Native American student denied high school diploma for wearing tribal feather

[Playinghardball]

A high school graduate in Alabama is being denied her diploma after being fined $1,000 for wearing a feather reflecting her Native American heritage.

“I don’t think it’s fair at all,” 17-year-old Chelsey Ramer told WPMI-TV. “I feel like its discrimination.”

Ramer, a member of the Poarch Creek Band of Indians, wore the feather while taking part in the graduation ceremony at Escambia Academy High School in defiance of school policy forbidding “extraneous items” from being worn without school permission.

The school sent a contract for graduating seniors to sign before the May 23 event, but Ramer told the station she never signed it. Escambia is now withholding her diploma until she pays the fine.

“About two months ago, me and the other Indian seniors from the graduating class asked our headmaster if we could wear the feathers on our caps,” Ramer told Indian Country Today Media Network. “She told us ‘no’ and that if we did, she would pull us off the field.”

However, Ramer attended and walked in the ceremony without incident. Indian Country Today reported that the headmaster who denied Ramer’s request, Betty Warren, has been replaced by David Walker, who coaches Escambia’s girl’s basketball team.

“He said if it was up to him, he would give me my diploma,” Ramer said to Indian Country Today. “But he had to go through the board to get it approved.”

Watch WPMI’s report on Ramer’s fine, aired Friday, below.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/06/03/native-american-student-denied-high-school-diploma-for-wearing-tribal-feather/


Maybe they need to change Alabama to Talibama...

[Drale]

1. Is it sad that the second I saw this was in Alabama it did not surprise me one bit? /nt

[OriginalGeek]

15. probably about as sad as the fact

that they were christians did not surprise me.

Some christians are some controlling motherfuckers.

[TlalocW]

2. The only way this is going to fly

Is if other students wore something extraneous and got their diploma. The schools have a right to tell the students how to dress for graduation.

TlalocW

[BrotherIvan]

9. Did they fine those wearing crosses?

If so, this is discrimination.

[justiceischeap]

14. +10000! Or earrings? Or rings? nt

[BrotherIvan]

18. Exactly

And acting like a show of cultural pride is wanting to wear bling or some joke or inappropriate is just disgusting. But I'm sure those good Christians don't see the irony.

[SunSeeker]

20. Excellent point. And we all know the answer is "no."

Yes, public schools have a right to set rules and maintain order, but they have to be rational and nondiscriminatory. Unfortunately, this is a religious school. I'm not sure if the same rules apply.

[ReRe]

23. Exactly!

What's wrong with a fucking feather? After all, her ancestors were walking these grounds centuries before everyone else's were, not to mention that the USG stole there lands for trinkets and alcohol! I'd be willing to help pay her fine. Where do I sign up?

[BrotherIvan]

29. I would be happy to contribute toward her legal action against the school

But she should not pay the fine. It is arbitrary and wrong and perhaps someone will help because her civil liberties have been violated. Just because it is a "private" institution as some have pointed out, they are still not allowed to discriminate against her and her beliefs. Newsflash people: private institutions or corporations are not above the law, (though that may be just a euphemism these days) they must still follow quaint little pieces of paper like the Constitution.

And that people are pushing this nonsense on a democratic board is pathetic. She should turn the sword against these fuckers and scream religious persecution at the top of her lungs and see if they STFU.

[ReRe]

44. Well, on second thought, you're right....

... I will support her suit against the locals and the state. She could learn allot in this whole process. Finance her way through college and law school to be a Civil Lawyer!!!

[BrotherIvan]

55. Wouldn't that be a great ending?

Then she can kick some bigoted self-righteous hypocrite ass for years to come!

[ReRe]

61. Adversity is what....

.... dreams are made of. An example of "one door closing and another opening," or "if you're given lemons, make lemonade," or "Keep your sunny side up, up!"

[SunSeeker]

100. You're right, even private religious schools are not above the law.

Here's a good example of that: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014499865

[cntrfthrs]

101. She's got a case...

under the American Indian Religious Freedom Act... and I'm sure NARF would be willing to represent her.

[BrotherIvan]

103. I hope they do!

She deserves recognition for standing up to these bigots.

[freshwest]

65. There was a flap in my high school in the sixties over students wearing Catholic medals in class.

If they kept them inside their clothes, it didn't represent religion in a secular public environment, but they wanted to make a statement. Since they were hispanic, it was unclear if it was racist, but most hispanic and anglo students saw it that way. We (the students) protested and the school backed down.

I don't recall seeing anyone wearing crosses at that time, either. All prayer for any reason was eliminated when the USSC said to separate it. This was probably seen as bringing native religion into the class room, although it may have been racist. Seems they would know better in a public school.

This case will likely be used by rightwingers or fundamentalists to support religious symbolism in the public schools. All I can see resulting from this, is taking Alabama farther backwards.

The amount of the fine itself and withholding the diploma seems illegal. $1,000.00 is too much for a student to pay and is truly punitive to be put on this young lady, barely an adult in the eyes of the law. Whether her family is poor and this would burden them unfairly is also an issue.

Anyone other than a civil or criminal court fining anyone seems improper. Her education has been paid in full by tax money to the state of Alabama. She successfully completed the requirements to get a diploma. Their saying she must pay the fine to get the earned diploma sounds like extortion.

JMHO.

[BrotherIvan]

86. Very good points

Detention is usually the punishment for a small infraction, but obviously, they think that the wearing of a feather is so bad it deserves an unreasonable fine. Though so many on here don't see it that way, discrimination is rampant in this story.

[The Straight Story]

73. If they had I am guessing many people would have cheered on the school

For stopping others from seeing the cross and becoming damaged.

[BrotherIvan]

87. Yes it's the poor Christians who are the real victims in this story.

[The Straight Story]

88. *facepalm*

The victims in many stories are represented in cases like this - the few who screw over the many based on something stupid.

*Some* choose to only see a victim in something when that victim has something in common with them - when the victim is someone else they don't like they get a response like yours.

Being consistent across the board is not always easy. Yet some on the left (and I keep using some for a good reason) turn off their outrage when it is a group they do not like.

I don't care who the victims are of stupidity but for some reason it seems more than ok when such victims don't fall under the personal beliefs of others.

A feather could be taken as a religious symbol - which means that person is forcing someone to believe something and be exposed to something they don't believe in. Funny how it is ok in some instances and not others.

Back where I come from progressives call that bias, and to me - it sucks no matter who the bias is against.

[BrotherIvan]

96. Christians, especially in this country, are not victimized

They may be mocked, but how often are they truly discriminated against? They are the dominant religion for now. If Catholics jump in here and say people say bad things about the church and the pope, then that is false equivalency. We are FLOODED with religious messages in this country, bombarded with so-called Christians howling and mewling they are being discriminated against when in fact if they'd calm the hell down and take their religion back to their homes and churches and keep it out of the public square, other people's lives and uteri, I'm sure the mocking would go down too.

So-called Christians are taking the aggressive stance and yet they whine when there is pushback.

If someone wants to have a personal display of their religion, such as wearing a cross or prayer beads or whatever, I have no problem with that and I am sure there are many on here that would say the same. It's when we get every public meeting or event is opened with an *evangelical* Christian prayer. They want kids to pray in school. There is prayers at work meetings. And you can be damn sure the Native Americans had to sit through a prayer at this ceremony if not an entire sermon.

But your argument, that a feather as a symbol of pride in one's culture and ancestry, and sure, perhaps religion is somehow offensive or forcing others to believe what she believes is totally disingenuous.

A feather could be taken as a religious symbol - which means that person is forcing someone to believe something and be exposed to something they don't believe in. Funny how it is ok in some instances and not others.

She is not forcing ANYONE TO BELIEVE ANYTHING. She is not asking them to participate in religious rituals or prayers. Therein lies the difference. Not that people are offended because they are exposed to a particular religion, but often it is because Christianity has made sure that the celebration of any different forms of ideas or worship is excluded. As is definitely the case with this school. I doubt people are complaining about being exposed, they are tired of Christians FORCING THEIR MORALITY UPON THEM.

[bunnies]

3. I personally think the schools rule is really dumb but...

if she was told not to do it but decided to do it anyway, should she expect some sort of consequence? I bet many of the other kids would have like to wear something too, but opted to follow the rules instead. Either everyone should get to do it or nobody should. I cant blame the school for not wanting to get into making "exceptions". One persons feather is another persons __________. Lots of schools have strict graduation dress codes.

[CreekDog]

27. The school can't just make up a rule though

for example, if they created the rule to stop the feathers, which the article in Indian Country News suggests may have been the motivation --they could be in big, big trouble and liable for anti-Indian discrimination, and certainly intent.

[bunnies]

32. Schools cant just make up rules?

Since when? We couldnt even wear sunglasses at my graduation. And private schools definitely get to dictate what kids wear. Hence the uniforms in many of them.

I could see it being anti-Native American if only feathers would disallowed. But it seems to me that none of the kids got to wear anything like that. And good luck trying to prove motive re: public school dress-codes. I just dont see it sticking in court.

[CreekDog]

35. so if your school didn't allow a blind child to wear sunglasses, would that have stood?

please answer me that.

then we can talk about how enforceable these rules really are.

[bunnies]

38. I think a child with a disability is a different circumstance entirely.

Also, in that case the sunglasses wouldnt be "extraneous".

[CreekDog]

40. is a tribal item extraneous?

before you answer --i'd like to remind you not to say something stupid like "yes, it is extraneous".

i will try to save you from that type of stupidity, but i'm not sure it will work...

so with that in mind, "is a tribal item extraneous or not?"

[bunnies]

46. is a religious item extraneous?

I dont know the answer to that. I suppose only the individual could answer. For me, a religious item would definitely be extraneous. But for a devout Christian, I'd assume not.

For the record, its graduation, I say let the kids wear whatever the hell they want to.

[CreekDog]

49. is it the law of this nation that one's ethnic heritage is extraneous?

even if it's not religious?

no.

[bunnies]

52. But now we're back to the private school...

getting to make their own "rules". Do we even have national laws about ethnic heritage items?

[Generic Other]

84. There is the a nasty history of forced "assimilation" of native kids in America

The insensitivity to that history displayed here is appalling. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the US government Indian boarding schools beat kids for wearing feathers or speaking their tribe's language.

And in the year 2013, school officials denied this young woman a diploma for honoring her heritage. They denied her a worthless piece of paper for honoring her ancestors. Just like the pieces of paper they gave her ancestors when they took the land from them. When the dropout rate on Indian reservations is the highest in the country. Another broken treaty.

[Gore1FL]

63. When dress is "Cap and Gown"

Yeah, probably it is.

ex·tra·ne·ous
/ikˈstrānēəs/
Adjective

Irrelevant or unrelated to the subject being dealt with.
Of external origin.

Not related to the graduation, and certainly external to the school.


On Edit: You didn't save me or the dictionary "from that type of stupidity."

[Travis_0004]

70. Yes.

My question would be do they wear a feather on a daily basis. If so, and it has religious significance, then they should be allowed to wear it. Just like I wouldn't have a problem with somebody who wore a yammaca or turbin everyday, and wanted to wear it on graduation as well.

If this person never wore a feather, and all the sudden they wanted to wear it this day, despite the rules, then I don't think they should win the lawsuit, as long as everybody who broke the rule was treated equally.

Of course what do I know. I never attended my high school graduation, and I threw my diploma away. I would want the transcripts, but I didn't care about the diploma.

[CreekDog]

74. So this idea you have of everyday wearing is something established through court precedence?

surely you didn't just make it up? seemed logical to you?

didn't realize that if you don't wear a religious or tribal item everyday you've renounced your legal right to wear it any day.

just wondering where you found that, which decision?

[Daemonaquila]

43. Sure it can stick.

This is a matter of ethnicity and religion. Did the other kids there get nailed for wearing "noncompliant" hair ornaments? Crosses or other jewelry? Fun shoes? It's all bollocks. A rule like this has to be enforced fairly and equally, not picking which TYPE of ornament, which is not in any way disruptive (which is the point of the rule), to punish a kid for wearing. A feather versus a cross - that's a choice based on politics and religion.

[bunnies]

50. I dont know what the other kids were wearing.

Were there crosses dangling from their caps? I'd guess that would be the only way to know if this girl was singled out.

[HappyMe]

45. She never signed the contract.

The age of majority in AL is 18, she's 17.

Good grief, it's a damn feather. She wasn't asking to wear gang colors.

I hope she sues the snot out of them.

[bunnies]

54. As I said before...

I think the kids should be able to wear whatever they want. All the kids though.

[HappyMe]

56. She was smart enough not to sign the contract.

Private schools aren't above the law.

For all we know some of the other kids could have had "Jesus" painted on their behinds.

[bunnies]

60. If anything...

I think she just should have been asked to remove the feather or removed from the line as she was told to expect would happen. But only if they treated the other kids in the same manner. The punishment they're trying to force on her is totally absurd.

[HappyMe]

64. $1000 is ridiculous. I see no reason for her to pay a penny.

According to the article, they are not withholding her transcipts. She is legally too young to sign a contract. So, fuck 'em. You don't need the fancy piece of paper diploma in the real world.

[Sirveri]

106. Actually you do need a diploma in the real world.

You need it to join the military (if that's your desire). If you do not have a diploma you will NOT get a job, especially in this job market. Hmmm... the guy with the bachelors degree, the high school grad, or the guy who doesn't even have a high school diploma. Well we'll just weed out those at the bottom to make our job that much easier.

[tammywammy]

113. No, you need the transcript.

The diploma is nothing other than a piece of paper. It's the transcript that proves you've graduated - this is also applicable to any post-high school degrees you receive.

[Sirveri]

117. true, but it reads like they're with holding her ability to graduate.

If it's just walking across the stage I wouldn't care either, but that would royally enrage her relatives, which is never a good idea to do for no reason.

[bunnies]

107. If theyre not withholding her transcripts..

then I agree. Fuck 'em. They missed their chance to "reprimand" her. Tough shit.

[ruffburr]

4. Don't give in-

To these frigging a--holes and don't give em a dime, Take em to court and sue em for damages, I'm sure you'll find an attorney to take it pro-bono or percentage, I'm proud of you girl tell them to stick it where the sun don't shine!!!

[yellerpup]

5. The Poarch Band of Muskogee-Creek

have been active in the Idle No More movement against the Keystone Pipeline (tar sands). The feather may have been interpreted as a protest in favor of Idle No More.

[Eric J in MN]

6. " a safe, Christian environment"

"Escambia Academy's mission is to provide a solid foundation through a quality well-rounded educational experience in a safe, Christian environment."

Jesus said people who wear feathers must be fined a thousand bucks. It's not in the Bible, but the school's headmaster told me that.

[okwmember]

7. Its ironic because the idiom "a feather in your cap"

means to have accomplished something. Which graduating would certainly be an example of.

And if there must be a fine to discourage others, why so large an amount? A $1000 is outrageous. It seems a reasonable fine that could be placed in a educational fund would be more than enough to make the point that we don't want students to deviate from the dress code.

More important than the diploma though is whether they can withhold her transcripts.

[ReRe]

26. That's right. Yankee Doodle "stuck a feather in his cap...

... and called it macaroni!" American as apple pie.

[whistler162]

108. So instead of admitting it was a feather

she should have called it macaroni instead and said it was a show of patriotism.

Foolish rule.

[ReRe]

110. That's a sure-fire DUZY!

[RC]

8. Bullfuckincrabapples.

Being fined $1000? At a High School graduation? For a feather?
These kids are graduating from a lock step education into a non-lockstep life. There are a number of aboriginals, American Indians attending this school. There is nothing wrong with a single feather. How many of the graduating students word crosses? I bet that was OK.

This "It's the Law, so everyone has to obey it" bull shit is a large reason this country is in the bad shape it is in. Way too may people are sheep, blinding following self-appointed "leaders", doing their own self interest, at the cost of the followers.

Law suits need to be threatened or started to stop this BS. This smacks of racism. Let the aboriginals have what little is left of their culture and heritage.

[NCTraveler]

10. School told her not to do it.....

she did it, and there is a penalty. Although it is a very extreme penalty. Except for the severity of the penalty, doesn't sound all that bad. They also keep saying "diploma". It doesn't appear as they have made an attempt to stop hold her back from completing high school. The diploma is not necessary to be a graduate. Since she did this after doing all of the necessary work to graduate, the school is very limited in its power. Their power over her at this point as far as discipline is very limited. With hold the diploma until some disciplinary measure is met. In this case it is a fine. I would call the paper, which seems to have happened. If that doesn't get it, I would walk away. Maybe show up at their next home football game with a couple of friends dressed in full Indian garb.

[CreekDog]

28. they are withholding transcripts too

i guess reading as much of the article as you wrote is too much to ask.

[Mosby]

51. I don't see anything in the rawstory article about transcripts.

I can't watch the video on my blackberry.

If they won't release her transcripts that's a problem, she should sue. A diploma is a piece of paper.

[NCTraveler]

58. You are very kind to take such an interest in me.

Can you please quote where the article says "they are withholding transcripts".

"i guess reading as much of the article as you wrote is too much to ask."

Is that really necessary. I appreciate your contributions. Not sure why you would out of the blue make such an argumentative statement. I do understand that sometimes we just simply wake up on the wrong side of the bed. It's ok. Once again, please quote the text that reads "they are withholding transcripts too".

Greatly appreciated.

[CreekDog]

77. ok, fair enough, it was in the article the Rawstory article mentioned

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/05/31/poarch-creek-student-fined-wearing-eagle-feather-graduation-149646

but I'd like to ask, can a 17-year old enter into a contract that stipulates a $1000 fine as well as giving up her graduation documents?

[BrotherIvan]

41. Native Americans have faced as much discrimination as African Americans in this country

Do you know they were often taken from their families and raised by whites or placed in Indian Schools where they were beaten if they spoke their own language or sang or performed ritual dances? They were not allowed to wear any native clothing or jewelry or yes, feathers? Do you have any idea how offensive your off-hand remark is? SHE'S NOT DRESSING UP FOR HALLOWEEN. She is identifying her heritage. Would you say the same if they disallowed Stars of David or yarmulkes? She should just walk away and show up in "full Indian garb" i.e. Indian brave movie-style costumes? For a joke? Do a tomahawk chop for effect? Because a bunch of holier-than-thou Christians decided a white feather would ruin their special evangelical graduation? Because Jesus would be offended? Because it might spoil the pictures of precious Bubba and Sue?

[NCTraveler]

66. You read way too much into it.

There was nothing offensive there. It is so not relevant to my post I am not sure how to respond. On top of that, my post is very clear, so I will not elaborate for you.

[BrotherIvan]

67. Standing by your ignorance does not make your point

But that's cool.

[Drale]

11. Its a stupid rule and she needs to sue the fuck out of them but

when you go to a private school, you need to expect that they will do their damnedest to squeeze every last ounce of individualism from you.

[Rex]

12. Why do so many people love authoritarianism?

IS it something that became a standard in this country after 8 years of quasi-rule by the BFEE?

[BrotherIvan]

22. I'm asking myself the same question. WTF?

She was not allowed to show her pride in her people and culture and she's just supposed to say ok, no problem, them's the rules! It is a personal affront and discrimination against her. But she should just be a good little girl and follow these rules which are discriminatory and WRONG? I'm glad she has more courage than many here.

[Rex]

37. It is upsetting.

Makes me angry that they denied her her right of self expression. What is so offensive about a few bird feathers? I think some people are born following the rules and die following the rules. Then there are others (like me) that said fuck the rules. Rules are meant to be broken.

[CreekDog]

30. why do people in this thread though?

a handful, as usual, defending this.

[Rex]

34. They followed the rules their entire life

so demand everyone else does too? I dunno, I am very upset by the fact that they denied her her right to express herself with a few bird feathers. Was a few bird feathers really going to cause the entire graduating class to go home and not participate? NO of course not, absurd.

BTW, if I followed all the rules in life I would be dead.

[CreekDog]

80. well I remember a DUer arguing that MLK didn't do "civil disobedience"

imagine his surprise!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2389861&mesg_id=2390241

26. They DID have mace back then. And dogs. And clubs. And Fire Hoses.

And if Martin had decided to camp all over hell's half acre, they probably would have resorted to wholesale use of bullets--which DID come out on occasion for no damn reason.

Also, Martin got permits, and his people kept moving and were disciplined in their nonviolence--no anarchists, at least not at the outset (later on, the Panthers and others started doing their own thing, but in the early days, it was a tight ship).

They stuck to the theme, too. No taunting the police.

The few times he couldn't get a permit, the federal government assisted him.

It's difficult to compare then and now. The protesters at a MLK march dressed as though they were going to church. It was an EVENT. Very serious. Not a lot of festival atmosphere. There was no confrontation with the police, no "civil disobedience," a simple statement of what they wanted.

It was all very dignified, but that seems to have fallen out of favor nowadays. So it's hard to compare the two eras or the two protest efforts, because they come from different perspectives.

The methodology is just not the same, either.

[ReRe]

33. Hunt up the documentary entitled "The War on Kids"

... It's a real eye-opener about what has happened to our schools. What's happened to our schools had nothing to do with the teachers or the kids.

[Rex]

39. I will look that up this evening, TY!

Never heard of it and cannot wait to watch it!

[ReRe]

48. You will watch it once and watch it twice, taking notes the second time through.

I caught it on FreespeechTV two times in the last week. On Dish, that's 9415. I don't know if the Documentary Channel would have it or not, but that would be a good place to check also, if you want to purchase the DVD of it.

[HappyMe]

13. $1000? That's nuts.

Fuck 'em. I wouldn't give them a penny.

[sulphurdunn]

16. It's a private school.

They can do what they damn well please for all I care, so long as it's not illegal and they receive no public funding for doing it. It seems like Alabama comes up often in the context of school officials doing really stupid and bigoted things, although it should come as no surprise.

[Demoiselle]

25. Exactly.

I just spent a little googling time making sure. They can pretty much make their own rules.
But I do think this is an outrageous story. The feather is a very pretty, very small addition to her clothing. Grrrrrrrrrr.

[ReRe]

36. They are a Corporation. Privatized. Of course they make their own rules...

... and that's what they are in the process of doing to all of our schools all over this land....

if good people don't stop it in it's tracks, about right NOW!

[sulphurdunn]

62. They're assholes, absolutely.

Why would anyone want to send a kid to a place like that?

[justiceischeap]

17. To all those stating "she was warned"

it appears as though you didn't comprehend the article. They were asked to sign a contract stating they wouldn't do this. She didn't sign the contract. At the time, the only punishment stated was being pulled out of graduation. There is no reportage of withholding the diploma or a fine, so why would she expect nothing more than being pulled off the field?

[HappyMe]

19. Yup, exactly.

I don't think the school has a leg to stand on here.

No signature, tough shit.

[justiceischeap]

21. And depending on state laws, is said Senior old enough

to sign a legally binding contract?

[HappyMe]

24. She's 17, so I don't know.

I did a quick google check.
Age of majority in AL is 18, another entry I saw said 19 for contracts.

[Daemonaquila]

47. Bingo.

Big difference between not being allowed to sit through a boring graduation and stand in a graduation photo you'll eventually throw away, and being fined $1,000 and having your transcripts withheld.

Yeah, time to get an attorney, take these asshats to the cleaners, and salt the earth...

[Bucky]

53. Rosa Parks was warned too. The rule itself was still wrong and discriminatory.

This girl was right to defy a bad rule. The point of doing so, for those of yall who study the principles of civil disobedience, is to get punished, specifically to get caught and penalized in order to highlight to the outside world the injustices that lurk in the shadows of social apathy.

Bravo to young Chelsey Ramer! She's a hero standing up for a worthy cause. I know how this is gonna turn out in the long run. I love it when kids make a decision to make a difference.

[petronius]

31. Incredibly stupid over-reaction by the school - they failed to supervise the graduates

at the ceremony to maintain the 'decorum' level they desired. That's where it ends, IMO.

One thing I wonder though: I assume "withhold diploma" simply means keeping back the pretty, frame-able, piece of paper and the school is providing her transcript (indicating that she has met all the requirements for graduation) to colleges and employers in the exact same way as it does for all other graduates. If this isn't the case, it's a far huger problem, and offense by the school...

[MineralMan]

42. Another private, religion-based school attempting to continue

controlling its students. A letter from a good attorney should get the person her diploma and transcript without much ado. If not, she might get a nice award from a jury. No signature on an invalid contract due to the age of the person? I don't think so. Yes, an attorney will make short work of this nonsense.

[Buns_of_Fire]

57. Sadly, it isn't surprising me anymore.

A girl with a feather, a boy with a gun-shaped pop-tart, a deaf child with a personal sign that "looked" like a gun...

"Is our children learning?" Indeed.

[handmade34]

59. back in 1969

my brother was refused his high school diploma because he refused to cut his hair... he got his GED years later and went on to get a Masters in Architecture...

it was stupidity back then and it still is

I hope Chelsey refuses to pay (would be nice if the community took up a collection in her honor) the fine

[warrprayer]

68. Big Pretty Lawsuit

I hope she sues them into oblivion!!!!

[heaven05]

69. wtf!

Is going wrong in this confused country, FILLED with stupid bigots, FILLING racist states? GEEZ!!!!!

[jtuck004]

71. "About two months ago, me and the other Indian seniors..." ?

Maybe a civil rights lawsuit, and part of the settlement could be another semester of English?

At a better school...

[SoapBox]

72. NATIVE American.

...so who is the true "immigrant" in THEIR country?

Most of us.

[whistler162]

109. All of us... it is just a matter

of longevity.

[Blue_Tires]

75. Where does a school get off fining a student $1000?

I've known of students who broke in, robbed/vandalized/burned up entire classrooms and didn't get fined that...

[lpbk2713]

76. I think this should be reported to Homeland Security.

The local PTB are insensitive at the very LEAST.

[Nevernose]

78. I helped w/ many graduations

In our state (NV) the case law is that we can withhold a diploma for various reasons (most of which relate to normal teenage jackass-ery), but only until the beginning of next school year. And electronically, the diploma is given if earned, so there is no practical effect on college, employment, etc. It's a real blow to an 18 year old to not get their piece of paper, though.

This particular case doesn't surprise me in the least. What does surprise e is that there is an administrator somewhere -- anywhere -- that has time to worry about a fucking feather. Who cares? It's a feather, for the love of Christ.

[BlueJazz]

79. White man take Country then Land then Language then Pride and now Money.

[NYC_SKP]

81. What a stupid ass. She didn't learned a goddamn thing in all of her K-12 experience???

Sarcasm alert, dear jurors.



It's all about CONFORMITY TO RULES.

She clearly missed public education 101, they teach this beginning in the womb: conformity.

[Starry Messenger]

82. This is a private school.

http://escambiaacademy.net/

"Escambia Academy has been providing a solid foundation for its students for 40 years. We are an independent, co-educational, day school, providing a quality education from K-4 to 12th grade. The school is structured into elementary, middle and high school divisions. It is a non-profit organization governed by an elected Board of Directors and supported by tuition, fees, donations and fund raising.

Escambia Academy is fully accredited by the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

Escambia Academy's mission is to provide a solid foundation through a quality well-rounded educational experience in a safe, Christian environment, supported by a fully accredited academic program that is dedicated to the students' intellectual and personal growth and development."

Fee schedule is a pdf, but looks around $4k and change for one student.

[lpbk2713]

83. Ah, Alabama, now I get it.

Now it all comes clear.

[NYC_SKP]

85. Not surprised. Hypocrites, more than likely.

In any event, "education", public or private, is largely about conformity.

[DevonRex]

90. The Native American students had been allowed

to wear their feathers in the past. I bet this particular headmaster is one of those who thinks native religious or milestone expression is akin to being possessed by demons or something. I bet she has a damned pagan Christmas tree every year, though, and lots of Holly and Ivy and wreaths, too. Oh my and how about that lusty mistletoe?

Don't get me started on Easter eggs. And, it seems to me that the Holy Spirit is symbolized by a freakin' BIRD!!!! OK, so it was a dove but really, we're gonna split feathers like that?

Anyway I linked to another article below where they talked about the board meeting.

[Starry Messenger]

91. Where I teach, the kids personalize their graduation attire

I don't know why anyone would restrict that, it's a day to celebrate the achievement of the kids in the community. As long as it is modest and not offensive or physically dangerous, what is the harm?

Even at a private school, that seems really authoritarian. Once they graduate, they're done with school. What the heck? Especially if it has been allowed before.

[DevonRex]

93. Odds are it was because the Native Americans asked. It spooked her religiously.

There are fundamentalists who are scared of everything. Harry Potter, for example. I guarantee you she got on the internet and looked up all the "bad" things feathers could represent. Of course they do nothing of the sort. It must be hell to live life afraid of everything.

[Starry Messenger]

94. That's pretty sad.

It must be rough being a Native American kid at a school where the headmaster is scared of your culture. I can't imagine having an educator who is scared of everything!

[DevonRex]

95. Luckily she's gone now.

Fired unofficially. Amicably parted ways officially. The interim guy says he thinks she should get her diploma. At least somebody there is normal. Sounds like they get a lot of tuition from the tribe, too. Money will win if common decency doesn't.

I lit a scary candle for that hope a little while ago. The board met tonight.

[Starry Messenger]

97. Nice work, DevonRex!

Good aim!

[DevonRex]

89. The school board is meeting tonight and will discuss the matter. Good article:

http://www.atmoreadvance.com/2013/05/31/warren-resigns-at-ea-student-fined-for-wearing-feather/

"Ramer said she felt like she and three of her fellow Creek Indian students were being unfairly punished for something that was allowed in the past.

“My freshman year I went to graduation and students were wearing feathers and they didn’t get in any trouble,” she said. “I don’t think they asked permission. So we asked for permission about two or three months before graduation. (Warren) turned us down and said if we wore our feathers we would be pulled off the field.”

Ramer said several days before the ceremony, the students were presented with a piece of paper outlining acceptable graduation attire. She said she was told if she did not sign it, she would not be able to walk.

“I didn’t sign it,” Ramer said. “A few days later I did sign something, but it had nothing to do with graduation.”
>>snip<<

The part about the board meeting is at the end.

[Ilsa]

92. )-:|3 Maybe next year a graduating sr from the tribe

will wear an "asshat" to the ceremony to make a point about the school. )-:|3

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

98. The rule is stupid, however....

....unless she can point out where someone else was permitted to wear something other than their camp and gown(edit: I suspect whatever they wore UNDER the cap and gown was fine), a graduating senior should have a better grasp of the term "discrimination".

[CreekDog]

99. if the "rule" was designed to keep the Indian kids from the display, that's a huge problem

and no, it's not allowed.

and yes, it would be discrimination if the intent was to stop what happened last time, when they wore the feathers.

and when it comes to Indians, you don't just blithely ignore or suppress their ethnic identity or heritage --our nation already did that in too many ways, to do so again, in any form, to even appear to do so is beyond the pale.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

105. That's a big if.

I'm trying to find anywhere in the article where the rule was designed to target them.

Apparently this private school has a contingent of Native American students they are at war with?

They asked for an exception two months ago because apparently the rule has existed for some period of time, and were not granted one. I have a feeling the rule exists to prevent the kids from taping "Hi Mom" to the cap or a zillion stupid buttons all over the gown, and being a private school they are going to be authoritarian hardasses about it.

And as far as the contract, unless we know for certain this was the first year they made seniors sign the deal, and no one else was begging for any exceptions like to wear dead grandmammys favorite shawl as a tribute or Dale Earnhardt's number 3 on the robe because he was such a bitchin' guy, how can we say it was just to target them?

[CreekDog]

111. Did you even try to look? Here:

Ramer said American Indian seniors four years ago wore feathers to the school’s graduation, but because it was a surprise to the school, no action was taken.

“About two months ago, me and the other Indian seniors from the graduating class asked our headmaster if we could wear the feathers on our caps. She told us ‘no’ and that if we did, she would pull us off the field,” Ramer said.

Ramer says soon after their request, the school gave graduating students a contract that they had to sign or they would not be able to participate in graduation.


Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/05/31/poarch-creek-student-fined-wearing-eagle-feather-graduation-149646

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

114. You might be the one who didn't read. I addressed that in my post.

The rule was instituted for whatever reason after the last time it happened....four years ago, maybe earlier....and it was just let pass the first time it happened. My guess (and that's all it was)....was to keep other kids from saying "Well, if the Indians can do this, how come I can't do that!!??" They asked, she said no. I said we have no idea how many other kids made requests where she said the same thing. I'd certainly like to find out, but if she told every kid who came to her with similar requests that she was going to "pull them off the field", and no one else wore anything outside the dumbass rule, then it's not discrimination.

We disagree, we are both speculating as to what's going on, let's move on until someone comes up with proof and a resolution beyond simple authoritarian dick waving, and not full fledged bigotry. Just give the girl her diploma and waive the fine and now everyone knows they are serious about the rule from now on. Whatever.

[Zoeisright]

102. Oh, Alabama.

No wonder.

[catbyte]

104. Christ on a crutch. How many students were wearing crosses?

Fucking ignorant people.

[ismnotwasm]

112. How asshole can you get?

What would it have hurt? And the beneficial aspects of expressing pride in Native American cultures cannot be underestimated.

The damn school should get a fine.

[liberal_at_heart]

115. Good for Ramer and the other Native American students.

I don't think schools should be able to deny anyone a diploma that has earned one. Kids spend 13 in K-12 schools. They have done the work. I don't care if they moon the audience. They have earned those diplomas, and they should receive them.

[backscatter712]

116. That school needs to be sued out of existence.

Sure, call it a "private" school. What that means is that it's a business that opens its doors to the public, which means it gets to be regulated. One of the long-standing regulations and expectations we have as a society is that businesses that open their doors to the public open their doors to ALL of the public.

And that means they can't invent stupid rules engineered to be differentially enforced against minorities.

So I say sue these fuckers for discrimination, and see how deep their pocketbooks are.