T-shirts and how we need to keep eyes on the prize

You've got to be kidding me. But no, students in a U.S. school were told to go home because they had t-shirts on with an American flag on cinco de mayo. As an immigrant, (Students told to go home for wearing American flag t-shirts to school)

As an immigrant,I am truly scratching my head. Where did commonsense go? Since when can't kids wear American flag t-shirts? Since when did free speech evaporate?

Within 48 hours, of course, cooler heads prevailed and the assistant principal's order was voided by the school superintendent. But the lesson was learned--educators took their eye off common sense, education, the public good, and other realities that should be front and center for our schools Case closed, we hope.

The bigger picture is that this is but another example of our education leaders not their eye on the prize, not focused on the goal of teaching and learning, taking sides among student groups, etc. The goal should be education. Where did that go?

And, of course, this brings me back to special education and how it is broken. Why? Because, here too, we have lost sight of the goal--teaching and learning for all students. Instead, we saddle schools with rules, regulations, lawsuits, fear, lack of trust, etc.--that truly have nothing to do with teaching and learning. And we get further from the goal that would serve us all.

Let's hope the t-shirts can lead the way back to common sense.