A Hole In The Dress Code
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September 6, 2009 • Kayleigh Loeffler
Filed under Top Stories, View from the Crew
With the arrival of yet another school year and the ease of summer gone, students find themselves struggling to get back into the routine of school. Homework, teachers, and the endless lunch lines in the cafeteria can be enough to drive most kids crazy. Perhaps one of the biggest problems that students face with the return of the school year relates to the dress code. Having spent most of their summer being able to wear anything that they want, many people find it difficult to put away their tank tops and baseball hats and make way for skirts and polo shirts. While it’s important that the dress code be followed, there is one aspect of it that tends to be taken far too seriously: jeans.
As a brand new high school, it’s important that Allatoona presents itself as well-organized and respectable. The administrators and staff work hard to keep the school clean and running smoothly, so naturally it’s understandable that they want to make sure the student body not only acts appropriately, but dresses appropriately as well. However, the idea that jeans with holes in them could be considered “inappropriate” for school clashes with the common styles of today and presents a big problem when it comes to finding a pair that fits the dress code requirements. Most stores nowadays create jeans that have a more run-down style, and it’s difficult to find a pair that doesn’t have holes in them. Many students’ wardrobes consist almost entirely of jeans that have holes, and do not have the economic means to go out and purchase new ones.
In addition, the punishment for wearing such jeans is quite severe. There is no need to send someone to ISS without giving him or her the option of having a parent bring him or her a new pair of pants, even if they are a repeated offender. There is simply no need. ISS serves as a punishment for much more series offenses, and should not be filled with students that have merely come to school with a hole in their jeans. This punishment is not fair, especially when the student was unaware that the slight hole would be a problem. Instead, repeated offenders could be given something to wear over their clothes, such as a lab coat. If the hole is too far down the leg, duct tape could be placed over it.
While the dress code is an important part of keeping a school presentable, the aspect of holes in jeans is one not worth fussing about. For many students, the kinds of jeans they wear are expressions of who they are, and it isn’t fair to punish them because they are deemed “inappropriate” or “sloppy.”
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As a parent of a JR, I totally agree with this article. Bravo!
I find it totally ridiculous that a tear in pants that isn’t in an in appropriate area is a big deal. I also believe that ISS is way to severe a punishment. I agree that students should not be allowed to wear shirts with offensive writing on it, shirts that are too low cut, or too high in the mid drift area and also pants that are too low whether it be on the boys or the girls. It is the new trend to have small tears. Now, of course you shouldn’t have to look at body parts. I think that some times dress codes go a bit too far. I mean I can even wear whatever I want to my church.
Good luck with this issue!
This is so true. The holes in the jeans rule is stupid. Even if they are trying to maintain a certain image, a tiny fray will not hurt anybody. If they want to take the dress code to that extent, they should have gone to a private school. Its ridiculous.
There should be regulations on things like inappropriate writing, or short, short skirts and shorts. But as far as small holes or a little fray in jeans I believe they should be allowed. And ISS is way too strict of a punishment. ISS should be the last resort and kids who have a little fray in their jeans should not be grouped with kids that have commited serious offenses. My daughter is quite short and it is very hard to find jeans that fit her lengthwise, and her jeans have some fray on the bottom where they drag the ground. I do not feel that I should have to pay for every pair of my daughters jeans to be tailored so they will not fray. I also have a problem with the sweat pants not being allowed. My daughter has some very cute high end “sweat” pants that I think would be perfectly fine for school. (As the other lady said, they are perfectly fine for church!) There is a big difference between ratty ol’ sweat clothes and cute pants that just happen to be made out of the same material as sweat pants. One last thing that I really have a problem with. What happens when a child goes to school in something that has a hole or two or they have to wear sweats because that is all they have. Surely these students are not made to go to ISS and made to feel embarrassed because these are the only clothes they can afford. I feel that the dress code needs to be revised and that we remember that these are kids, and as kids they need to feel comfortable and confident in their clothes and therefore they will be more comfortable and confident at school.