Posted by ( Michael Silence ) on April 17, 2008 at 9:35 am

Link?

Posted by ( bryan arnold ) on April 17, 2008 at 9:42 pm

I never new that the american cancer society was involved in youth gang violence, Has Mr. Kind or Mr Lathum researched the acs. I believe these young people had good intentions. I graduated from BTHS in 1993, I am also a cancer survivor, This is very disturbing to me, But I would love to ask either gentlemen what would they do if they were in my parents position , I think they would have handle it different if cancer effected them.
The type of cancer is not a issue, cancer knows no boundries or age it effects people from infants to death and bristol all the way back around to bristol, It is a terrible thing, If these young people broke a law give them detention or take other actions but thinking they were a gang, I do not think so. Well may the good lord bless these young men regardless of right or wrong I am not a spokes person for the acs, I am on my own. In closing thank you for your time, and may god bless all of you. thanks bryan arnold

Posted by ( Shelly Steffey ) on April 18, 2008 at 12:55 am

I think the school officials have blown the shirt issue entirely out of proportion.  These children are trying to wear shirts to support a disease which is widespread in our area. Who are we to say that these children have not experienced the disease or have had a member of their own family battle cancer?  This may be a cause that is dear to their heart....passion!!  Since when did passion and compassion become such a negative thing?  So they disrupted classes while walking down the hall....is that really that big of a deal?  Do students not disrupt classes when going to lunch, the bathroom, or the water fountain???  What’s next?  Will they be asked to stay in their classroom to eat their meals and wear a foley catheter to school?  I believe the school should be more concerned with bullies, drugs in school, and creating an environment that enhances learning. Forget worrying about purple shirts....it’s ridiculous! Relay for Life is an awesome charity! The school should support these children who want to draw attention to this worthy cause, not discourage them!

Posted by ( CLARA ) on April 18, 2008 at 10:55 am

I’ve never heard of such a thing.  The administration should be ashamed of themselves.  Check you facts before you ban something because of the color.  Also, if the students don’t read the paper how will they know what is going on in the world.  You know most of the students don’t look at the news once they get home.  How else will they know.  You people have lost it.  I thought schools where to educate students.

Posted by ( Ken ) on April 18, 2008 at 7:52 pm

I think this shows the school administrators are out of touch with reality.  They outlaw a color that is meant for a good cause?  If I was a student there, I would try to organize a little protest.  I would have a blue day, a red day, a white day, a green day, etc.  When you try to do something for the good others and you get punished, how do you know what to do in the future?

Posted by ( cathy newland ) on April 20, 2008 at 5:28 pm

we shouldn’t worry about the kinds of shirts those children had on… I’ve worked for the city school system and now i work for the county and a bad shirt is like portraing the devil or these bad rock bands that the kids like… those children was supporting something good.. they were saying"I care about someone who is sick or who could die from illness”
give them a break!!!! the directors should ban som other shirts i’ve seen around town.

Posted by ( Wanda Richardson ) on April 21, 2008 at 3:26 pm

First of all I would like to say THANK YOU to Matt Smith!! As an 11yr cancer survivor, it truely touches my heart that young people are taking up this worthy cause. To Vance Middle School administrators SHAME ON YOU! How can a purple Relay for Life T-shirt be a distruption to a school environment? How can Relay for Life be a problem? Do you NOT want a cure for cancer to be found? Relay for Life only raises money for cancer research and education, what is the problem with a t-shirt for that? It isnt like he was wearing a T-shirt promoting drugs, alchol, viloence, sex… For crying out loud it was a t-shirt trying to help find A CURE for CANCER!!! I beleive you owe MR. Matt Smith a formal and public apology. Thank you Matt for taking a stand! You make this cancer survivor VERY PROUD! God Bless you and all who are doing their part to help find a cure for cancer!

Posted by ( Tim Thomsen ) on April 25, 2008 at 12:15 am

I also have a student at VMS.  She has a rare form of cancer that we have been fighting for a couple of years now.  It pains me and my daughter to see all the fighting and bickering over something that most of you don’t have a clue what your talking about. No T-shirts were ever banned.  Newspapers were taken up so TCAP exams could begin. Interesting how that rumor got spread huh… Just because you read it in the paper doesn’t mean it is completely true.  Boring stories that are completely factual do not sell newpapers.  Now let me tell you, all of Vance has supported our family beyond my expectations.  Especially Mr. Kind, Mr. Latham and Mrs. Easterling.  I have witnessed personally these folks giving of themselves to others, showing compassion and concern that is rare these days.  It is a thankless job they have.  I would challenge any of you who call them out to do a better job. 
As far as support of Relay for life, do any of you realize there is an already planned event to be held at Vance May 16th?  This had been planned all year.  Wake up Bristol, this administration is doing more than its part to support those with cancer and especially for their students.  You people should be volunteering your time and efforts to help them instead of running them in the ground.  We have seen alot of hurt and anquish in our trips to St. Jude in Memphis, Children’s National in DC, Vanderbilt Children’s in Nashville, and now Georgetown in DC.  I can tell you from experience that these administrators are among the best at what they do.  We have delt with school teachers from every institute we have been to and without fail, they have praised our system and school leaders.  This is from the best Hospitals in this country.  These people deal with this sort of thing every day.  With that said, I can only speak to what I know to be factual, can you say that with your post?  Most of the posts I have read are responding to something they have read in another post or heard as a rumor.  This was never about cancer, never about the color purple, never about t-shirts.  Those of you who are hurt because of what you believe to be true but don’t know for a fact need to seek out what the real issue is here.  Otherwise I feel for you.  You are destined for a life of hurt at every turn.  Quit blaming everything and everyone else.  We have, and my daughter is better off for it.  Thank you!

Posted by ( Wanson D. Hutchinson ) on April 29, 2008 at 9:54 pm

Yea, your right Robert of Rosedale, most people did miss the point, you included. It never has been about a “purple tee shirt” or the “Relay for Life” it is about a group of disorderly children disrupting school where others go to be taught and to learn. It’s about obeying the rules of the Public School System, respecting your fellow students, teachers and school administrators. It’s about acting like civilized young people that should have ask a teacher for advise before attempting to sound off about what is a worth cause.
That said don’t even try to preach to me about children’s feelings aqnd actions. I survived Polio at the age of 5, wore braces on both legs until I was 11 after my parents were told I’d never walk again. Kids are cruel in ways those that have never been their can ever imagine. I’ve also survived cancer and stand in the ranks of the few that can say “Ive been there and bought that tee shirt”.
Like I said it’s not about the tee shirt, it’s always been about the actions of the kids and now the parents. If the parents fail to teach their children to respect others and to obey the rules and to behave like civilized human beings then they might very well start wearing “colors” other than purple with words other that “Relay of Life”. I spent part of my youth in the District of Columbia (Washington D.C.)I know a little about what I’m talking about, not something I was told, saw on TV, a movie or a video game. Real life experience is the best teacher, if you survive.

Posted by ( Chris ) on June 03, 2008 at 6:59 am

Andrea,

How about a new topic? We’re dying out here.