I’ve received many phone calls from Students at TriCities High School about the White Tee Shirt Ban allegedly imposed by the Principal last week. The students were warned that they could no longer wear white Tee Shirts to school; naturally the students were confused and upset. It was further stated to the students that anyone wearing them would be sent home. In retaliation, the students reacted by saying anyone not wearing a white tee shirt would be jumped.

In an effort to find the truth, I called the Principal’s office as I have on many occasions and, of course, she was unavailable. I asked her assistant if there was a ban and she said, "Yes!" I asked why and her reply was they had information that the white tee shirts were gang related. I asked if she had evidence and she said they had information to that affect. It doesn’t take a Rocket Scientist to know the difference between evidence and information.

I asked if there are recorded incidents where gang fights involved the shirts; she referred me to the Resource officer, who in turn referred me back to the Principal, who referred me to the East Point Police Department, who again referred be back to the school. The all infamous runaround I get whenever I go to that school which matches the mutual disrespect between staff and students. When I finally got an Assistant Principal, I asked her if the white tee shirts were banned and her response was, "There isn’t exactly a ban, many students wore white Tee Shirts today!" I asked her if they had been warned not to wear them and what the ramifications were if the students wore them; would they be suspended or sent home and again she referred me back to the Principal’s office. It’s no wonder there are so many problems in the schools across the Country.

I’m long graduated from High School and I am just as confused as the Students are; either there is a ban with ramifications or there is not. I am a proponent for the safety of our children in the schools and ifwhite tee shirts are an endangerment to our children at school I’m in total support of the ban but if it’s just a control mechanism and/or a fear factor, let’s get real. Parents we need to get involved! Call the school, call the school board; call anyone from whom we can get some straight answers. I personally DO NOT believe that not even the majority of the students at TriCities who wear white tee shirts are in gangs. I will stay on top of this and bring it to you as it unfolds.

Senior Editor,
O’drean E. Banks

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