Dress Codes

My daughter's middle school is considering a more restrictive dress code.  They sent home what they were calling a "survey" for parents to complete.  It was really just two pages of them describing why they want the dress code, and then a tiny portion where parents can check whether or not they are in support of the code.

As it is, the school is strict about what students wear.  It's a public school, but they are not permitted to wear any frays or patches in their jeans, no hoodies...simply because the principal doesn't like the image it presents.

The new dress code would restrict students to wearing only polo style shirts in navy, light blue, gray or white (drab!); solid color pants or skirts (to the knee!); and solid color socks in one of the four colors listed for the shirts.  Gross!

Here's the rationale that they gave:

• They want to bring back a more formal standard to the practice of attending school.
• They want to "foster the concept" of a team similar to industries and factories!
• They believe students will be less focused on making fashion statements.
• They believe that they will "have a better chance of dealing with issues like sagging pants, shorts that are too short..."

Unbelievable.  I have no complaints about the first item, but I certainly don't want the educational environment for my child to be preparing her for assembly line work!  There's nothing wrong with that type of work, but let's leave room for other options as well.  Teaching children how to make good decisions is necessary if they are going to be good critical thinkers as adults.  I personally think that this code is simply a form of social control, and that it sends a message to these youth that they are not capable of making good decisions; therefore, the adults must make the decisions for them.

I don't see what the problem is with letting a young teen make a fashion statement.  Youth are going to express themeselves, and I would prefer that it be with something as benign as their clothing.  I don't think that wearing brightly colored striped socks is going to create a threat to anyone's safety.  Children need to be given the opportunity to express themselves.  If the school is wanting a level playing field, then they should have uniforms.  This current policy will not stop inequality and competition, as some children will have expensive polos and others will not.

And, as for the last item.  Well, those are already violations of the current dress code.  If they can't enforce that one, what makes them think they will be able to enforce this new one?  It's terrible logic.  When someone violates the policy, the school just contacts a parent to bring in an acceptable item to wear.  In my opinion, they are too easy on the child.  Don't punish the parent, send the child home for the day telling him or her simply that they can return when they are capable of making better decisions about their attire.  This puts the responsibility back onto the child.

So, since I am not one to keep my opinions to myself, I wrote a letter in response to the "survey" and attached it with my little response showing I am NOT in support of the proposed dress code.  I've been around for awhile, so I am savvy enough to know that my letter will probably end up in the principal's trash can.  Therefore, I also submitted it to the "Letters to the Editor" of the local paper as well.  Hopefully, other parents who also do not want to stifle their children's creativity and freedom of self-expression will read the letter and be motivated to speak up as well.

If not, my daughter has already asked if I would home school her for two years until high school.  NOT!  I said, no way to that one.  She will still have to go to that school, and she would also have to start making sure that her socks match.