Posted by The Wake Up Call on September 1, 2010
“I Love Boobies” Bracelets
Posted in: The Wake Up Call
News 10 covered a story yesterday about a sophomore at Rocklin High School who got in trouble for wearing a bracelet that said “I Love Boobies.”
Here is the full story from News10.net:
Rocklin “I heart boobies” bracelet controversy leads to boy’s suspension
ROCKLIN, CA – A Rocklin High School sophomore faces disciplinary action for wearing a controversial bracelet that proclaims “I heart boobies,” then refusing to turn it over to school officials.
Hunter Cooper, 15, said he wore the bracelet since the first day of school. His mother gave it to him after she picked it up from a doctor’s office. For five months before that, he had the pink survivor bracelet from Susan G. Komen. Then last Friday, school officials spotted him with the black “boobies” bracelet and asked him to remove it.
“I’m wearing it in honor of my grandmother,” said Cooper, who said his grandmother died before he was born. “I don’t see it as an offensive thing at all.”
The black bracelet with white lettering also trumpets other slogans, such as “wearing breast,” “save the breast” and “keep a breast.”
A Keep-A-Breast.org spokesperson said its breast cancer awareness campaign is targeting teens.
“This is a modern word, I think. I know plenty of people who use the word boobies,” said Cooper.
“We support the cause 100 percent,” said Rocklin principal Mike Garrison. He said several staff members at Rocklin High School have battled breast cancer.
“But, not the language on the bracelet,” said Garrison. “When you use the term boobies, we find, and many people find, the term offensive and inappropriate. We find it inappropriate to be wearing it on school grounds.”
Rocklin High officials asked Cooper to hand over the bracelet, but he refused. Cooper said he now faces Saturday school or one day of on-campus suspension for not complying.
A female student at Rocklin High reportedly attended Saturday school over the weekend and was disciplined after refusing to turn over her “I Heart Boobies” bracelet.
The principal would not discuss Cooper’s case or confirm if Cooper faces disciplinary action. Principal Garrison would not discuss the other student’s case either.
“We have not suspended any student or disciplined any student for wearing a bracelet or shirt that has that insignia on it,” Garrison said.
“I guess I was being too defiant because I didn’t hand it over,” said Cooper. “I don’t really think those are fair punishments.”
Cooper said his grandmother died from breast cancer five months after his grandfather died from lung cancer. Several other family members and friends have battled cancer. Cooper owns various bracelets as a show of support– including the well-known yellow Livestrong bracelet.
Cooper’s mother said she was disappointed with the way the school and the district handled the issue.
“Without having a discussion and handing out penalties first, I think that’s a real problem,” said Danielle Cooper. “They need to inform us as parents. I’d like them to handle the subject matter as mature adults. I’d like the staff to take a stand, one way or another. If they banned (the bracelets), and why they banned them, we should receive notice.”
Garrison said school administrators will be meeting Tuesday for a leadership meeting and will be discussing their position.
By Suzanne Phan, sphan at news10.net
Listen to what local high school students had to say about this issue:
Listen to what local parents thought about the issue:
I listened to your morning program and the discussion about the “Boobie Bracelets.” As a high school teacher of 20 years, I can give a bit of perspective from the “dark side.” While I support the students that truly want to increase awareness regarding this horrible disease, the bracelets can serve as a disruption in class and can be viewed as semi-offensive. We don’t have right to wear whatever we want at the workplace or at school. To simple wear it to push the envelope defeats the purpose and takes away from the true discussion. Look at what we are doing now for example.
When I hear that a student wants to support breast cancer awareness, I suggest they buy and wear the Susan G. Komen pink bracelet. The money goes to support research and not making some opportunist rich in the process. After all, this issue is about increasing awareness and not the word “boobie.”
Comment by Jeff — September 1, 2010 @ 10:57 am
I think that banning/not being able to wear the braclet is ridiculous! WE ARE SUPPORTING FREKIN BREAST CANCER! and seriosuly!? we as akids have rights. Just because were tiny doesnt mean we cant help a SERIOUS cause! EVERYTIME YOU BUY A BRACLET 30% OF TH EMONEY GOES TO THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION! GET THAT THROUGH YYOUR HEADS!
Comment by Cheyanne — September 1, 2010 @ 4:28 pm
THAT IS SO STUPID. There technically saying that their school doesn’t give a s**t about breat cancer!!!!!!! I would’ve got the whole school to wear that bracelt and plus, they can suspend us all. My school has sevies who wer them!~
Comment by Michelle — September 1, 2010 @ 5:08 pm
My grandmother passed away from breast cancer which is extremely painful! I go to Rocklin High and I would love to go to this program. I think a lot of kids would go. Great idea Jason
Comment by i — September 1, 2010 @ 6:12 pm
Jason, I think it would be a great idea to have that program presented to the schools, My younger brother wears two these bracelets one for a friends mom and one for our great grandmother. These kids are supporting a great organization and should not be punished for having a heart. Just sayin!
Comment by Brittany — September 2, 2010 @ 3:30 pm
alot of kids wear the bracelets at union mine high and none of the teachers care. i dont get why they are making a big deal about boobies when they should be worrying more about drugs and alcohol on school campus.
Comment by michael — September 2, 2010 @ 7:58 pm
in my opinion if some kids are wearing them for the wrong reasons, let them aleast their money is going to suppport brest cancer. yeah you can go but the susan g komen bracelets but it does not get kids attention that is the point of “i love boobies”
Comment by NIck — September 7, 2010 @ 9:26 pm
I think these bracelets are stupid and immature. Where on the bracelet does it show the pink ribbon or say Susan B. Koman’s name, indicating that the bracelets do in fact support breast cancer? No where. The bracelets say “I Love Boobies” and “Save A Boob” inside of the bracelets, which means people love boobs, not flat chests. What about those who have LOST their breasts to breast cancer? What is that saying to them? If you are SO serious about supporting breast cancer then why not wear the pink ribbon that shows the support of breast cancer. Go on the walks they have that support breast cancer.
Comment by Brit — September 8, 2010 @ 10:15 pm
REALLY>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Support and Hope and cure can be obtained through organizations that are making strides. Do some research and Kids and Parents lets hold them accountable and this is a wonderful opportunity to open your eyes to all the support with Susan Komen. American Cancer Society and if the care and concern is there then see if they can contribute with time and wearing a braclet that is not offensive to others……I think its pushing the envelope……. Plus insensitive to those who have battled and those who have lost the battle……..Think about it and encourage our youth to think of others not turn a situation to there advantage…If for the right reasons then great wear pink and get out there and support it.. Relay for Life this weekend good starting point Seot 11th @ Granite Oaks……
Comment by jane doe — September 10, 2010 @ 1:04 am
ok i think there is NOTHING wrong with wearing them… its for breast cancer. i would understand if it said like “keep a d*ck” or something but the “i ♥ boobies” is completely fine i support it all the way.. almost all kids in my school wear one and we dont get in troublw fro it because the teachers accually mind there won business and shut up…. ok so they let those slitty girls walk around in mini skirts and low cut tank tops but they wont let us wear the bracelet. I think its all crappy
Comment by Ray — September 14, 2010 @ 5:31 pm
well i have one of these so called “offensivve” bracelets, i want to help the cause. what difference does it make if it havve susan g kolmen or the little pink ribbon. mine dosnt have that, i dont see whats so offensive about them. its just kids trying to help people. isnt that what everyones trying to get us to do? help people. we shouldnt be punished for that! they should worry on more important issues, like drugs. not on a braclet that helps people.
Comment by Addison Anya — September 15, 2010 @ 3:59 pm
I listened to your radio segment on “I love boobies” subsequently I was assigned an argumentative paper in my class and chose this very subject as my topic. I think what everyone needs to realize it that its not hard to shock people anymore, kids and younger generations are the ones coming up with these campaigns and they know that in order to get people’s attention, sometimes you need something edgy. I applaud the keep a breast foundation for making kids aware of these diseases, for trying to reach them on their level. At the end of the day the younger generation IS being affected by this disease directly, whether it be a family member or themselves. These kids are doing their part to make OUR world, THEIR future brighter and better. Maybe if the school officials took the time to sit and have a discussion with the students involved instead of just making them take them off, they could make this into a positive situation like a awareness week instead of something so negative.
Comment by Miranda — September 25, 2010 @ 7:11 pm
this is happening all over the country , my school in las vegas nevada s now having to deal with the news because i refused to take off my bracelet for the simple fact that i support breast cancer and i know a few survivors , when i was asked to take it off , it wasnt being a distraction , the teacher just wanted something to complain about ! the i <3 boobies logo has been around for what seems like a problem , but NOW its degrading ? okay makes perfect sense ??? so now my school is ina big rut because i got my gands on an email saying that they never tld me i had t take it off after they wanted to suspend me for 3 days , after all this bad publicity theyll drop it , the sad thing is , we have teachers and our principle wearing them !!! and we have a teacher with breast cancer..im on facebook, megan burger or las vegas nevada
Comment by megan burger — October 30, 2010 @ 9:10 am