Althouse: "A Texas teenager whose mother died of breast cancer was sent home from school for 'going overboard' with an awareness costume on Pink Day."

November 2, 2012

"A Texas teenager whose mother died of breast cancer was sent home from school for 'going overboard' with an awareness costume on Pink Day."

"Dustin Drake was reportedly told to leave the school when the costume he wore to honor his mother was allegedly deemed inappropriate for school."

Officials knew his mother had died, but he wasn't the only kid punished for a "garment violation."

30 comments:

Anonymous said...: I was expecting to see him dressed up like a breast. His outfit is not offensive. Don't have "dress up days" if you don't want students to go all out.; 11/2/12, 2:22 PM
john said...: The 17-year-old student wore a bright pink wig, pink shirt, pink tutu, pink glasses, pink knee-socks, and pink shoes with a Susan B. Komen label.

And those heartless bureaucrats called that "inappropriate"?; 11/2/12, 2:23 PM
Mary Beth said...: I think Pink Day is kind of silly, who isn't aware of breast cancer? But, if they're going to have a dress up day then they should let students wear what they want as long as it doesn't pose a risk to themselves or others.; 11/2/12, 2:27 PM
dreams said...: Zero tolerance, a lack of common sense in today's world.; 11/2/12, 2:28 PM
Known Unknown said...: Wow. Total overreaction from the school.; 11/2/12, 2:31 PM
Lisaocean86 said...: My mother died of breast cancer in 1989, four days after the birth of my twins. I think of her every day. It's been heartbreaking for me as I know she so would have enjoyed watching her grandchildren grow into such lovely adults. My husband, a radiologist specializing in mammography, wears a pink tie and encourages all his employees, techs, nurses etc. to wear pink during the month of october. Some of them show up in some outrageous outfits. He doesn't do it just as a reminder that October is breast cancer awareness month but in memory of all the moms, sisters, wives and aunts who've lost teir lives to this terrible disease.

I'm so saddened by the news that a school couldn't find their way to understanding this young man's grief. I've often wondered what has happened to our collective sense of compassion in this country. This small occurrence seems to sum up the state of our country today.; 11/2/12, 2:32 PM
Lyssa said...: The article says that students and staff were "given the option" to wear jeans and a pink shirt - that makes me wonder if it's usually a uniform school, and they were waiving the uniform only for participants in the day.

Still silly, but makes the school's position make a little bit more sense.

I won't blame the kid, because, sheesh, his mom, that's terrible, but the whole breast cancer awareness thing has gotten way over the top.; 11/2/12, 2:34 PM
clint said...: Honestly, there's something good about all these crazy restrictions -- it's good for our kids to learn early to rebel against senseless authoritarians.

Also... I agree with gmama3. I was expecting something *actually* inappropriate. Something involving adolescent humor and breasts.; 11/2/12, 2:34 PM
MadisonMan said...: There is nothing more sanctimonious than a School Board Official who is enforcing "policy".

(Except maybe an althouse commenter on such a person); 11/2/12, 2:36 PM
Renee said...: His outfit was distracting, if regular classes were going on through out the day. I'm siding with the school.; 11/2/12, 2:42 PM
bagoh20 said...: They should be able to send him home, or not, but I don't think he should give a damn either way, and wear it anyhow.; 11/2/12, 2:42 PM
edutcher said...: It was his mother, for Christ's sake.

One more vindication for my theory union school personnel are cultivated from spores.; 11/2/12, 2:43 PM
Patrick said...: I don't know if the kid's outfit was over the line or not. It does seem that some cooler heads could've prevailed, and something worked out.; 11/2/12, 2:44 PM
Levi Starks said...: Actually I don't see it as punishment. I think they were being compassionate. A young man so distraught over the death of his mother that he would dress this way is not going to be doing any real learning. And neither will the other kids in his class.
It kind of reminds me of the roadside memorials for crash victims. If someone chokes to death on steak at their local Texas Roadhouse, we don't let the bereaved set up a permanent memorial at "table #9"; 11/2/12, 2:44 PM
bagoh20 said...: It's so easy to get out of school now days. When I was there you had have an excuse, now they have a whole list of them for you to pick from.; 11/2/12, 2:45 PM
James said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/2/12, 2:46 PM
James said...: I recommend that everyone watch the Pink Ribbons, Inc. documentary and understand how a noble cause was hijacked and debased.

"Pink Ribbons, Inc. is a feature documentary that shows how the devastating reality of breast cancer, which marketing experts have labeled a "dream cause," has been hijacked by a shiny, pink story of success."; 11/2/12, 2:50 PM
Shanna said...: School adminstrators are little dictators. They enjoy smacking down students for minor infractions.

The guys mom died. Get over it, school; 11/2/12, 3:09 PM
Renee said...: If I die, I would like my children to honor my memory by NOT dressing like a clown. No, please.; 11/2/12, 3:19 PM
Toad Trend said...: Cue the school apology in 5,4,3....; 11/2/12, 3:36 PM
Bob Ellison said...: What can brown do for you?; 11/2/12, 3:38 PM
Known Unknown said...: think they were being compassionate. A young man so distraught over the death of his mother that he would dress this way is not going to be doing any real learning. And neither will the other kids in his class.

What did you learn at school on January 15, 1964?; 11/2/12, 4:11 PM
Known Unknown said...: Why not encourage the kid's enthusiasm, but also let him know that he shouldn't wear the sunglasses and wig during class time, lest they distract from the no-doubt amazing learning experience.

How hard is it to be school admin?; 11/2/12, 4:12 PM
Crunchy Frog said...: My wife died from breast cancer. I'm plenty aware.

And I'm sick to death of pink everything.; 11/2/12, 4:24 PM
Methadras said...: Not even the death of one of your parents due to cancer can quell the righteous indignation of bureaucratic enforcement of what they deem is a violation of dress code policies. Who do you think you are to represent cancer awareness, citizen? Leave that to us, we know what's best for you, prol.; 11/2/12, 4:35 PM
Ann Althouse said...: I'm sorry to hear that, Crunchy Frog.; 11/2/12, 4:45 PM
Levi Starks said...: What did you learn at school on January 15, 1964?

Not much I had morning kindergarten. I do remember what seemed like forever there were no cartoons on TV when I would have normal been watching them; 11/2/12, 4:57 PM
Methadras said...: Crunchy Frog said...

My wife died from breast cancer. I'm plenty aware.

And I'm sick to death of pink everything.

My sympathies sir. I, for one, am sick of seeing the NFL adopt the pink shoes, socks, gloves, etc. on their uniforms. It looks bizarre.; 11/2/12, 6:00 PM
a psychiatrist who learned from veterans said...: I've thought 'American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America' is insightful and this school action would seem consistent with the Appalachian cultural attitude hypothesized to be dominant above the El Norte part of Texas; this would include an expectation of a certain masculine stoical reserve and irony.

I'm fully on board with Ann's 'lost Obama' post. This may be in part the Midwestern immigrant farmer mentality. You try not to bet the farm because security is in productive capacity, and you don't like a government determined by a man for whom l'état, c'est moi as Obama demonstrates in his dissembling over Benghazi. Speaking in terms of regional values, the Mormons, who arose from Illinois, seem to reflect the farmer's economic values.; 11/2/12, 8:46 PM
William said...: You've got to draw the line somewhere. I draw it at pink tutus. The guess here is that the mother would not wish to have her son honor her memory by wearing a pink tutu.; 11/2/12, 11:21 PM