Breast cancer bracelets cause stir in schools

Students at Havre Middle and High schools have taken a recent interest in breast cancer, as shown by this year's appearance of bracelets that read "I ♥ Boobies." But administrators have doubts about student intent.

The bracelets are the product of a non-profit organization called the Keep A Breast Foundation. They have been drawing fire over the past few months from parents and school employees across the country, who feel that students' agreement with the bracelet's sentiment has little to do with cancer.

Now the bracelets have made their way to Havre and brought their trouble with them.

"We understand the cause," Havre Middle School Assistant Principal Jamie Courville said. "But kids at that age are not wearing it for that. They're wearing them for other reasons."

Courville said that the middle school administration has been asking students to take them off and has been collecting them. They view the bracelets as a dress code violation, as does the high school administration.

"It is a distraction to the educational process," Havre High School Assistant Principal Kipp Lewis said.

According to Lewis, the school has been asking students to turn the bracelets inside out to hide the distracting message. If students are serious about raising breast cancer awareness, Lewis said there are pink ribbons available in the office.

Either way awareness has been raised. So Keep A Breast wins.

Students at Havre Middle and High schools have taken a recent interest in breast cancer, as shown by this year's appearance of bracelets that read "I ♥ Boobies." But administrators have doubts about student intent.

The bracelets are the product of a non-profit organization called the Keep A Breast Foundation. They have been drawing fire over the past few months from parents and school employees across the country, who feel that students' agreement with the bracelet's sentiment has little to do with cancer.

Now the bracelets have made their way to Havre and brought their trouble with them.

"We understand the cause," Havre Middle School Assistant Principal Jamie Courville said. "But kids at that age are not wearing it for that. They're wearing them for other reasons."

Courville said that the middle school administration has been asking students to take them off and has been collecting them. They view the bracelets as a dress code violation, as does the high school administration.

"It is a distraction to the educational process," Havre High School Assistant Principal Kipp Lewis said.

According to Lewis, the school has been asking students to turn the bracelets inside out to hide the distracting message. If students are serious about raising breast cancer awareness, Lewis said there are pink ribbons available in the office.

Either way awareness has been raised. So Keep A Breast wins.