A North Kirkwood Middle School student was pulled from class March 16 for wearing a t-shirt with what administrators claim might be considered an offensive slang word. Michelle Ramirez went to school wearing a shirt that said, “JESUS, HE SCARES THE HELL OUT OF YOU.”
Under Kirkwood dress code policy, administrators claimed this was a slang use of the word “hell” and asked Michelle to change into a different shirt.
“Outside the school environment, it might be fine,” Kirkwood School District Community Relations Director Ginger Fletcher said to Fox 2 News, “but anything within the school that is inappropriate, vulgar use of language might create a disruption in the school, we’ll ask the student to modify the garment.”
Ramirez refused to change her shirt, supported by her mother Christina. Both Michelle and Christina claim the word is used in a religious way. According to Fletcher, federal law mandates that school officials cannot force a student to remove clothing that includes a religious emblem unless it is causing a disruption.
“At first I was mad, but now I’m happy my teachers got the message,” Ramirez said. “I didn’t want to take my shirt off because of my faith.”
max • May 27, 2011 at 9:30 am
I completely agree robel
max • May 27, 2011 at 9:30 am
please, that shirt didnt have do with her faith at all…. ridiculous kids these days…….. “At first I was mad, but now I’m happy my teachers got the message,” Ramirez said. “I didn’t want to take my shirt off because of my faith.”- what a load of crap
Khs Student • May 9, 2011 at 9:15 am
Has everyone forgotten??
Freedom of speech.
Freedom of Religion.
Robiee K • Apr 8, 2011 at 2:33 pm
Okay so,
This juvenile was wearing a t-shirt that mocked the power of a religous figure. Pure ignorance. Some students, teachers, as well as parents, could have been seriously upset over this atrocious child’s t-shirt. On top of that the shirt used the word “hell”, and in this context, it is considered slang. I give this hot topic-shopping-girl NO PITY..
The Kirkwood School District had all the right to do what they did. Abide by their rules or leave.
Thank You.
Davis Williams • Apr 8, 2011 at 2:24 pm
This is ridiculous to even be in the news. The girl had an innapropriate shirt on, about a religious symbol. I guess it was clever, but regardless, hell is a curse word, and it sure isn’t to be compared to an actual place considering no one has ever really given us proof of it. This is just a chance for conservatives to try and make a big deal about Jesus when it’s clearly an issue of vulgarity.
Michael • Apr 8, 2011 at 6:34 am
real quick Elias, that was Curtis, not myself, for the quote.
I see what you mean how it originates from religion, and going back to the common separation of church and state topic, perhaps we should disallow any and all religious shirts? would this not end the issue, as well as separate the too all the more? just an idea.
@dcn. it is a place, for ones “soul”, thus, for purposes of simple statement, it is a place, but at the same time I agree with the fact that, if there is one, it would be a state of being, as per my understood definition of soul, it is your state of being so-to-speak.(IE: you are sad: sad soul, mad: mad soul, wise: wise/old soul, you get the idea)
what other slang is used in school? at this point in language, I have no Idea to-be-honest.
M. Kierstead
Elias Shaefer • Apr 5, 2011 at 9:35 am
I am just going quickly pick on the inaccurate statements about the word.
Hell (Oxford Dictionary)
a place regarded in various religions as a spiritual realm of evil and suffering, often traditionally depicted as a place of perpetual fire beneath the earth where the wicked are punished after death.
“it does not matter what your using the word “hell” for it is slang and not everyone may or may not believe in the church meaning of hell” -Micheal
That statement is simply not true. Hell was and is a legitimate word that refers to (in the most general way I can put it) a place of suffering in some form (varies depending on culture). Even if you don’t believe in Hell, it does not mean that it is slang. Weather you believe in it’s existence or not does not change the fact that it is referring to a place (possibly mental place of suffering depending on culture).
p.s. The religious meaning (or church meaning) came long before the slang.
someone • Mar 29, 2011 at 2:59 pm
Please keep your catholic thoughts out!!!
Mike • Mar 29, 2011 at 1:02 pm
@Curtis- If one slang word is banned, should we not ban them all? Slang terms have been used for an incredibly long time. I do not know a single person who has never used a slang word or phrase. My teachers AT KIRKWOOD use slang terms. Should we fire them? Should books with slang dialogue be banned? Slang is not evil, it is not proper, but who the hell cares if it’s proper? You wouldn’t wear a coat and tie to McDonald’s, and I wouldn’t use the king’s English unless I was speaking to the king. Slang is what it is and we all just need to get used to it. The longer you hold onto your conservative ideals the harder it will be to move forward.
Corliss • Mar 28, 2011 at 10:57 am
You Go Girl. Know your rights.
Curtis • Mar 17, 2011 at 5:04 pm
Micheal,
I totally agree with your statement it does not matter what your using the word “hell” for it is slang and not everyone may or may not belive in the church meaing of hell. It is a slang word and should be removed from schools.
Dcn. T • Mar 17, 2011 at 1:45 pm
Also, speaking as a Roman Catholic Deacon, hell is not a place, it’s a state of being. So are Purgatory and Heaven. The first is the state of permanent separation from God due to one’s own action in rejecting him. The second is the state of preparation for coming into the Divine presence because scripture teaches us that nothing imperfect can come into God’s presence (Matt. 25 for those that care to argue). Finally Heaven is existing in the presence of God for all eternity. They’re frequently thought of and taught as being places because it’s easier to wrap one’s mind around that concept.
Michael • Mar 17, 2011 at 12:22 pm
Mike, there’s something I don’t understand about your statement: hell as a place is a religious implication, thus it should not surprise you that it is not taken that way, if indeed we are moving towards a separation of church and state.
moreso your overall statement was confusing. hell is used as slang, often enough, I hear it, I use it, I see it, I read it, in all the previously listed situations, it is not a religious reference, but rather another word of really, or some form of extreme.
statements like such include, but not limited to:
“what the hell”, “the hell is that” “helllllll”
here it simply implies a state of confusion, surprise, or astonishment
“cold as hell” “hot as hell” “hungry as hell” (state of being) as hell
these obviously refer to simply being very (insert state of being here), and hold not religious implication.
-M. Kierstead.
Mike • Mar 17, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Way to go Michelle! It’s great that our generation is learning our rights so well. I’m glad to see we’re finally moving toward a true separation of church and state. It does bother me that teachers and administrators still consider the word “hell” as vulgar or offensive. It is strictly religious and has nothing to do with school. I was raised Roman Catholic and let it be known- even to the most conservative members, hell is a place, not a vulgarity, and the school has no right to consider a place, be it earthly or conceptually, vulgar. It just seems silly.
LOLer • Mar 17, 2011 at 8:57 am
Hahahah I bet Cochran wasn’t happy
mark • Mar 17, 2011 at 7:55 am
WIN