Concerns Raised Over Controversial Bracelets

Across the country, schools have banned the wearing of bracelets and clothing with seemingly suggestive and controversial language. The most recent teen craze that has come across the chopping block has hit the high school in East Haddam in the form of brightly colored bracelets that support breast cancer awareness. 

According to Sara Dickinson, a sophomore at Nathan Hale-Ray High School, "students shouldn't be punished for supporting a cause."

Schools in several states have banned the controversial bracelets declaring "I <heart> boobies." Some cases have even been brought before federal court. In a school district in Philadelphia, for example, the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union got involved to fight for the students' right to wear the bracelet, as determined by the right to free speech.

Nathan Hale-Ray High School principal Eric Spencer counters that students supporting a charity is not the issue. "What is banned is the visible inappropriate language," he says. "If this language was on a shirt, it would be treated the same way," and is not a specific ban on the Breast Cancer Awareness Bracelets themselves.

Dickinson brought her concerns directly to the Board of Education after having her bracelets taken away from her at school for “being disruptive.” According to Dickinson, high school students are upset because they have "lost family members to this disease" and these bracelets “are only being banned at the high school, not the middle school.”

When Dickinson brought up the issue, Dr. Ellen Solek, superintendent of schools, reminded her and others present that the issue should have gone to her principal first for resolution, then directly to the superintendent before being brought in front of the whole board.

Dickinson also questions why students are allowed to wear other controversial bracelets. One in particular, declares "Free Weezy" in support of convicted rapper, Lil Wayne, who served a jail sentence for possession of a loaded gun and has been rumored to be a gang member.

Dickinson feels that the “school should be more consistent” about what is being banned.

A concerned middle-school parent, who asked she not be named, shared her views. "My middle-schooler told me they support breast cancer awareness, but mostly boys are wearing them ... so I would say the concept was lost and disrespected."

She made a distinction between whether boys or girls are sporting the colorful rubber bracelets.

"I would not be offended if my fifth-grade daughter was wearing them, as she was aware of the cause and what breast cancer awareness means. It seems as if middle school boys are the ones wearing them. It would be OK if they were aware of the cause, but I think they're just wearing them for the fun of the word 'boobies.'

"As grown-ups, the more awareness we can bring for breast cancer awareness, the better. But, for middle-schoolers, there's probably a better way to start a conversation. I don't think they should be banned at the high school because both girls and boys at the high school level would have a better understanding of the intention of the bracelets for breast cancer awareness."

The Keep A Breast Foundation is the brainchild behind the controversial bracelets and tagline. According to the website, the foundation’s mission is to “help eradicate breast cancer by exposing young people to methods of prevention, early detection and support … so that they are better equipped to make choices.”

The bracelets and other merchandise act as “an awareness-raising tool” by allowing people to “engage and start talking about a subject that is scary and taboo.”

Keep a Breast Cause merchandise can be purchased at www.loserkids.com. Funds raised from the sale of the merchandise goes to support the Keep a Breast Foundation education and awareness programs. These programs utilize art and artistic expression to “inform young people about methods of prevention, early detection, coping and support.”

As for the bracelets, they seem to be serving their purpose at the East Haddam Hale-Ray High School by engaging people in a conversation about a cause and the best ways in which to show support for it.

According to Casey Altomaro, senior at Hale-Ray High, she thinks that what Dickinson is doing for a cause she believes in is “… awesome. She’s really speaking out for what she believes in and I admire her for it a lot.”

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