A middle school student in Florida was forced to remove his Florida Gators t-shirt because it was considered “gang-style” clothing. To be fair to the school officials, based on prior actions by “student”-athletes, universities in Florida are going to raise some suspicion. Perhaps this young man was quietly endorsing the use of illegal drugs and the occasional need to commit grand larceny. Or, he may have been hinting that he intends to start a midfield rumble following the soccer game with the middle school across town.

The parents complain that their son was “humiliated” for the insinuation that he was involved in a gang and because he was forced to wear his gym shirt for the rest of the day.  Oh, please.
Was the request to remove the shirt ridiculous? Sure. But let’s not start crying for the damaged self-esteem of the young lad. I would have found it amusing if my middle school principal accused me of being in a gang. I can just imagine the stern words, “Remove that New Kids on the Block t-shirt right now, young lady! Do you want to start a war with the girls who are wearing the Corey Haim t-shirts?”