shirts for 25 cents over the cost of printing and they are not losing any money either.”
However, after the meeting PTA board members discussed the $490 they will face in costs to have the shirts reprinted.
Some parents looked at the bigger picture for the school’s students.
“It is more than just the T-shirts,” parent Kecia McCright said. “The school is doing good things for our children. We have received great results from our TAKS testing, we have good teachers, and a good school. We are so much more than just this T-shirt issue.”
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
Lisa wrote on Apr 2, 2008 9:04 AM:
" Sounds like the Principle is the one that should be paying the $490 in cost since she originally approved. This should not come out of the PTA budget as that budget is for the children of BB Owens. She just took $490 dollars that could have been put to better use. "
CHEER_LOVE wrote on Apr 2, 2008 4:11 PM:
" The 5th grade students were looking forward to wearing their T-Shirts...If they didn't get to go to camp goddard,they should get the prevalage to wear thes T-Shirts made by the wonderful PTA...
If the LISD school district doesnt like it.
They can give all the money back to the students who paid for it.It was all a BIG joke on the back of these T-Shirts.If someone has a problem with it,that just proves that they dont want any of the school districs to do with CAMP GODDARD! I personly think that this situation NEEDS to STOP immediatly.
If new T-Shirts are coming out,by all means DO IT! "
If the LISD school district doesnt like it.
They can give all the money back to the students who paid for it.It was all a BIG joke on the back of these T-Shirts.If someone has a problem with it,that just proves that they dont want any of the school districs to do with CAMP GODDARD! I personly think that this situation NEEDS to STOP immediatly.
If new T-Shirts are coming out,by all means DO IT! "
Treeshaker wrote on Apr 6, 2008 5:49 PM:
" Sounds like this principal and many others like her have delusions of grandeur, and too much dictatorial power. She voted for it before she voted against it (sounds familiar) and to humiliate the children when they wore them to school is uncalled for. How many other decisions does she waffle on? "
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