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Askthejudge.info features regular updates from the news, important decisions from the nation′s courts, and online discussions with Judge Tom. Find out everything you need to know about youth rights, juvenile law and juvenile justice. AsktheJudge – Empowering youth one question at a time.

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April 30, 2008
Judge Tom
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3

Eyebrows–a fashion statement or gang sign?

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Centennial High School in Oregon is concerned about your eyebrows and whether you’re a gang member.  It seems that shaving vertical lines in your eyebrows symbolize gang membership or activity.  It’s also a trend made popular by hip-hop star Soulja Boy.

The school maintains that one line in one brow and three in the other looks like 13, a local gang.  Four students have been sent home and can’t return until they cover the brow or shave it off.

One student has returned with a bandaid over the shaved brow.  Another stated that he did it because it’s cool and the girls like it.

What do you think?  Would the school’s response pass the Tinker test?   Tinker authorizes discipline when someone’s rights have been violated or when there’s been or will be substantial disruption at school because of the student’s act of expression.

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Judge Tom

The Author Judge Tom

Judge Tom is the founder and moderator of AsktheJudge.info. He is a retired juvenile judge and spent 23 years on the bench. He has written several books for lawyers and judges as well as teens and parents including 'Teen Cyberbullying Investigated' (Free Spirit Publishing) and 'Every Vote Matters: the Power of Your Voice, from Student Elections to the Supreme Court' (Free Spirit Publishing). In 2020, the American Bar Association published "Cyberbullying Law," the nation's first case-law book written for lawyers, judges and law students. When he's not answering teens' questions, Judge Tom volunteers with the American Red Cross and can be found hiking, traveling and reading.

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3 Comments

  • miho
    February 21, 2012 8:46 am count( 0 )

    It’s really a great and helpful piece of information. I am satisfied that you simply shared this useful information with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
    You’re welcome.

  • jordan
    October 8, 2010 8:05 am count( 1 )

    I’m not a fan of soulja boy but i have em and i think its cool. Let the kids be themselves by the way I’m 16