Boy sent home from school for wearing Steelers jersey

[HAMILROCK]

TACOMA, Wash. - A 13-year-old student at Tacoma's Truman Middle School just wanted to show his team spirit when he wore a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey to his school's Seahawks appreciation day on Friday.

But school administrators sent Grendon Bailie home, saying his choice of clothing was inappropriate - and that Seahawks shirts or colors were the only exception allowed outside the uniform school's normal strict dress code.

Now the seventh-grader says he feels it was unfair for the school to single him out for punishment, simply because he and his family are Steelers fans and not Seahawks fans.

"Not everyone is a Seahawks fan - and if they got to wear their team stuff then I should, too," Grendon said.

But the school district says Grendon and all other students were warned on Thursday that anyone who didn't want to wear Seahawks colors should wear their normal school uniform, which is limited to certain styles and colors of clothing.

In fact, Grendon admits that he specifically asked the school's vice principal the day before if he could wear his Steelers jersey, and was told he could not because it was Seahawks spirit day.

"This boy came in a different color, a different team, and he was asked, if he didn't want to participate in the Seahawks colors day, then he could wear his uniform," said Tacoma School District spokeswoman Stacy Flores.

Grendon's dad, Stoughton B. Bailie Sr., says his son and the whole family are die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fans, and his son felt he should be able to show his team spirit like the other students at his school.

"I didn't force him to do it. I said I'd stand behind him if he wanted to do it, and this morning I gave him the choice," Stoughton says. "I said, 'What do you want to wear?' and he said, 'I'm wearing my Steelers stuff."

Grendon's dad also says he sent his son to school with a note explaining the boy's decision so he wouldn't get in trouble, but school officials refused to even read it.

"He was immediately told that he had to leave and change his clothes or face an in school suspension for the day," Stoughton said.

Grendon's dad picked him at the school after officials refused to let him attend classes in his Steelers regalia.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are facing the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC playoffs this weekend, and Grendon says he has no plans to watch the Seahawks-Bears game.

[revnecro1273]

didn't know steelers fans went to school

[RanPicks]

dumb steeler fan... it was Seahag day... geez

[new york knight]

screw that school !!

if i was the parent i would tell school officals 2 blow me !!

[Davydave]

Originally Posted by revnecro1273

didn't know steelers fans went to school

[HAMILROCK]

Originally Posted by new york knight

screw that school !!

if i was the parent i would tell school officals 2 blow me !!

AGREED

[Victor]

Originally Posted by new york knight

screw that school !!

if i was the parent i would tell school officals 2 blow me !!

Agree! No school has a right to tell a kid what jersey to wear to school as long as it does not break the school dress code! Piss on that schools administrator!

[TheLink]

Originally Posted by Victor

Agree! No school has a right to tell a kid what jersey to wear to school as long as it does not break the school dress code! Piss on that schools administrator!

the catch is it did break the school dress code. kid asked if he could wear it and they said no. don't want to participate wear your school uniform. who cares if you like the steelers.

[Victor]

Originally Posted by TheLink

the catch is it did break the school dress code. kid asked if he could wear it and they said no. don't want to participate wear your school uniform. who cares if you like the steelers.

What i believe is no school should have a dress code saying you cannot wear another teams jersey. To me it is narrow minded by school personnel to tell a kid what jersey he can and cannot wear. If he is a Steelers, 49ers, Dolphins etc. fan so be it. That to me is just trying to brainwash a kid into being a Seahawks fan and nothing else. lol They should of read the note the dad sent. What will happen now is him and other school kids will be able to wear any jersey they want. I`ve seen it before many times where a school thinks there right and then they say "After further review of our policy we are changing it so any kid can wear any jersey"

[QuadzillaXXX]

Originally Posted by revnecro1273

didn't know steelers fans went to school

i see how it is

[HAMILROCK]

Originally Posted by revnecro1273

didn't know steelers fans went to school

they realize it late in life they should of stayed in school, that's why Quad is back in school right now...

[RanPicks]

Originally Posted by QuadzillaXXX

i see how it is

Quad... it doens't matter how long it takes... just as long as you complete it...

[QuadzillaXXX]

Originally Posted by RanPicks

Quad... it doens't matter how long it takes... just as long as you complete it...

rev doesn't know i'm majoring in muay thai kick boxing.....he's going to be my senior thesis

[RanPicks]

lol

[TheLink]

Originally Posted by Victor

They should of read the note the dad sent. What will happen now is him and other school kids will be able to wear any jersey they want. I`ve seen it before many times where a school thinks there right and then they say "After further review of our policy we are changing it so any kid can wear any jersey"

i do agree with you in the end they will probably fold like a cheap tent and cave to the nonsense like most other corporations do in an effort to make everyone happy. in the end though school is in Washington and if they want to show support for the local product should have every right to do it and not catch heat about the decision they make.