The hidden curriculum in schools is frequently reflected in clothing worn by students. Schools grapple with the implications of dress codes as they relate to the appropriateness of the items students wear and, in this study in particular, to the messages placed upon tee shirts. Legal precedent indicates that schools have the right to eliminate inappropriate clothing that impedes the educational mission of the school but simultaneously schools are obliged to respect appropriate free expression. This study sought to provide information useful to educators attempting to make this decision.