Nov 24 - School called - kid is in trouble

My "good" child...went "bad" today.

They staged a protest at school. Apparently they are not allowed to wear bandanas in school - something about Gang affiliations with the different colors etc.

So there was a bunch of kids that sat in the hallways this morning and refused to go to class. Shayne was one of them. According to the principal (who I do not have a great relationship with and most of the times, don't trust anything he says), the kids were given the opportunity to go back to class without punishment. There were 15 who did not - and again - Shayne was one of them.

He is now serving a 3 day out of school suspension. And has PILES of work to do here at home as well as keep up with his homework. I went into the school tonight and picked up his books and the envelope of assignment sheets from his teachers.

After doing some research I have found out that there is a rule in the school district that there is no "headgear" allowed inside the schools unless it is for religious purposes. So no "hats", "bandanas" etc. Also no jewelry etc that will make a group of students stand out from the others - when asked what type of stuff they are talking about it is the big blingy stuff - anything like swasticka etc.

The gang stuff is starting to reach the smaller towns - drugs, etc. - are becoming more prominent. They have sent a letter home indicating that there is going to be "security" things put in the school at some point this year at the doors to check for guns/knives etc. (like at the airport).

I knew that this protest was going to happen but as Shayne has never involved himself in these things before (this is not the first at the school over dress code), I didn't think he would be in this one. I never found out how many kids were in on this at the start...but there were only 15 that received suspensions. He does have his homework for these three days...so if he completes it he won't be
behind.

We have talked to him about this saying "if it was something you really believed in then you made your point...but when given the option to go back to class and not be punished by the school...you should have taken it." When asked why he went along with it...he said "because it is a stupid rule". So I asked him why he didn't go in on any of the other protests...he said "don't know".

I am hoping that he will think before acting next time...and to make sure it is something that "he-himself" believes in whole heartedly and not just because his friends are doing it.