Students have rights, too

Morgan County school officials certainly did the right thing when they stood up for the rights of students to express their opinions last week.

As an article in this week's paper explains, the issue was whether a group of Berkeley Springs High School students were allowed to wear t-shirts promoting a single payer health care system, a form of national health care.

Several parents apparently contacted the school board office to complain. Among those opposing the t-shirts was Delegate Daryl Cowles, who made vague and uninformed comments about the shirts violating school policy.

Quite the contrary. As Superintendent David Banks and Principal George Ward pointed out, students wear t-shirts with all sorts of messages – political, religious, advertising – every day. Unless the shirt is obscene, promotes drugs or alcohol, or disrupts a class, there is no reason to stop students from wearing them. Like all Americans, students have certain First Amendment rights.

We're not sure why Delegate Cowles felt the need to get involved, but he would do better to concentrate on getting some legislation passed to help Morgan County this next session.

The thing about the First Amendment is this: It takes no courage to stand up for the rights of people you agree with. The real crunch is when you must accept and defend the rights of people you don't agree with.