I'm sorry, this comment doesn't really fit the topic, but Mitch, we have to do something about our idiotic legislature trying to outlaw sudaphed and benedryl!!! This is Minnesota, for crying out loud, are we all supposed to die of our cold symptoms just because the cops are tired of hunting down meth labs? My daughter, mother and I all suffer from allergies that require us to carry benedryl at all times. Are we now to go to Wisconsin to get what we need just to continue breathing?! We have to blogswarm this nonsense. Of course, I'm hounding the senate and Pawlenty's office, but the alarm must be sounded.
Thanks.
MLP

A teacher works at the school.

Couldn't a teacher feel they are being harrassed by the student? Doesn't the school district have an obligation to provide a safe, harrassment free workplace?

What I meant to say: "Couldn't a teacher claim they are feeling harrassed by a student wearing an 'I [heart] my vagina' pin?"

Then the whole "Doesn't a school district..." thing. I'm checking with my school board member tomorrow.

Hey, I have hot centerfolds on the wall where I work.
Oh wait - I work at home...

The difference is between a private business and a public institution. A private school, or a privately owned business, can control their environments much more than a public entity. The more correct comparison would be - wearing the button to a public library or public university. Although obviously high school students can't exercise their rights as fully as an adult citizen/library patron/U-student.

Anyway -- yes let's rally around sudafed! Seriously, this pisses me off, being an allergy sufferer. Put it behind the counter, restrict quantity, but don't take it off the shelves altogether. Perhaps this is one issue where the left and right blogspheres can join forces and raise hell.

She maybe chose the "V" button because the "I [heart] My Brain Power" button caused too much snickering.

The sexual harassment laws apply to public institutions as well as private. If they didn't, Bob Packwood might still be in office.

So that isn't a difference.

I think other students should wear "I [heart] Carrie Rethlefsen's vagina" buttons.

I'm surprised that you haven't commented on the legislature banning pseudofed.

This situation is different because as a student it is their sworn duty to make the lives of assistant principals like myself miserable. Our dress code is such a hassle we are switching to standardized student dress next year. I am looking forward to it with great glee. No more having to ask young men to pull their pants up above their knees. One morning last week I was driving up to the school and a group of students dashed in front of my car. One of the young men was of course holding his pants up with one hand and eating a McBiscuit or whatever in another. I am unashamed to say I laughed till I cried when he let go of his pants to wave to a young lady who caught his eye and fell face down in his McBreakfast. I am a tree hugger in most cases but for goddness sake put the button in your purse and wear it after school.

Because the SC says students have full civil rights of expresssion. They are not employees.

But specific law prohibits employees behavior which makes another employee unhappy. The matter may be sex, race, etc. There is no list - it is decided complaint by complaint. The uncomfortable employee may feel excluded from lunch excursions or ignored when the men discuss football.

Some complaints are quite justified. But the person complaining has the upper hand. He or she only needs evidence that behavior (not related to the work) does occur and it produces worries.

If a teachers is endangered by a student the school must correct the situation by posting guards or removing students. Whatever it takes.

A teacher can complain about employee harassment and the law is clear. But students are not employees. The school will hit civil rights there so the usual tactic is to increase security. So the whole school is locked down to neutralize one kid.

Interesting but meaningless link between this case in Winona and the t-shirt case in Woodbury... The principal of Woodbury High, Dana Babbitt, used to teach math (very well) at Winona High.

My take on this is you can't block some free speech and not others. Either anything goes or nothing goes. If you allow "I heart my Vagina" under freedom of speech then you should allow "Male Power", "Straight Pride", "I heart my Glock", "Meat is Murder...Tasty, Juicy Murder", etc. No shirts with slogans or statements is probably the better alternative. Of course, I'm a fan of the school uniform concept. Just like the workplace, schools can require a dress code as part of admittance and attendance requirements.

I'm so proud my alma mater is in the news for this, rather than having the highest graduation rate in the state or something lame like that.

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