The band director of Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia, MS recently got in trouble for making shirts that depict primates evolving into man. The concept of evolution did not sit well with some parents, so the band members had to turn in their shirts. Whatever happened to the separation of church and state, I do not know. Banning those shirts because some parents do not like the notion of evolution is just unacceptable.
The band did not design those shirts to teach evolution, they merely did it to show how brass instruments changed since the late 1960’s. The band director stated that they chose the evolution of man because it was “recognizable.”
The band debuted the shirts when they marched in the Missouri State Fair parade, and after several complaints from parents, the district determined they would band the shirts. The district is required by law to remain neutral where religion is concerned. Being neutral means not aligned with, supporting, or favoring either side in a dispute. Since the district said they were going to stay neutral, it was a surprise when the district went ahead and catered to the desires of the parents.
To correct the situation, school officials bought the shirts for $700 and banned them from use by the band. The students expressed their disappointed by the fact that a couple of angry parents made them give up their shirts.
When the students chose the shirts they were not trying to ignite a controversy about evolution and religion. Their main goal was to be clever, and have fun with the shirts. They did not expect that the parents were going to take it seriously. The parents should not have gotten upset over the shirts.
People are certainly allowed to be offended by the shirts because they think they are ugly, or the theme is dull. However, they are, without a doubt, not allowed to forbid other people from wearing them. Here is a great solution: if band members and their parents found the shirts personally offensive, then they should simply have chosen not to wear them.