FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky (PNN) - April 25, 2013 - A Kentucky middle-school student was in hot water with her school after wearing a T-shirt that said “Support Our Troops,” in honor of her dad’s deployment overseas.
But the school, facing widespread backlash for its opposition to her T-shirt, has been forced to back down and loosen its dress code. The school, Mahaffrey Middle, is located on Fort Campbell Army base.
The brouhaha began when Cejai Taylor wore the T-shirt with the pro-military message to school, in conflict with dress codes that require shirts with collars.
However, the school also allows a once-a-month jean day that lets students wear more informal shirts. But the shirts have to be approved by school officials - and “Support Our Troops” didn’t make the cut. The teacher ordered Taylor to the office for wearing it.
Her mother, Cassandra Taylor, pointed to the ridiculousness of it all.
“It’s a military school on a military base,” she said, in response to the school’s demand. She also said she was standing by her daughter’s choice of clothing. “I’m not going to make her change [her shirt]. She’s standing her ground, and as her mother and as a military wife, I support my child.”
The school, meanwhile, has reversed its stance.
Cindy Gibson, Department of Defense education spokeswoman, said “patriotic T-shirts” are now permitted and added into the dress code.
