grendon.jpg
Grendon Bailie, a Steelers fan, opted to go home from school, instead of facing an in-school suspension or changing into the school uniform. (Stoughton Bailie/Photo)

Student threatened with suspension for wearing Steelers shirt

January 14, 2011 @ 12:22 pm (Updated: 1:30 pm - 3/28/11 )

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By ALEX SILVERMAN
KIRO Radio
Listen to Alex's report

A Tacoma middle school student was threatened with punishment for wearing a Pittsburgh Steelers shirt to school on Seahawks spirit day, the 13-year-old told KIRO-FM Friday.

Truman Middle School, which has a strict dress code, made an exception Friday, allowing students to wear Seahawks gear to show their support for the team.

"I thought it was kind of dumb that they said that, because we're Steelers fans," Grendon Bailie, a seventh-grader at Truman Middle School, said.

While Grendon admits he asked earlier in the week if he could wear his Steelers gear, and administrators said no, he said his father told him to go ahead.

"We're big fans, that's not fair," said Stoughton Bailie, Grendon's dad. "I wrote him a note to go along with it to show the school he wasn't just being a rogue bad kid."

When he arrived at school Friday, Grendon said the vice principal immediately threatened him with in-school suspension if he did not change into a regular uniform, which the school offered to provide. Grendon called his father, who came to school and drove him home.

Tacoma School District spokeswoman Stacy Flores said school officials made it clear that Seahawks pride was today's only exception to the dress code.

"The community has voted that it would be Seahawks colors day, not sports day," Flores said. "It was the parent that made the decision to take his son home rather than have him change his shirt."

"I don't plan on calling the ACLU or suing or anything," Bailie said. "That's ridiculous. What we're trying to do here is poking a stick at the Seahawks fans who have given us so much grief over the years."

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Comments (68)


  • Add A Comment

  • MK wrote...
    Stupid on many levels
    January 14, 2011 12:42 pm
    I commend the kid for making a stand. But, he was told by the school officials that it is school uniform or Seahawks. So he knew. And the school is also at fault for allowing the dress code to be broken but only for Seahawks fans.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • yaddamaster wrote...
    idiot dad, dumb kid
    January 14, 2011 12:59 pm
    You live in Seattle. 99% of kids at the school want to support the home team. Don't be an idiot and assert your supposed "rights". Take a stand on something important, not this.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sghouse wrote...
    couple of FOOLS
    January 14, 2011 1:15 pm
    you were told what the rules were and you chose to ignore them. now you are whining. take your penalty and SHUT UP!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Itisme wrote...
    Tax dollars
    January 14, 2011 1:23 pm
    Since when should tax dollars be used to support a private industry? The kid was right
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • C's bella wrote...
    Discrimination pure and simple
    January 14, 2011 1:34 pm
    Good for this young man for taking a stand. the company I work for you are not allowed to dress out of uniform unless it is to wear seahawks shirts. Discrimination is discrimination. And 99% of school kids do not support the home team anywhere. maybe most but no 99%. I think the dad and his son should sue. I fortunatly have sunday off, but if I didn't I would wear my bears shirt and you can bet your butt I would sue if they sent me home because of it. Just because I live in Wa does not mean I have to be a fan of any Wa state team. It is still a free country
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • b1202 wrote...
    NOT DISCRIMINATION
    January 14, 2011 1:43 pm
    This is in no way Discrimination!! His school had a SEAHAWKS DAY.... He was out of dress code, so he got sent home. GO HAWKS! Steelers SUCK!!! (go ravens)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • suzh wrote...
    Rules
    January 14, 2011 1:47 pm
    Part of growing up is learning to obey rules whether you like them or not. When this kid hits the job force and decides to make up his own rules, he'll end up fired, not getting publicity.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cycle wrote...
    one bad apple
    January 14, 2011 1:47 pm
    You get one Dad who is going to ruin something for the whole school. He should have had more sense than to drive his son home. I don't blame the kid because the parent thinks they can break the rules and why did the Dad have to contact a radio station about this. Lets see he wanted his 15 minutes of fame.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FreeRange wrote...
    Ravens! Ravens! Ravens!
    January 14, 2011 1:47 pm
    The rules were Seahawks spirit. If you dont like it then you could have worn your uniform....stop whining! You guys were looking for trouble and 15 minutes of fame. Go HAWKS! Go Ravens!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Steve Dallas wrote...
    As a Steelers fan...
    January 14, 2011 1:52 pm
    He should know about falling short of the goal and being considered a success..
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }