Well, I disagree, given the history (which was talked about at length on MDC) that this had nothing to do with Muslims and hijab. The excuse they have been using has been the coorelation of head wear and gang related violance. However, this child was expelled for simply wearing the hijab and because of outside pressure (the ACLU, etc.) she has been reinstated to school...not becuase I really believe the school board had a change of heart. It would not look very good for the school board to say, "yes, we discriminated against this child because she is Muslim, but now we have changed our minds"
: They need a "plausible" excuse, abeit one based on fear and loathing of a percieved threat (which in my opinion is likely based on race, but that is an entirely different discussion).
And I think we give the children of this country too little credit, which is exemplified in my mind by the idea that high school students will automatically try and pull a fast one, and therefore the actins of the school board are justified. I think this ruling simply gives the school board the right to say what is "real" religious expression is, and have the freedom to excuse whom they choose.
I have issues with this desicion on several different level, but hopefully this ruling is a small victory on which other victories can be won.