Developing: Pakistani Plane Escorted by UK Fighter Jets — 2 Men Arrested

Doc Thompson’s 24-hour radio marathon, ‘#24forok,’ continues until 9 am ET — Listen Live!

Education

Student Ordered to Remove U.S. Marines T-Shirt Due to Gun Imagery — or Face Suspension

Feb. 27, 2013 8:42am Billy Hallowell

When 14-year-old Michael McIntyre wore a t-shirt to school in support of the U.S. Marines, he had no idea a national controversy would follow. But that’s exactly what happened after the student at Genoa-Kingston Middle School in Genoa, Ill., was told to remove the shirt by a teacher who said that it violated the dress code. According to Fox News, the student was even threatened with suspension if he refused to comply.

Michael fulfilled the request by turning the shirt inside out, although he was confused, as he had reportedly worn it to school many times before without incident. The shirt, which simply said, “Marines,” had an image of two intersecting rifles. And according to the boy’s father, Daniel McIntyre, it was the guns that captured that teacher’s attention.

Rather than going directly to the school after the incident unfolded on Monday, the parent reached out to media. As a result, the district is claiming that they were unaware of the situation until they were approached by Fox News; Daniel contacted the outlet after talking about the issue with his son, the Daily Chronicle reports.

Despite the teacher’s actions, Superintendent Joe Burgess told the parent that the district would have overturned the decision had they known about it. While educator Karen Deverell told the student to remove the shirt, protocol for staff members who are unsure whether clothing violates policy is to send the student to the principal who then makes the final determination.

Teacher Orders Michael McIntyre to Remove Marines T Shirt Due to Gun Imagery or Face Suspension

Photo Credit: The Daily Chronicle

In the wake of the incident, district officials have been extremely supportive of the family. Rather than a violent symbol, Burgess noted that the rifles on the shirt are well-known as images associated with the Marines. He also reiterated that Michael didn’t commit a dress-code violation.

“Very simply, it’s not a violation. It’s a very common symbol for the U.S. Marines,” Burgess told the Chronicle. ”Had we had an opportunity to discuss it, we could have straightened out the situation.”

The district head also noted the school system’s support for the military, highlighting commemorative events for Veterans Day and Patriot Day and other activities that are conducted by students and faculty, alike, to support the armed forces.

“We’ve been accused of a lot of things, but our middle school is well-known for its support of the armed forces,” Burgess said in an interview with Fox News. “That’s why this is so disheartening to all of us.”

Daniel, though, told Fox that he found the entire incident unsettling and that the district needs to use discretion when making determinations about clothing. He also noted that clarifications may need to be made to the code in an effort to avoid future issues for children who show up wearing attire that supports the military.

“When my son wears a shirt that says Marines on it, I think they show terrible taste in telling him to cover it up, and they need to use better discretion,” he said.

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (88)

Thundergod
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:46am
Kids are such weenies today. I would have laughed in their faces and taken the suspension. Why wear the T shirt if your arent always faithful and betray your beliefs in the face of tyranny?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- RLTW
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:57am
  The few, the proud, the Marines!
  
  Good teachers, the few and far between.
  
  Report this comment
- naughtycal
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 10:14am
  The real issue is we allowed school gun free zones to keep guns out of school in the name of safety.
  Because we allowed them to that they have spring boarded this to kill the idea that guns are part of American cultural. You give them an inch and they take everything.
  Time to close down the public indoctrination camps. They have shown themselves to be anti-American it’s time to end the fascist rule in education.
  
  Report this comment
- nysteve
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 11:23am
  Dude, relax! He’s a fourteen year old kid.
  
  Report this comment
- Thundergod
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 11:45am
  Yeah,hes only 14,but he should have known wearing that shirt would make him a target if not by school administrators,than other boys wanting to test his soldiering skills,and considered if he was willing to be tested on those virtues that T-shirt represents. I understood this at his age when I saw ROTC students often provoked and harassed.
  
  Report this comment
- Vision Harry
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:07pm
  Several decades ago in high school the ball players would wear suits on game day. Not wanting to be left out, us slackers decided that we would wear suits on a day of our choosing. The principal threatened to expel us if we did it again. My buddies’ mother, who was known as Momma Grizzly, got wind of the situation and bore down on the administration. We students also wrote letters to the editor of the local newspaper and the community rallied around us. I admit that we were only doing it because we were smartalecs, but the fight against tyrannical power was a great teaching lesson to me and my classmates. The point: Question everything your childrens’ school does. Read the curriculum they are foisting on them. If your school is pulling this crap, I guarantee they are filling your young ones’ fertile minds with useless propaganda
  
  Report this comment
- desertspeaks
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:32pm
  the kid should have told administrators he was making a political statement, so if they want to suspend his constitutional right to free speech that he would sue them in their personal capacity!
  
  Report this comment
- Maji
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 1:38pm
  People need to respond the same way over the Obama’s picture!!
  When ever they talk about Obama in school tell them
  
  “Obama has killed more people that my Tshirt”
  Polititions need to be put on the same level as Guns.
  
  Report this comment
- Maji
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 2:07pm
  Teachers who do this need to be brought out in their community
  and be ostracized!!
  Show them to be the azzes they are! Make life very unconfortable.
  This kind of crap is “Child ABUSE”!!
  
  This is just one of many events you never hear about!
  
  Report this comment
Uechi
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:40am
This is only going to get worse until these commie teachers are removed

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Cavallo
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:57am
  These are the people who are teaching our children (thankfully not mine). The State “educators” are morons. Do you wonder why the young people of today are, by any measurable standard, idiots and ignorant jerks? They’re being instructed by public schools. Public schools are cesspools of indoctrination not institutions of education. The unionized staff in public schools lack any kind of common sense. If you need to take a second job to pay for quality education for your children you should do it, or home school. Children are not fashion accessories to be turned over to a government stooge for State polishing. State bureaucrats could screw up a two car parade, why anyone would turn their children over to these thugs is bewildering.
  
  Report this comment
- MoseyAlong
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:08pm
  On the other hand, the parents should have contacted the school and school district to get this settled before yelling “fire.”
  
  Problems with public schools notwithstanding, this Superintendent at least sounds pretty reasonable.
  
  Report this comment
- MDECKER
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:41pm
  There must be a communist country somewhere on this earth, that this teacher can find a job where she is not offended so. Hell, I’ll pay her one-way ticket.
  
  Report this comment
progressiveslayer
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:38am
The kid probably thought the teacher was about to rape him, ordering him to take off his shirt. Maybe he should’ve vomited on her.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- repairsea
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 11:13am
  That is funny but good slimey lawyer would take on the case and the teacher would have this “molestation” on record. Too bad you can’t fire teachers for raping children. The liberal union does not allow it.
  
  Report this comment
CONSERVIDUDE
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:34am
It’s Illinois, California’s little brother.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
banjarmon
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:32am
PC police run amuck!!

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- turkey13
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:48am
  I guess I misunderstood – thought the Marines protected every ones free speech, no matter how offensive. I was going to BOYCOTT the state the school was in but Illinois was already on my no fly list. No travel no buying on Amazon, E-bay, Nomorerack.com are venders from that state. I recommend that everyone else do the same – hit these states in the pocketbook and new politicians will be elected. PC has caused all these gun related deaths by not letting the nuts be put in all data bases. If a insane person is deemed so it won’t be flagged when a background check is done. Fooey on folks rights when other people are put in their gun sights.
  
  Report this comment
RaydocX
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:32am
First Amendment rights are suspended at public schools… they will not demand uniforms, but most now specify dress code… no drug or weapon images on shirts, no ‘offensive’ language.

It’s nebulous rules that let teachers and administrators choose when to enforce them… meaning they get enforced in problem children or in kids who have an obviously different political point of view.

Not fair, to be sure, and no picture of a gun on a shirt ever hurt anyone.
But far from a surprise… it’s an example of how broken our education system is… teaching to the lowest student comprehension level, teaching to standardized tests rather than to impart knowledge, pushing the psychoactive drugs to keep the future sheeple docile, graduating kids whether or not they know the material…

and indoctrinating them at every turn.

It will be painful but at some point the worm will turn… the pendulum will swing back.
The GOP in office have to grow spines, though, before we can even slow the socialist momentum.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- concerned for freedom
  Posted on April 19, 2013 at 6:17pm
  Don’t hold your breath on the GOP growing a spine. Sadly, I think they are hopeless too.
  
  Report this comment
marssnw
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:26am
I think the only way to bring this country back is by re-educating the population. The univerities and colleges have brainwashed people into believing the liberal lies. It really started when they forced God out of schools. Its been a downward spiral ever since.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- pragmaticpatriot
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 10:11am
  Give me four years to teach the children and the seed I have sown will never be uprooted.
  – Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
  they beat us to it…..
  
  Report this comment
ginger100
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:22am
I would think that a teenager + cell phone + pot + car load of teenagers = Danger. Lets get rid of teenagers.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
SpankDaMonkey
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:21am
.
Hey Karen Deverell GFYS Sweetie……….

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- DontStopBelieving
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:28am
  Ditto!
  
  Report this comment
- objectivetruth
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:41am
  Yeah then she could be suspended for playing with an imaginary gun.Sorry I meant that as a smart alecky joke.I’m not sure if it came across correctly in written form.Although I have the feeling she would take you up on it though.
  
  Report this comment
IndyGuy
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:15am
May I propose that we make abortion of liberals mandatory retroactively??? And must be carried out by 2014…

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- marssnw
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:22am
  I second that motion only if so called repbulicans like Crisco Christie will be thrown into that list.
  
  Report this comment
- DontStopBelieving
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:25am
  Agreed.
  
  Report this comment
Exidor
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:14am
Four words.

I will not comply.

I wouldn’t bother with a lawsuit. Just whip the principal’s a$$….

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- DontStopBelieving
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:26am
  “I will not comply.” I use that phrase quite often these days and suspect I will be using it even more over the next couple of years.
  
  Report this comment
Gonzo
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:13am
You know, the Tampa Bay Bucs (as well as many other teams) fire off cannons every time they score, maybe we should end that. It’s causing too much violence in America

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- progressiveslayer
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:23am
  Don’t give the candy@sses any ideas G,although I’m sure they’ll come around to that idea on their own.
  Just think if our population was screwed up like this prior to WW II,we would’ve lost that war,candy@ss cowards afraid of their own shadow and things that go boom.
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:31am
  GONZO, LOL! That really makes me laugh. I attended all of their first season home games back in ’76. I don’t recall a single canon shot since they lost every game that year.
  
  Report this comment
AUsername
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:12am
they should be able to show themselves despite how nasty the organization is.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Proverbs17-12NLT
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:18am
  democrats wrecking America one shirt at a time.
  
  If Obama had a son he wouldn’t be wearing one of these shirts.
  
  Report this comment
- progressiveslayer
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:19am
  They killed a hell of a lot of Nazis in WW II so the nastier the better,it’s generally a good idea to kill more of the enemy than they kill.
  
  Report this comment
- Gonzo
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:42am
  They’ve allowed you the freedom to be stupid all these years dumbo.
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 10:14am
  GONZO, After one of the truly spectacular idiotic posts he made yesterday I was just going to bother this morning. But, glad somebody said it anyway. He does live down to the Lurch prophecy doesn’t he?
  
  Report this comment
- pragmaticpatriot
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 10:15am
  AUsername
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:12am
  they should be able to show themselves despite how nasty the organization is.
  
  Im sure every Marine is proud to fight for your right to be a moron
  
  Report this comment
- AUsername
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 1:04pm
  that was world war 2 and before now its for corporations banks and other countries not for us.
  
  Report this comment
gzorpe
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:10am
I would have said “NO… TAKE YOURS OFF FIRST”…

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
starman70
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:10am
COMMUNIST SCHOOL INDOCTRINATION CENTER!!!

One of the rules of those who want to destroy America is to foster a hatred for the military who are engaged in protecting our rights and defending the Constitution.

Of course, after our government is overthrown, they will use the very same military to enforce the dictatorship which will ensue.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- IndyGuy
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:26am
  Apparently it’s already working on AUSERNAME…
  
  Report this comment
progressiveslayer
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:05am
It wasn’t a violation of the dress code but Karen is most likely a lib and was traumatized by the depiction of rifles on the shirt. This is whats ‘teaching’ your kids,closed minded intolerant progressives with an agenda.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
scrapadapolis
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:00am
This is a step to get involved with the socialistic teachers.When kids come home ask them what did you learn today.Any teacher who insist to instill their belieifs to our kids should not be chastised they should have a FULL background done on them.Prior teachings,political affilations.I had a 5 grade teacher in 1975 who told his class the Vietnam war was a police action and America was killing babies and people not at war.Long story short my cousin Paul was in Nam when I told him what nam was really about He ripped my head off and set me straight.God rest cousin Paul.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Eastinfection
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:59am
OK… Everybody Freeze!
I’m wearing a shirt and i’m not afraid to use it!

I really wish this lunatic’s Mother had kept all of the “assault shirts” locked up in a shirt safe.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- The-Monk
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:29am
  Hi East,
  
  Too funny…. Thanks. : )
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:39am
  EAST, That cracked me up, but it does paint an accurate picture regarding how so many of these pantywaist libs act!
  Morning MONK.
  
  Report this comment
- Eastinfection
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:47am
  Morning guys… this is what i wonder…
  
  How would the Libs react if an 18yrold High School senior walked into school one day with a tattoo of a gun on his forehead? What if the school had already banned hats due to gang affiliations, etc.?
  
  i think their collective heads would explode…. or they would build a whole new school just for the tattooed student.
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 10:11am
  EAST, What a conundrum for them? Bet his school records would reflect their ire though.
  
  Report this comment
ellietoo
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:58am
You thought Obama’s first term was bad. Now see what he really represents. Totalitarianism on steroids.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
naughtycal
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:56am
This whole school thing is a beautiful example of where liberal progressive policies lead. We allowed them to pass a law that made schools guns free zones(actual guns) they have now made even an images,and even imaginary guns punishable offenses. YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY WILL GO TO WAR WITHIN OUR BORDERS BEFORE WE WILL NOT ALLOW ANY INFRINGEMENT ON THE 2CD AMENDMENT…LOOK AT WHERE GIVING LEWAY HAS SENT OUR SCHOOLS. The revolutionary war will be fought with walkie talkies in the new history books.
PEOPLE GET YOUR CHILDREN OUT OF THESE HELLHOLES .HOMESCHOOL,PRIVATE SCHOOL THEM,EVEN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL THEM BUT GET THEM OUT OF THE PUBLIC INTERNMENT CAMPS.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- progressiveslayer
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:10am
  You got that right that’s all they are,indoctrination centers to program kids to think the way the state wants them to think. The public school monopoly is the greatest threat to our republic,even greater than the debt.
  
  Report this comment
The_Woofster
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:56am
Just another agent of the Marxists, pushing their agenda. Once they have the kids “under control”, it’s all over. They’ll know nothing different than what’s “taught” to them.

Mommy and Daddy don’t count anymore….

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:56am
The teacher just wanted the student to take his shirt off, that is what should be investigated, why is he asking him to take his shirt off? Titulation?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
HOOT_OWL
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:56am
If our kids will act on a picture of something.

How much will they ACT when you hand them the actual product.

Like a condom ..?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Gonzo
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:54am
It’s dangerous to support our military now?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:24am
  GONZO, Remember back during the ’90s when Bubba was in the White House? It was his influence that set off similar incidents in the schools around the country. Some of the boys were actually being expelled from school for having a GI Joe cast vinyl facsimile of Beretta M9 pistol that was almost an inch long. The schools and school boards claimed it was their zero tolerance of guns on school property. Several either apologized or lost court cases when the discretion in their own rule books only referred to actual guns with no mention of toys even in the remotest of descriptions. A couple managed to squeak by in their local liberal courts. This is just more of the same under today’s political influence.
  
  Report this comment
- Gonzo
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 10:06am
  R.J., I wonder if they have a gay GI Joe now? I wouldn’t doubt it.
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 10:17am
  GONZO, My son had a bunch of both sizes back when he was a kid. But, I believe Hasbro knuckled under as they did back in the ’70s to the protesters of the Vietnam War and stopped producing them again. Watch for in this next GI Joe movie though.
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 10:20am
  GONZO, Geez, you just had to plant that picture in my mind! I suppose that if Hasbro brings the line back in the near future they could put a GI Jane head on a Joe body and call it transgendered.
  
  Report this comment
IrritableGimp
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:48am
I would have told that teacher to “go for it…suspend me, because I am not removing the shirt” If we don’t stand up for our rights, we will loose them!!

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- moreteaplease
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:53am
  That’s exactly what I would have told her! They keep pushing until you stand up to them, once you do that, they back down because now you have called their bluff.
  
  Report this comment

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.