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Education

Inappropriate? School Tells Student to Cover Up Marine Corps T-Shirt Because of Bulldog’s Genitals

May. 24, 2012 11:35am Madeleine Morgenstern

Mississippi School Tells Student Jordan Griffith to Cover Up Marine Corps T Shirt Because of Bulldogs Genitals

Image source: Marine Corps Times

A Mississippi sixth-grader whose brother is serving in Afghanistan was told by school officials to turn his T-shirt inside-out because of its anatomically correct depiction of the U.S. Marine Corps bulldog, the Marine Corps Times reported.

Jordan Griffith, 13, received the T-shirt as a gift from his older brother, Lance Cpl. Timothy Swann Jr., while he was on leave before deploying. The front of the shirt shows the dog’s head and body and reads, “If you are not the lead dog,” while the back shows a rear view of the animal and states, “The view never changes.”

“Jordan just idolizes Timothy,” their mother, Sandy Griffith, told the Marine Corps Times. “Timothy gave him the shirt and told him, ‘Always remember you’re a leader, not a follower.’”

But that’s apparently not the message officials at South Jones Elementary in Ellisville chose to focus on: According to the Times, they objected to the realistic rendering of the dog’s genitals. Griffith was told to either turn his shirt inside-out or have his parents bring him a new one.

Incensed, Sandy Griffith chose to pull her son out of class rather than have him swap shirts.

“The bond [between the brothers] is very uncanny,” she told Fox News. “If you want to talk about inappropriate and offensive, that was offensive to me.”

Tommy Parker, the school’s superintendent, insisted to the Times that despite the outrage, the decision had nothing to do with it being a Marine Corps shirt.

“We’re very pro-military,” he said. “We’re one of the most conservative places in the United States.”

Parker said some teachers simply objected to the shirt because “all the details are there” with regard to the dog’s anatomy and they didn’t want to look at it all day or have younger students see it.

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Comments (158)

trotula
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 12:05pm
So, if the kid was walking a dog, would he be criticized because the dog’s genitals were showing? New flash. Dogs go naked.

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- KickinBack
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 1:20pm
  Yeah, it’s only a bulldog. Could’ve been worse, it could’ve been a bull.
  
  Report this comment
- HorseCrazy
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 1:37pm
  it’s not ok to show dogs anatomy but this year in 6th grade kids will learn all about having sex, masturbating, how great abortion is, gay sex and whatever public school planned parenthood course is required including men cutting off junk and having it turned into woman parts because they think they are women, dog balls….nope.
  
  Report this comment
- SgtB
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 1:49pm
  The school must be full of Katherine Heigl ‘s and people who don’t like the Corps.
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF2TyajIL94
  
  Report this comment
- pavepaws
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 3:27pm
  “Parker said some teachers simply objected to the shirt because “all the details are there” with regard to the dog’s anatomy and they didn’t want to look at it all day or have younger students see it.” Thank goodness those “younger students” don’t have pets at home. Better not let them watch TV either where worse things are seen. I guess their school doesn’t subject the children to sex ed like elsewhere or expose them to anything the National Education Association deems is appropriate today in modern education.
  
  Report this comment
- CougarNick78
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 3:44pm
  Newsflash: The libs were jealous that THAT ONE DOG had more balls than all of them COMBINED….and Best_Patriot included!
  
  Report this comment
- MONICNE
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 3:46pm
  This Just Released:
  
  (American Legion Riders participating in Rolling Thunder “Run for the Wall” for the first time as a group! © 2012 The American Legion. All Rights Reserved.) Have a great Memorial Day in our Nations wonderful Capital City!
  
  TEA
  
  Report this comment
- ThomasUSA
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 3:55pm
  Come on! – I mean REALLY??? Do you mean to say I don’t have to fight with my dog every time I take him for a walk, to put on that silly pair of under ware? Wait till I tell the P.C. Zoo in our town.. That dang male elephant was starting to put up a fight!
  
  Report this comment
- ThemDemsLie2much
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 6:35pm
  So who exactly from this school, sees the genitals of an animal as a sexual object? Hum! Got to be an Obot.
  
  Report this comment
- ICEDRAGONNITE
  Posted on May 25, 2012 at 1:51pm
  The gist is the schools does not like the US Marines. The rest is BS.
  
  Report this comment
FaithfulFriend
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 12:05pm
God bless the Corps!

I miss by bully. Boone.

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bdandsl
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 12:02pm
I guess it means some want to neuter the Marines.

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- Freedom Hound
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 10:38pm
  These liberals don’t deserve to look at the b@lls of Chesty.
  
  Report this comment
HKS
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 12:02pm
Well I guess they don’t want anything at all around that’s got balls.

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- Notarichboy
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 12:42pm
  Exactly! They probably are Obama supporters because he doesn’t have any!
  
  Report this comment
- TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 1:29pm
  There’s was an old saying when I was in the Military that once you got ‘em by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow.
  
  The schools motto: Once you take away their balls, their hearts and minds will follow.
  
  Report this comment
Gonzo
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 12:01pm
“they didn’t want to have younger students see it.” Of course half the male students are probably walking around with their @sses hanging out of their pants… but that’s a cultural thing, we can’t interfere.

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- Obama_Sham
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 12:50pm
  @Gonzo…
  
  Good point… I was going to bring up that some of the older female students probably have their thongs hanging out as well…
  
  Report this comment
- Gonzo
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 1:28pm
  I thought of that too Sham…but I find it hard to complain about scantily clad women.
  
  Report this comment
- Obama_Sham
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 1:55pm
  Ya, I have no problem with scantily clad women. However, scantily clad underage girls is inappropriate.
  
  Report this comment
- AvengerK
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 3:47pm
  What’s funny is watching these idiots with their pants below their arses lifting them up continiously because they keep sliding off..apparently it’s a lot of concentration and effort to look that stupid…
  
  Report this comment
SingerGuy
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 12:01pm
It took a lot of balls for Mr. Parker to say that the action had “nothing to do with it being a Marine Corps shirt.” And he said it with a straight face. Well played, Mr. Parker.

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65Mustang
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 12:01pm
I don’t find it offensive…maybe the Democrats will grow a pair and vote their balless leader out of office.

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NHwinter
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:58am
Amazing, PP has a special masterbation week or month, Fluke is begging for free contraceptions, Hustler has an outstanding conservative woman on it cover in a vile way, yet this school doesn’t want to show the rear end of a dog. It is all upside down and we need to right the direction America is heading. Vote almost all of them out of office, except for a “few good men and women”.

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welovetheUSA
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:58am
Don’t liberals realize they will be the first to go if war breaks………..bring in mandatory enlistment for all men and women……it will change their views on this silly green utopia they live in their pea brains.

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biohazard23
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:54am
The shirt would have been OK with administrators and teachers if the genitals in question had been those of Dan Savage instead……

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bdandsl
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:53am
Show me any person over a year old that has never seen a dog’s genitals. I guess, if you walk your dog in public you better put clothes on it so not to offend someone.

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blackyb
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:53am
I agree it is about the message and I agree it does seem alright for them to teach them things we as parents do not agree with. Take all the kids out of public schools.

I am glad to see people standing up.

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Countrygirl1362
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:50am
Its a dog for crying out loud. What next we have to put pants on our dogs to be PC?

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Inlandmar2
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:48am
I guess now thay will be banning anatomically correct animals. All donkeys, cows, bulls and dogs must altered so as not to offend anyone……Take about nuts!,,,pun intended.

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Maxim Crux
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:47am
Trying to castrate the Marine Corps Mascot….that’s rich. They need to castrate these school officials

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piper60
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:47am
Like NONE of the younger students has a dog, or has ever seen the dog’s genitals? Really?

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- Your Name Here
  Posted on June 2, 2012 at 8:54am
  I wonder what these so called ‘officials’ think when the dog licks his junk.
  Maybe they like the idea of ‘fifi’ “kissing” them on the mouth right after ‘fifi’ has just licked her a$$.
  I’d bet a good majority of liberals have worms.
  
  Report this comment
NeoKong
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:46am
Come on now….it wasn’t the picture that got some whiny little school administrator all upset.
It was the message.

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- BumperMorgan
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 3:19pm
  Yep.
  
  Report this comment
DJ in AZ
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:46am
Sorry, kid and parents, but I think the school is right about this. If the shirt is a distraction, the school has every right to tell the kid to change his shirt.

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- loriann12
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:49am
  What about all the Mexicans who wear the Mexican flag on US Holidays? Should we ban them too? Or is that too politically correct for you? What about the schools who have a no hat policy, but allow hajibs?
  
  Report this comment
- Banner67
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:54am
  Yes, DJ is correct. If it is a distraction, you really don’t need to be wearing it at school.
  
  Report this comment
- rickc34
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:55am
  What was the message? Are we going to have toput pants on all animals to cover up their privates? The kid was proud of his brother but some pervert goes and stare at the dogs private are . Now the dogs thinks everyone is checking him out . How about sex ed or what people wear to school . No more short skirt or low cut in the front. I believe people should dress modestly but this went a little to far.
  
  Report this comment
- bdandsl
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 12:01pm
  Why is it a distraction? Have you never seen a real live dog? They don’t wear pants and it is out there for all to see.
  
  Report this comment
- DJ in AZ
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 12:20pm
  Schools and teachers are in the business of educating our children. (Or at least that should be their focus…but that’s another issue for another time.) Anyways, when the things that kids wear become a distraction and a hinderance to the education process, then the school has the responsibility to rectify the problem so it can move on with its mission.
  
  I don’t know where that line should be all the time, and I really don’t want to be the fashion police at my local school or at yours. So let the school do its job, OK. That’s what they get paid to do.
  
  P.S. – I’m a freemdom-loving Republican constitutionalist from AZ. I just don’t think this is a 1st Amendment free speech issue that needs to be tossed about and fixed on the Blaze. Let the school administrators do their job.
  
  Report this comment
- RedDirtTexas
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 12:25pm
  I respect this little boy. He’s honoring his big brother and his country. BUT, having raised boy’s and a girl of my own, I can just imagine the giggling and carrying on in the classroom of sixth graders. Teacher was probably trying to get her class back to order. I’m not irate about this. I’m willing to bet any other USMC Tee would be ok.
  
  Report this comment
- Bob_R_OathKeeper
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 12:28pm
  This is a distraction? LOL, too many people in this country are spoiled and spoiled rotten. Getting bombed or shelled while you’re in the classroom, now that is a distraction. LOL @ the pansies in this country now.
  
  Report this comment
- Bob_R_OathKeeper
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 12:43pm
  I admit bias on this one…..REDDIRTTEXAS does have a pretty good point though.
  
  Report this comment
- deerfawn
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 1:33pm
  distraction? please, I’ve seen more distraction coming from hanging pants past their rumps, and goofy **** cuts. This was all about the message.
  
  Report this comment
- Dismayed Veteran
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 1:44pm
  I am in the group of parents who believes all slogan t-shirts should be banned. If one is allowed any can be allowed. I would not want my grandchild exposed to a t-shirt that says “Jesus is a myth”. Further, I believe sloganed t-shirts contribute to the “gang” ethos.
  
  Finally, SARCASIM ON: who would want to look at those tiny Marine Corps testicles any way?”
  
  Report this comment
- Mike Benton
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 1:48pm
  OK, air brush out the balls and what you have left is a bare rectum…is that OK or must it too be covered so as not to offend the gays?
  
  Report this comment
- 104thTimberwolves
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 3:38pm
  Get out of here with that distraction crap! I would bet half the students didn’t even noticed the shirt because the were to busy talking or texting on their cell phones. Talk about a distraction! Hell, they probably pulled the kid out of his sex education class to let him know the shirt was inappropriate! This PC crap has about run it’s course!
  
  Report this comment
- MBA
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 4:08pm
  Oh please, you have to be one of the liberal busybodies who can’t mind your own business, What someone else is wearing is none of your business, And if you don’t like it don’t look at it. Geez–the kid’s body was covered–it wasn’t his genital hanging out–it wasn’t even REAL dog genitals for pete’s sake. You know what, I am sick and tired of people who have to bitch about every nitpicking little thing that means nothing in life when there are bigger issues to worry about–like paying your bills and leaving everyone else alone to do the same. I’m sure not one of the busybody liberals are out there looking for a cure for cancer or anything else useful–all they can do is find “distractions”. Disgusting,.
  
  Report this comment
- DJ in AZ
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 5:17pm
  I love the Marines. I love the military. I honor the men and woman serving our country. There’s a Marine Corp Air Station and the Army’s Yuma Proving Ground here in Yuma, AZ where I’m from. I am glad they are part of my community and that I am part of their community. I am also glad this boy wanted to honor his family member in the Marines. That is wonderful.
  
  That being said, I stand by what I said earlier. The purpose of school is to educate kids, and if this shirt was causing a distraction, the school has every right to tell the kid to wear something else so that everybody can get back to the chief purpose of getting an education. No, the shirt probably didn’t bother a majority of the students. Who cares how many it actually bothered – that’s not really the point anyways. Personally, I wouldn’t want my kid to wear that shirt, as I think it’s just crude and low humor. I would think that there are other shirts the kid could wear that would honor someone in the Marines. So, yes, the shirt could be a distraction for some, and if it is, the shirt needs to go. And you folks need to lighten up on the school and let them do their job. I seriously doubt the school was trying to defame the military by their decision.
  
  Just because the P.C. Police go overboard way too often doesn’t mean you and I need to be the ‘Anything Goes’ Nazis. Let’s exercise a little restraint and judgement, OK?
  
  Report this comment
- DissenterKnight
  Posted on May 25, 2012 at 12:32pm
  I bought service pride gear at the NEX all the time, sent a good bit of it home to my kid sister as well. I was very proud of on t-shirt in particular (A Dozen Empty Missile Tubes, A Mushroom Cloud On The Horizon… It’s Miller Time!), but I’d never have sent it to her. Some things are soldier/sailor/Military Spouse appropriate, but not kid appropriate.
  
  Still, I’m liking the shirt.
  
  Report this comment
Lonescrapper
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:45am
Ridiculous.

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- Sirfoldallot
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:51am
  Uniforms, kids r there 2 learn, not 2 advertise their feelings.
  
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- Bob_R_OathKeeper
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 12:30pm
  Yeah, let’s all be uniform, nice collective thinking there.
  
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- Dismayed Veteran
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 1:35pm
  Bob
  
  Remeber zero week in boot camp? Remember how they took you from a quivering mass of civilian jello and began the process of making you into a common denominator called a recruit?
  
  Report this comment
CS_GUY
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:45am
Mr. Parker,

Would you like hand to hand or mortal combat?

Never mess with a Marine or his family………..Semper Fi

Start looking for another job…………..today.

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jingoistic.patriot
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:44am
I’m willing to bet that the same teacher who was ‘so offended’ by this Marine Corps shirt isn’t squeamish at ll when it comes to indoctrinating someone else’s children about queer sex being okay.

And yes I know I’m insensitive. I don’t care, get over it.

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- copatriots
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 12:12pm
  Or mandating that kids learn Arabic.
  
  Report this comment
thegoldman
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:42am
Thats because the school’s superintendent doesn’t have any !

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- loriann12
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:51am
  That’s because the principal is following the President and is tired of the view, so he/she objects to a shirt that reminds him/her that they’re not a leader, but a follower.
  
  Report this comment
AmericanStrega
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:42am
Heard about this on Cam and Company last-night. Cam suggested sending this youngman t-shirts with the Marine logo (of any kind) to see if the school would still protest. I think this is a great idea! Anyone know where I can get an authentic Marine Corp. t-shirt?

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- DissenterKnight
  Posted on May 25, 2012 at 12:33pm
  I find a dozen sites in a 30 second internet search. The question is, do we know where to send them?
  
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- DissenterKnight
  Posted on May 25, 2012 at 12:41pm
  How slowly must I type to avoid typos…
  
  Report this comment
LukeAppling
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:39am
This is an outrage! The military defends America and political correctness rules Mississippi.

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- Best_Patriot
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 2:21pm
  Shut up.
  
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- CougarNick78
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 3:41pm
  @ BEST PATRIOT, how about YOU shut up, you horse’s arse?
  
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Best_Patriot
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:39am
Who cares? It’s school, not a fashion show.

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- CougarNick78
  Posted on May 24, 2012 at 3:51pm
  Seriously, you add NOTHING to this site or the discussion. What are you, an Internet Tough Guy? I’d pay to see you act all hard when REAL PEOPLE come face to face with you and do not back down….. You’re a coward and a punk.
  
  By the way, school? It’s not a school, it’s indoctrination, and you friggin know it. Liar.
  
  Report this comment

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