5-year-old’s Michigan T-shirt banned in OK
A 5-year-old kindergarten student has run afoul of the fashion police in Oklahoma City for supporting the wrong team.
Cooper Barton wore a “Big House” t-shirt — the nickname for Michigan’s 114,000-seat stadium — to classes at Wilson Elementary, and was told by school officials to turn the shirt inside out.
The officials explained that Oklahoma City has a policy prohibiting the wearing of college team shirts, unless they represent Oklahoma schools.
His family, avid Michigan supporters, was not pleased.
“It wasn’t offensive,” his mother Shannon told KWTV. “He’s five.”
The Oklahoma City Public Schools District policy forbids “clothing bearing the names or emblems of all professional and collegiate athletic teams” unless they’re from Oklahoma. Officials said the policy was developed in 2005 as an anti-gang measure.
School Superintendent Karl Springer said the policy was under review due to the incident involving Cooper.
“He absolutely had concerns about [the policy] and thinks it might be outdated,” a school system spokeswoman told KWTV.
What about it: Is the policy stupid? Or should Cooper’s family just shut up and follow the rules?
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157 comments Add your comment
Trey
August 23rd, 2012
1:31 pm
Buck, more like Roy Barnes would have. The same moron who gave us that ugly flag. Luckily, Purdue gave us back the original Confederate Flag.
Jackie
August 23rd, 2012
1:32 pm
Michigan ROCKS.. Georgians take note, education down here sucks, maybe the kid needs to go back to Michigan where real education takes place.
A Rules A Rule
August 23rd, 2012
1:33 pm
Ignorance of the rule is no excuse!!! Read the handbook and the dress code policy which I am sure you were given when enrolling your child.
Failure to adhere to a rule is unacceptable. How would you feel if your children did not follow the house rules because they thought they were stupid?
good for oklahoma
August 23rd, 2012
1:34 pm
It be nice to see a similar policy in GA…..still can’t understand why the state would promote other state schools on license plates…..forget about that revenue….it’s a drop in the bucket that can be made up easily elsewhere, by the cretons with out of state school tags.
omg
August 23rd, 2012
1:41 pm
Michigan ROCKS.. Georgians take note, education down here sucks, maybe the kid needs to go back to Michigan where real INDOCTRINATION takes place….There I fixed your liberal mistake.
omg
August 23rd, 2012
1:42 pm
I hear a many liberals crying freedom of speech. Is that the kid’s speech or the parents who do not attend school. Liberals sure are funny!
war eagle
August 23rd, 2012
1:52 pm
Have those people been in their covered wagons too long? Good thing they were not wearing a Morehouse shirt. Oh boy would their be protests and marches- might even stir up the OK Corral!
USMC
August 23rd, 2012
1:59 pm
Oklahoma stop backwoodsy! former Okie………………..
Ticklemonster
August 23rd, 2012
1:59 pm
What? Can’t wear a Penn State shirt either?
Thank you
August 23rd, 2012
2:03 pm
Thank you for saving us from all those 5 year old gang banging Michigan suporters. I will feel safer at the playground next time I visit OKC.
Less government immediately!!
luangtom
August 23rd, 2012
2:04 pm
It is no wonder our education is lacking versus the rest of the world….educators and their administrators spend their time worrying about t-shirts instead of curriculum. Makes sense, huh?
Sports Illustrated
August 23rd, 2012
2:10 pm
Kinda reminds me of a 1st grader that was suspended because his mother had packed a plastic knife in his lunch to spread mayo on his sandwich. You can understand a school having a policy against knives, but I thought this was a little over the top.
Lion Heart
August 23rd, 2012
2:26 pm
“People, it’s Oklahoma. What can you really expect from those people?”
———-
Be careful with statements like this. Georgia has given the world Honey Boo Boo.
Makes you hhhmmm
August 23rd, 2012
2:44 pm
Let’s compare…
Unemployment: OK – 4.9% / GA – 9.3%
Graduation Rates: OK – 78% / GA – 65.4%
State Taxes: OK – 5.5% / GA – 6%
Gas Prices: OK – $3.39 / GA – $3.89
Housing Mkt: OK – Tulsa: +6.2%; OKC: +3.1% / GA – Hotlanta: -14.7%; Gainesville: -17.2%
(2 of the best vs 2 of the worst on the national lists. ouch.)
From just a little research, it’s apparent this list could go on and on (and on), and not in GA’s favor. I don’t have any reason to be a cheerleader for OK – don’t live there, don’t know much about it – but it strikes me as odd that folks in a state with so little in the way of business, education, sports, or geographic significance are so quick to call another state stupid, backward, or any other epithet. You know what they say about people in glass houses….
Head in the Sand
August 23rd, 2012
2:47 pm
Mr. Natural: I graduated from the highest ranked university in GA, Georgia Tech. I love people whose best argument is to call people they disagree with stupid. Typical strawman demogogue. It’s really sad how many people hate 50% of America just because they vote differently, and that goes for both sides of the aisle. Stupid and unfair rules are meant to be broken. Common sense will dictate what is stupid and unfair.
David
August 23rd, 2012
2:56 pm
lefty fielder
August 23rd, 2012
8:21 am
Wonder what gang adopts the Saints logo
Gang of Fools.
Kate More
August 23rd, 2012
2:57 pm
Are 5-year old kids in gangs in OK? Wow, then that might justify the policy. Geez! School boards/schools have simply LOST IT. Moreover, this is a clear violation of free speech. What about the latest Nike sneakers, costing $300? Don’t they present the real danger of violence, theft and misconduct A LOT MORE, in say middle/high schools, than this little kid’s MI t-shirt? It’s really about the Obama doctrine. It has trickled down into every facet of the country. Presidential policy does that. It includes: severe invasion into/curtailing of Civil Liberties, violation of Free Speech, and a gross perversion of all that is good, true, patriotic and traditionally American, in general. How is it that ADULTS have become the clueless, spineless, politically-correct (idiotic) saps that we hear about daily? Has Obama sucked out their life force?:) People, snap out of it. Let’s be the land of the brave and the home of the free, again!!! Oust that Socialist/Marxist/Islamist sucker in November and let’s be Americans again!!!!!!!!!!
eds
August 23rd, 2012
3:01 pm
The correct spelling is “you’re” NOT “your,” when you are trying to convey “you are.” Learn how to spell, and quit dumbing-down the English language.
CherylS
August 23rd, 2012
3:07 pm
Of course it’s stupid. Either ban all Team clothing or allow it all. The way it is now, it’s just forcing support for state schools. I can’t remember the last time I saw gnag members wearing team t-shirts.
CherylS
August 23rd, 2012
3:10 pm
It’s all about $$$$. If someone who lives in Georgia but graduated from Florida State wants to pay extra for a Florida State license plate, let him. Why do you care anyway?
MichiganSucks
August 23rd, 2012
3:13 pm
Hello
Barry Obama
August 23rd, 2012
3:17 pm
Of course I agree with the government employee who simply did their job by enforcing the rules that were on the books.
The thoughtless Republican parents of this child were trying to provoke an incident wearing a Michigan t-shirt in hostile territory, thus putting the child in harm’s way.
It takes a village to raise a child.
Former Teacher
August 23rd, 2012
3:21 pm
The issue is whether or not the parents knew of the rule. if they did then obviously they ignored it in favor of parading their child in front of the media for their 15 minutes of fame. The rule is stupid—but I find parents using their 5-year-old in the media to protest the rule rather abusive.
George G.
August 23rd, 2012
3:52 pm
Michigan? He should have been expelled!
Ralph
August 23rd, 2012
3:52 pm
I”m all for school uniforms. My kids wore them for years in both public (short term) and private schools. Uniforms eliminate so many BS distractions.
Itsmeagain
August 23rd, 2012
3:58 pm
Kate More;
Taking a conservative principle that she doesn’t understand and thinks is bad and saying that it belongs to Obama because she doesn’t like him either
GB'S Hamburgers
August 23rd, 2012
4:00 pm
So America is not dumbed down … huh?
Itsmeagain
August 23rd, 2012
4:02 pm
The sad thing is, this isnt just a rule that’s on the books and mostly ignored, it’s clearly drilled into teachers enough that they can spot it in their school. This says to me how serious they are about it. It’s strange that a red state would do something which is the antithesis of conservative, well, unless you believe true conservatism is giving a ton of power to a small government
pooh p
August 23rd, 2012
4:04 pm
Kudos to Michigan for flying the kid and his parents up to the Big House for a game this fall.
goodhikers
August 23rd, 2012
4:07 pm
Per woody: “F**k Washington and what goes on there. Focus on your home, neighborhood, school, and workplace. You have more control over your immediate environment, and what takes place there, than you may realize.”
Woody, this sounds like a local school issue to me–I don’t see the Washington connection. In fact, local environment/schools/government is often more petty and prejudicial than any state or national government. You comment sounds like more tea party BS…another no-brain movement that has no idea what it is talking about
Mr Natural
August 23rd, 2012
4:13 pm
Mr. Natural: I graduated from the highest ranked university in GA, Georgia Tech. I love people whose best argument is to call people they disagree with stupid. Typical strawman demogogue. It’s really sad how many people hate 50% of America just because they vote differently, and that goes for both sides of the aisle. Stupid and unfair rules are meant to be broken. Common sense will dictate what is stupid and unfair.
Head in the Sand: Please show me in my prior post where it says you are stupid. I just asked what grade of school you completed. A little paranoid aren’t we?
Larry
August 23rd, 2012
4:36 pm
Rick, The date that makes all the difference is January 20, 1977. Once Jimmy Carter was elected President, among other travesties, he created the Department of Education. Education has been in serious decline ever since. Interestingly, the cost of edcuation has skyrocketed way past inflation ever since. Now, you’re going to trust Obama with medical care?
Doug
August 23rd, 2012
5:23 pm
You aint in Michigan anmore TOTO.
RentATrent
August 23rd, 2012
5:23 pm
Yet another good reason to dislike bammer-West.
Doug
August 23rd, 2012
5:25 pm
Enter your comments here
Larry
August 23rd, 2012
6:02 pm
Next time, he should wear a Penn State shirt.
Amazed
August 23rd, 2012
6:04 pm
Wow and the U.S. is where in education? Shaking my head.
ha
August 23rd, 2012
6:19 pm
I went to basic training and Ait for the Army in Ok.It is a ass backwards hell hole. The hate texans and anyone else who does not live there and themselves for living there.
ha
August 23rd, 2012
6:20 pm
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/sports/college&id=5652925
ha
August 23rd, 2012
6:21 pm
I posted it motorcross, for those who would defend all the knuckle dragging oklahoma fans.
FSUBrave
August 23rd, 2012
7:22 pm
I lived In Oklahoma for 4 yrs on a military assignment..All i can say is BORING!! you can only see the cowboy museum and the indian city so many times. It is one ugly state….they have SEC envy as well. I will say it is not a bad place to raise kids, conservative, but is nothing more than a flyover state..@thmygohmmm…pull your head out of your keister..Atlanta has many fortune 500 companies headquartered here, has pro sports, although i will say the thunder is a much better franchise than the hawks, and we also have the SEC..nothing oklahoma can touch..We also have alot of history from the civil war, stone mountain and six flags….oklahoma can’t shine our shoes..nice try though buddy
SEC Champ
August 23rd, 2012
7:27 pm
School policies have to have a zero tolerance to be effective or everyone would have a reason to wear or bring whatever they wanted to school. The problem is not the school systems it is advertisers glorifying thugs like snoop dog and children trying to emulate the likes of such trash. When pop culture is all about “keeping it real” and be a thug, it is hard to cultivate a positive learning environment.
creative
August 23rd, 2012
9:12 pm
kill me please
dagnabit
August 23rd, 2012
11:50 pm
Who wants to deny that these Oklahoma officials are all republicans.
Whatever
August 24th, 2012
2:25 am
The rule was enacted because of gangs. Gangs are black. This kid is white. Let him wear his shirt.
Say whut
August 24th, 2012
7:16 am
Some will defend the Second Amendment ot their death. What about the First Amendment? This is another example of how some people will strip your rights if you let them.
phillip
August 24th, 2012
8:32 am
really
jon
August 24th, 2012
8:54 am
Oklahoma is the Alabama of the Mid West
Head in the Sand
August 24th, 2012
9:02 am
Mr. Natural: Um, the whole part about asking me what grade of school I completed? I think that’s fairly synonymous with calling someone stupid. If that wasn’t your intention and you actually care how I took your comment, perhaps you should explain your points better.
jarvis
August 24th, 2012
9:28 am
“Follow the rule until it is change, and then in a separtate forum challenge the rule.”
How un-American are you rule-followers?
If this kid hadn’t broken the rule, would the rule be getting any of the negative attention it deserves? No, of course it wouldn’t. Discourse is force by action not by waiting in line for two hours for the 5 seconds of open mic at a School Board meeting.
Did our forefathers continue to pay the tax on imported tea while waiting for an appointment with the colonial governor? No….the threw the effin tea in the harbor.