Grillz are barred at some Texas schools

[f8nacn]

I agree with the ban and pray that more school districts will follow suit! They are not attractive, they are not contributing to anything but, as mentioned, distractions among young people, who instead need to concentrate on graduating and being a student. There is so much craziness in high school now from the latest trend to the issue of oral sex being a common practice among this age group (Reference: Tyra Banks Show had high school students talking about oral sex and how common it is). I just think our young people need redirection...redirection from proper parenting and positive influences...

[valkyrie]

Originally Posted by f8nacn

distractions among young people, who instead need to concentrate on graduating and being a student.

Are you saying that they are a distraction to students other than the students who have them?

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by valkyrie

Are you saying that they are a distraction to students other than the students who have them?

Both, the one who has it because he's busy showing it off and/or playing with it in his mouth (the tongue is a nervous organ and cannot help but play with anything unfamiliar in the mouth), and the other students looking at it.

[Dionysus]

What is "distracting" varies from person to person. Grillz are so common in certain areas, that I don't even notice them that much. I'm not that distracted by crazy fashions (I've seen it all), and I'm a pretty easily distracted person.

[epsilon99]

I recently saw a sign in Atlanta that said you could buy 4 grillz and get one free.

[KSig RC]

Wait, what's 'distracting' about something you wear in your mouth?

If it's a safety issue (kids getting rolled for their grill, or appropriated by gangs, or etc.), then that's one thing - but the 'distraction' argument sounds a lot like "I think they're gross/weird/silly/stupid/too 'hip hop', so get them out of public schools."

The article mentions that the school board wants to teach the kids 'modesty' - that doesn't exactly seem like Tinker v. DMSB, and I can definitely see reasons why gauging or grills could be banned. Distracting just doesn't really cut it for me.

Also the oral sex argument above is HILARIOUS - high school kids having oral sex? Seriously? Call the f-ing news!

[tunatartare]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Wait, what's 'distracting' about something you wear in your mouth?

If it's a safety issue (kids getting rolled for their grill, or appropriated by gangs, or etc.), then that's one thing - but the 'distraction' argument sounds a lot like "I think they're gross/weird/silly/stupid/too 'hip hop', so get them out of public schools."

The article mentions that the school board wants to teach the kids 'modesty' - that doesn't exactly seem like Tinker v. DMSB, and I can definitely see reasons why gauging or grills could be banned. Distracting just doesn't really cut it for me.

Also the oral sex argument above is HILARIOUS - high school kids having oral sex? Seriously? Call the f-ing news!

KSig RC, I think you did touch on one issue concerning grills that the article doesn't. Grills could make kids a target to gang violence and whatnot. Schools do have a responsibility to their students to protect them.

With regard to them being distracting, schools do have a right to determine what is distracting. Remember that it can be distracting to not only students, but to teachers and administrators as well. When I was in middle school I went to a prep school where we didn't have to wear uniforms. The middle school administrator made the rule that tank tops were distracting and that girls couldn't wear them. We could wear sleeveless shirts and we could wear tank tops with t shirts under them, but we couldn't wear tank tops by themselves.

[shinerbock]

Schools regulate what kids wear all the time. They have dress codes, we werent allowed to wear hats, etc...Of course, my reasoning for liking the ban is that it helps eliminate some of the dumb urban popular culture kids are so infatuated with. But being realistic, I know if anything such bans make these trends more popular. What would be better, is if parents and the media (MTV especially) suddenly said "you know, this is a stupid trend, so lets stop doing MTV and VH1 specials on who has the best grill."

[valkyrie]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Wait, what's 'distracting' about something you wear in your mouth?

If it's a safety issue (kids getting rolled for their grill, or appropriated by gangs, or etc.), then that's one thing - but the 'distraction' argument sounds a lot like "I think they're gross/weird/silly/stupid/too 'hip hop', so get them out of public schools."

I think really hot guys are distracting. Instead of me taking responsibility for myself and my ADD medication, why don't we ban them?

Oh wait, that would suck. Never mind.

[squirrely girl]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Wait, what's 'distracting' about something you wear in your mouth?

hmmmmmmmm... personally distracting maybe... yep, oral fixation!

[winnieb]

The article also state the following:
"We want to instill in them a sense of modesty and a sense of community," said school board trustee Gloria Pena. "We're preparing them for the work force, and in the work force there are rules."

To me, that is a bunch of crap. While I dont find grillz attractive, to each their own. The article also addresses gauging, with double zeros do tend to attract attention- the novelty wears off after awhile and no one cares.
I am a professional, work in an office everyday -- I have a couple visable tattoos (ankle and foot), no one at work as ever questioned my work ethic due to my tattoos. When I was hired at this company, I had my ears gauged to a 4. I have since let them close to a normal hole, I am not sure but a couple of people even noticed. I think the diamond earrings I wear now cause more distraction than my gauged ears ever would.

If the kids in the school are not being hurt because of their adornments then there is no reason for the ban.

[LightBulb]

What about all the kids who already have them?

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally Posted by epsilon99

I recently saw a sign in Atlanta that said you could buy 4 grillz and get one free.

In Charlotte, we have Grillz on Wheelz.

[kddani]

I can't understand why anyone would even want to wear them... didn't we all hate having braces? I sleep with a mouthguard because I grind my teeth. It's not fun. It probably gives them a speech impediment, too. Interesting post on the potential health effects, CT4. Not something I ever thought of, but after reading your post, also not surprising at all.

And I freak out if I bump a fork off of my tooth or get a piece of tin foil in my mouth- I couldn't imagine having some kind of crappy metal like that in my mouth all the time. And I wonder if they rust?

[f8nacn]

Originally Posted by valkyrie

Are you saying that they are a distraction to students other than the students who have them?

Quoting a piece of the article who stated that they are a distraction...however, I can only imagine that they are a distraction to both.