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September 2nd, 2010
04:05 PM ET
Schools ban 'boobies' bracelets
[cnn-video url="http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2010/08/31/breast.cancer.bracelet.kxtv"%5D
Move it, Silly Bandz. There's another rubber bracelet getting students into trouble at schools. Middle and high school students in South Dakota and central and northern California have been facing possible suspension and have had to remove their controversial bracelets that read “I heart boobies."In Rocklin, California, a high school sophomore could be suspended after he refused to hand over a black bracelet with the bosom-embracing slogan, according to CNN affiliate KXTV. The 15-year-old said he wore the black bracelet because his grandmother died from breast cancer. He told the station that he owns various bracelets as a show of support– including the well-known yellow Livestrong bracelet and the pink survivor bracelet from Susan G. Komen For the Cure. Another school district in California does not allow students to wear the bracelets in class because its dress code specifically prohibits 'sexually suggestive language or images.' "That is why jewelry with sexually suggestive language like 'boobies' is not allowed on our campuses,” wrote Kelly Avants, the director of communications at the Clovis Unified School District. “Please understand that the issue is related specifically to the choice of language on these bracelets and the fact that it specifically violates our existing dress code policy.” The school district supports worthy causes like breast cancer awareness in different activities such as T-shirt sales and volleyball matches, Avants added. Students wearing the bracelets have been asked to remove them until the end of the school day. The schools in California are not the only ones asking students to leave the rubber bracelets at home. USA Today reported on a similar controversy in schools in South Dakota. “We understand that some people find ‘I love boobies’ offensive,” said Kimmy McAtee, the spokeswoman for the Keep A Breast Foundation, the non-profit that makes the school contraband. “Many others find it refreshing in the sea of pink ribbons. We’re really taking a positive style of communication and taking something scary and taboo, and making it positive and upbeat.” Keep A Breast has sold more than 2 million bracelets, she said. The bracelets proclaiming love for breasts began five years ago and started becoming controversial in February as kids started wearing them to school. The buzz died down during the summer and picked back up when school started, McAtee said. “Tell kids they’re not allowed to wear something, they’ll buy five of them,” she said. The slang doesn’t offend Donna Charpied, a two-time breast cancer survivor who had a double mastectomy in 2006. “I think everybody loves boobies,” Charpied, of Manorville, New York, said. “If the end result is a positive thing for the cause, that’s a good thing. I don’t find it offensive at all.” Read more about Charpied. The bracelets are meant to reach youth. “We feel the best ways to prevent cancer is to start young and to educate them at that age when they’re developing breasts and starting to learn about bodies,” McAtee said. Tweens challenged by grown-up malady: Breast cancer Surely some of the kids are wearing the bracelets to get a giggle, instead of spreading breast cancer awareness, McAtee conceded. "If it gets the conversation started, we’ve done our part,” she said.
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Lee, that is exactly part of my point. When will we take a stand and put an end to this foolish BS?? Everyday we are having a little bit more of our freedom taken away, and no one even realizes it!! As far as the school officials monitoring their social network accounts, as far as I am concerned, if they are not on campus, it's none of the schools damn business what they do. Talk about invasion of privacy, granted there's nothing private on a social network, but it's just the point of the situation, The school has no business in what a student does off campus, PERIOD!!!
Don, it's worse than that here. If a student is arrested for underage drinking off-campus... say at a party, here. They are not only arrested, have to be bailed out by parents, do community service or have fines but when the school finds out they can suspend or expel them. At what point did it become against the law to be a teenager and make mistakes? They have to learn how to make them and fix them. It seems like someone feels that if they have enough control they will not do anything wrong and all I have seen is teenagers being more creative and hidden about being rebellious teenagers. Now, they make extreme bad choices because of the draconian methods we use at the institutional levels. Parent's no longer really parent, they sign their rights away with their districts code of conduct and push them off to the nearest cookie cutter. Meanwhile the schools demand their obedience and tell them that at the age of 17 they do not need to consult with their parents to make decisions with school administrators.
If you wear boobie bracelet, I cut off your hand. Allah has not permitted us to view boobies...I do not even know what a boobie is....I hear infidels amuse themselves with pictures of them, and play with them whenever given a chance. This cannot be tolerated. We shall cut off the hands of boobie bracelt wearers....try wearing a bracelt with no hands!
It's a dumb idea and should be banned. Simple.
And exactly who says what is appropriate or not? Is the an "expert" field on appropriateness? What are the variables for what is appropriate or not. This is the problem when trying to strike a "rule" on what is appropriate or not. It all just someones personal opinion. And opinions it never a good thing to base policy on.
Then upon what should it be based? If the school administrators are trying to foster an atmosphere of professionalism, serious learning, and scholarship, and have enacted a dress code (probably with the input of student leaders, teachers, and parents, as well as other stakeholders), then what more is necessary? There's a code that's been adopted with the input of all concerned, and these bracelets are not within that code.
Some law firms require their female employees to wear hosiery. If they don't want to do that, they're free to work for another firm. If your kid wants to do what the school bans, you're free to pay his or her tuition to a private school with different rules.
Go right ahead.
My grandson came home and had one on and said look Nana, look what I got for you! He said he told his friends (17&18) that his grandmother was a survior and he was going to support Breast Cancer causes. He ware it each day and so does some of his friends. Remember Men can have Breast Cancer also, I was very touched by this, so I do not understand why a young man or woman can not ware his Boobie bracetets for a cause!!
So the school finds the word "boobies" inappropriate, but it's probably also the same school that hands out free condoms. I find that to be inappropraite.
and I find unwanted children living in squalor, born to teen mothers, to be inappropriate.
I like the slogan, but the school is not the place to wear these banners. If it was up to the students to decide appropriate behavior and dress code in schools, we'd have some wild things happening .... This is school, an educational environment, and while breast health awareness and sponsorship is criitical for the research of cures and causes, we need some measure of decorum. The kids may say it's for a cause, but for young kids, this is like George Carlin's "Seven words you can't say on television" for our times. It is meant to spark a reaction, and it has. Let the parents decide if they can sponsor aand own the bracelets, let the school decide what is appropriate. Schools already have bans on certain extreme gothic, gang, or revealing clothing, so this should be left as a PTA discussion and set policy. School is where we learn about authority, and mimic a work environment for children to learn socializtion. It does not have to be a place where you get street education, or exposure to suggestive marketing that ma detract from the orderly learning experience.
Showing my age and outrage against society morals running amok. Kudos to the teachers and administrators to provide guidance and structure, God knows we all could use some now and again.
Bravo, Well Said! 🙂
wow. you have truly shown us that you are an idiot. i don't even know where to BEGIN....
wild things are happening in and out of schools, no matter if the phrase "boobies" is worn on clothing or not.
you are very miseducated about "gothic" culture, but i won't delve into that now–to attempt to educate you would probably be fruitless.
i am disgusted by how many people seem to think school is a place to "learn about authority". Isn't school for education? For learning? Free thinking? It appears you would all rather just control and indoctrinate these children, shape them into lemmings rather than actually teach them anything.
I really don't think the term "boobies" qualifies as "morals running amok". Please, your repressed life is rather sad. Morals should be challenged from time to time, we will never further ourselves if we get caught up on silly terms like "boobies".
To everyone asking about whether if it is OK for a kid wearing a wrist band that says I <3 Balls|Kitties|Johnsons or anything else, yes it is.
Do you want to know where this great country went wrong? It was when the children of the greatest generation took over and became the teachers and politicians and the PARENTS of the next few generations. It is these whiny sacks of p00p that originally caused all the stinking uproar.
"What little Johnny saw a shirt with the word crapper on it, why that is something I would have done, and since I was rebellious against my parents and did drugs and supported Manson, then they will do just as I did. I must stop all expression in the name of... of the.... UM..... The betterment of the learning environment, yeah thats the ticket, That way even the teacher who SUCK at their jobs and can't teach anyone anyway will now have a reason as to why they suck at their jobs."
Does anyone remember why kids were so respectful of their parents and teachers in the 50's. They were BEAT on a regular basis by fathers and male teachers that were suffering from undiagnosed Post traumatic stress disorders, highlighted by drinking and violence.
So for all of you that want to return to the 50's I suggest that you get some counseling for your latent aggression issues.
Go to a professional job interview with that on and see what happens. While your into expressing yourself, also include lots of visible tattoos, piercings, strangely-colored hair, sandals, a t-shirt, and loose jeans falling off of your ass, because your comfort and need to "express yourself" are all that matters, right? You'll be an executive VP in no time.
and what do YOU do if the person conducting the interview has log hair, visible tattoos, piercings, is wearing one of these bracelets and IS the VP of the company you are applying with?
obviously you cannot express yourself, you are too caught up on behaving "correctly" that you chose to live your life as boring and mediocre as possible. It's a shame.
Fallowt....I am a profession female working for the same company for 11 years, with boobies, tattoos and body piercings.....and have been quite successful in the eleven years (in which I worked my @ss off).....appearance isn't everything. Performance is!...Oh and by the way, my VP accepts people for thier hard work, not the narrow minded backward thinking you pride yourself on!
Those prudes.
T Shirts or bracelets that say I Love Boobies are not appropriate attire for school but mostly because I see it as a bit of a slippery slope. What's next, I love Dicks, I Love Vajayjays?. I think sticking away from jewelry and attire that makes reference to what we call private parts is just a good idea.
While I've certainly used the word Vajayjay, I have to say it's hysterical to see it typed!
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Why is there so much pornography on this site????
BEST POST YET!!!!
Americans are just a bunch of prudes who care WAY too much about what everyone else around them does instead of worrying about their own life. Lighten up.
So I guess if one of the kids wore a "Feel Your Boobies" shirt to school, they would be expelled and it would show on their permanent record????????? PLEASE.
Encourage the kids to wear the I heart bracelets and the novelty will wear off in about a week!
My mom is a breast cancer survivor, so I fully support the cause. But cmon. I heart boobies?
Why not "I love tits" or "Jugs are awesome".
People. Please. I know you parents out there are looking to bring up your children in a manner you deem appropriate. But come on. Its a bracelet for Breast Cancer. If parents are so insecure and cannot have a discussion with thier children about sex, that is your parenting problem. Yes, I will say it: All woman have Boobies. What difference if there is a bracelet that says it. Next you people will want young girls to tape their breasts and hide them. Its a fad....get over it and talk to your kids instead of judging the marketing plans to fight breast cancer.
well put!
is having a discussion about breast cancer the same as having a discussion about sex? sounds like maybe you might have a parenting problem?
i really don't care what kids are wearing to the shopping mall, movies, amusement parks and arcades but i do care what a kid is wearing to school and, in my opinion, wearing an i love boobies bracelet is not appropriate and neither would i love tits, jugs, tatas, knockers, hooters and cans.
Denise – I love Dicks and I Love Vajayjays....do you know where I can buy that shirt? School starts next week and I want to wear it my first day back to school!
Due to a clear demand, I am printing some up right now!
Just because something is intended for a good cause, doesn't mean that it is acceptable in every situation. No school would ever let anyone wear anything with that word on it, and the rule doesn' t change just because it's intended to support a good cause. We wouldn't let students show up wearing shirts that say "F___ AIDS". Same principle here.
Cody – think the F*** word is a bit more obscene than boobies....grow up you narrow minded boob (yep ....BOOB!)
Or boobies aren't just for breakfast anymore
Dave – I have boobies for breakfast at least twice a week!
Why do we call them boobies? THey should be yay-bies!!
You make a very valid point, Spike!!
I Love Boobies!
Yeah!!!!!
I support awarness to colon caner and think he should wear a bracelet called '*ss hole'
The United States just needs to relax... it's just "boobies" for crying out loud. I would rock it.
Heart disease kills more women than breast cancer. Where the teenage-friendly band for that?
Exactly. You don't see too many kids hankering to wear bracelets about colon cancer, do you? Wonder why that is?
As usual,our prudish ways have led to a disconnect between rational and seeing "s exual" overtones. We need to stop being so ridiculous about our bodies,take away the taboo's and just maybe it won't be such a big deal.Grow up America.
they should suck it! it was funny when they said boobies, and i think what you do wear counts as freedom of expression. so suck it Tracy. BOOBIE Bracelets rule!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You have such a sophisticated sense of humor. You probably bust a gut when someone farts, too.
i have a shirt that says "feel your boobies" with a pink ribbon on it. its beautiful and i love it!
So what? Nobody cares what you love except you. Try wearing it to work in a professional capacity and see how well it goes over there. School is no different.
Schools
Suppressing free speech since the dawn of time.
Go to work and start telling all the women you work with "I love boobies". See what happens. Freedom of speech does not allow you say what ever you want whenever you want without consequences.
People are ridiculous. Schools should be more worried about guys wearing shirts with half naked women on them, than a bracelet thats for a good cause.
I say give the kids who ear them extra credit. Are we really this silly as a society? Wars are raging, economy is failing and politics are driving everyone nuts. And we worry about Boobies? Well, I say Boobies Boobies Boobies Boobies Boobies Boobies Boobies Boobies Boobies Boobies Boobies Boobies Boobies Boobies Boobies Boobies Boobies Boobies Boobies Boobies Boobies Boobies Boobies Boobies So there!
I think you forgot one Boobies
SAVE THE TATA'S
SAVE THE TATA'S
really, BOOBIES is one of the lesser offensive words
i support the kids, and anyone who has been afflicted with this and other "unmentionable" cancers.
Just cause the cancer is in sensitive areas, does not mean we should hide from it and keep it taboo.
LIVESTRONG is based on a battle with TESTICULAR cancer
The fact is the bracelet is inappropriate for professional settings, and school should be treated as a professional setting.
Parents should be teaching their kids there is a time and a place for everything.
Also, I can guarantee you that if the Livestrong bracelets said just "Testicles" on it instead, it would have been banned in schools as well.
My school in Dallas banned them too. A lot of people are upset because of the good cause they represent, but I see the point. I go to a private school, and there are constantly tours of potential parents and benefactors. Some people don't understand that they are supporting breast cancer and may get the wrong idea about our strict policies. While I do get why teens refuse to take them off because of family members or friends that have been diagnosed with cancer, I think that it shouldn't be as big of a deal. Students can wear them outside of school and in the mean time, sport another bracelet that is just as effective at raising awareness and more appropriate.
Denise ..."is having a discussion about breast cancer the same as having a discussion about sex? sounds like maybe you might have a parenting problem?"....ok, so if the bracelet is for BREAST CANCER....what is your problem with kids wearing it to school......OBVIOUSLY because it brings up the subject of sex.....which most parents leave to the wonderful board of ed (who by the way doesn't want your children to wear the bracelts) to teach YOUR CHILD about sex......SO....Parenting 101....you tell your children the bracelet is for BREAST CANCER, not SEX....clear cut there. Your kid should be bright enough to understand that. If they want to wear the bracelet because it represents a sexual connotation....well, then you have the sex talk. Communicating to your child what the bracelet represents it my point here. ....I mean really, do people stop naming their son Richard for fear that one day they will be called Dick?
kids at school run in races for breast cancer, they wear pink t shirts and ribbons, they have teachers who have breast cancer, they quite possibly know or have family who have died or been sickened by breast cancer. there are plenty of opportunities for discussions.
in my opinion, boobies bracelets diminish the cause; it makes it about something else so i guess that disturbs me.
On the one hand I can see that the organization that developed the 'I love boobies' campaign was probably trying a light hearted approach to a serious disease. If they are survivors who have a sense of humor, good for them. Others with the disease or survivors may not see it the same way and I can respect that since the slogan does have a shock appeal as well.
Are the youth who are wearing the bracelets really concerned about breast cancer or just interested in a way to purchase something with the word boobies on it? Some genuinely are and most probably are not<–my opinion for whatever it is worth. Prohibiting the bracelet in school would probably not really stand up to some legal test for protected political speech. Is the student in question protesting that 'not enough money is spent on breast cancer?' or 'breast cancer is being marginalized?'
As many have commented freedom of speech does not make you free of the responsibility for that speech. The message displayed on the bracelets is protected speech (in general)...but doesn't the educational speech presented by the teacher during the allotted school hours take precedent? Think of this, if kids were passing a note in class (texting) and the teacher stopped the activity, would we then persecute the teacher for oppressing the student’s freedom of speech? Or if you were walking through school and randomly shouted obscenities and administrators or teachers would that be ok?
I have a child that will start school this year. Personally I think the bracelets are an unnecessary distraction and would not allow my child to wear one in an educational setting or any other setting that I deem inappropriate while responsible for my child.
I meant "wearing the bracelet in school would probably not really stand up to some legal test..."
The Supreme Court has consistently said that a school may restrict a student's free speech, even off-campus. Remember, students don't have the same rights as adults do.
I agree with you that many kids are wearing them just because it has the word "boobies" on it. They could care less about breast cancer.
I love boobs.
I have question for all the people that support these bracelets being worn at school?
Would any of you wear these bracelets or a shirt that had the same slogan on it to WORK? Or how about church? Even a job interview?
yes, i would wear a shirt that stated "i love boobies" to all three.
I apologize my question was geared to people that do not work or attend church at strip clubs.
Church? Absolutely! As a Christian, I know that God does not look on the outward appearance, but on the heart. My pastor has about 10 different bracelets he wears supporting various causes, including the 'boobies' campaign, and he doesn't hide them under a suit or long sleeves either. He wears short sleeved shirts and is proud of the causes that he supports. He has even purchased boxes of the different bracelets on occasion for the members to have one if they so choose. God Rocks!
Sure you would, mimi. You worship at a bar and you work at a strip club, and you're interviewing for an upgrade so you can waitress at Hooters. Some people aspire to better lives than you have.
So would now be the time to ask for donations towards the 2011 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in DC? As thank yous to donating to my campaign I'm handing out "Feel your boobies" window cligs for your car 🙂
Whoopsie..meant meant to type window "clings"
I wonder how everyone would feel about this if it were reversed. How do you feel about your school aged daughters were wearing bracelets that read "I heart testicals" or "I love prostates" in support of those types of cancers.
The fact of the matter is that these bracelets are popular because it's an excuse to be inappropriate. The companies that make them know this and it's a ploy to make a buck off of the bandwagon of awareness. And what type of awareness is it really spreading? This article did not mention a thing about breast cancer statistics. We should be ashamed of the way we are "educating" our children about these diseases. We can do better!!
is it terrible to make a buck for breast cancer awareness and the children that wear these bracelets have their parents permission. i understand if you would not want your daughters to wear these bracelets or any other bracelets you would find unappropiate. but still your only responsible for your own
this is not offensive, it has caused more awareness to breast cancer and even if some students are buying it for a "giggle" the money they spend for that giggle still goes to for breast cancer.
let them have their giggles when they are hanging at the mall, at the movies, having fun at an amusement park etc.
but not at school. that's the only part of this that i don't agree with. the school was right to ban them.
I'm probably going to get plenty of flak for being a hypocrite on this, but since everyone else has an opinion on this, here's mine. I am a Plastic Surgeon who specializes in breast surgery, both reconstructive (after mastectomy) and cosmetic (implants, lifts, etc). I am a strong supporter of breast cancer research as a worthy cause, and in the right of women to pursue reconstructive or cosmetic breast surgery... in both cases the goal is the same: an improved self image, and hopefully an improved quality of life. I will save others the trouble of pointing out the obvious, which is that yes, I also make a very comfortable living by performing this type of work, and I consider myself very fortunate to be in a profession that is simultaneously fulfilling and well-paying.
In my "other life" I am also a parent to two lovely daughters, age 12 and 13, which is why the article above caught my eye.
For what its worth, my two cents is this: There is a time and a place for everything, and middle school / high school is neither the time nor the place for bracelets displaying this slogan. While the intentions behind them may be genuine, I personally find such slogans mildly offensive, in that they trivialize a matter that is anything but trivial to the families affected by it. I am also skeptical that the majority of kids who are sporting these bracelets are really doing so to show their heartfelt support for the breast cancer cause. With all due respect to those whose intentions are indeed genuine, I suspect that they would feel equally well served by the "standard issue" pink bracelet, sans slogan.
Thanks for letting me weigh in, and to those who would like to debate me on this, have fun... I have to get back to work.
GREAT POST, boobiedoc!
Yay boobies! They should be allowed to wear the bracelets. Boobies isn't a "sexually suggestive" word.
Exactly how do you think a bunch of middle school boys will be using the term? I would prefer my daughter not be subjected to that.
@ Denise are you kidding me??????????? yeah you better protect your DAUGHTER from the word boobies because she doesnt have any right!!! what a joke. if you shelter your child enough, when she leaves your precious home she will go nuts. i have seen it happen two times. drugs and sex. why dont you just lock her up and throw away the key????????? its sheltered people like you that create molesting people...because they are so sheltered and do not know how to deal with THE HUMAN BODY that god created!!
School is like a workplace. I have no objection to kids wearing the bracelets in social settings, I couldn't care less. But it is not appropriate for the workplace or school.
I do think it is amusing that so many people can say boobies with abandon but blush at the word breasts.
@ denise
school =/= a workplace
your argument is invalid
for the students, school is very much like a workplace. and of course, for many, it is a workplace.
what an odd response.
but i guess that opinion probably explains why there is such a huge drop out. sad.
CNN also covered a story a few years ago that stated that swallowing semen lowers your risk of breast cancer... so would a shirt that says "Suck a dick...Save a life" or "Got Semen?" be an appropriate thing to wear to school...?
That would be inappropriate because that actually is sexually suggestive language.
i know i'd buy both.
SAVE THE TITIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The "Tities"?
Yeah, your school should definitely ban anything that distracts you and your two brain cells.
SUPPORT BREAST CANCER! http://www.ughtees.com $3 from each shirt is sent to SGK and shirts ship for FREE!!!!
you can ban the bracelets, but you can never ban the boobie love! VIVA LA B(. )( .)BIES
I wonder if Hunter would sport the I love balls, or save a NutSack bracelet? They started to sell these to get some money off of moronic teens who giggle when they say boobies. The cause is right, the action is retarding the cause.
Idiots! What? We don't have enough to worry about in the world without banning the word 'boobies'. You school official are a bunch of BOOBIES! (and I don't mean mammary)
If you want to support the cause wear your pink one to school. I live with teenage sisters and they support breast cancer research and awareness because we have a family full of cancer but they still laugh at that slogan and so do their friends. The slogan is meant to get attention and school is not the place for that, especially since there are still alot of people/teens that don't even know what the bracelets are for. Teenagers in general don't even donate money to the cause.
Even setting aside the fact that these bracelets support a GREAT cause, what a pack of puritanical whiners!!!! You what I find offensive? The idea that any part of the human body is innapropriate. What are trying protect these kids from? Half them have (or will have) BOOBIES. You know what ALL of them have? A sex drive. Its absolutely abhorrant that we send the message that there is anything woring with the natural human animal.
there is a time and place for everything and school is a safe place to learn. that's what most people are saying. not that kids can't wear their boobies bracelets just that the school is not an appropriate place to wear them.
if kids want to support the cause of breast cancer, they can wear their pink t shirts and ribbons and participate in the many events that occur during the school year.