The Easton Area School District defended its ban on the breast-cancer awareness bracelets in a new court filing.
The American Civil Liberties Union sued the district last month on behalf of two girls suspended for wearing the popular bracelets. The ACLU considers it a free-speech case, but the school district strongly disagreed in papers filed Wednesday.
"The district did not suspend either student for the expression of her viewpoint. The district's actions were calculated to teach students appropriate ways to express their viewpoints," the filing said.
The two sides are due in federal court Dec. 16, when the ACLU will ask a judge to reverse both the ban and the in-school suspensions of plaintiffs Brianna Hawk, 13, and Kayla Martinez, 12. Both attend Easton Area Middle School.
Their suspensions came with a one-month ban on school activities, but U.S. District Judge Mary McLaughlin persuaded the school to let the girls attend a recent dance while the case plays out.
Schools from Florida to California have banned the $4 bracelets, which are sold by the nonprofit Keep A Breast Foundation of Carlsbad, Calif., to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer organizations.
Fans believe the irreverent message promotes discussions about breast cancer among young people.
Easton has said little publicly about their stance, but disclosed in court papers that the bracelets have caused distractions - and more.
"Middle school boys made sexual comments to middle school girls and there was a case of a boy touching a girl on the breast. All of these circumstances were disruptive to the classroom and each individual child's education," the school said.
An ACLU lawyer did not immediately return a message Thursday.
