What Can Girls Wear?
It's prom season and it's soon to get warmer and that means....dress code issues. One huge issue: are leggings really pants (my young adult sons say no)? From the Huffington Post:
Younger girls often wear them as pants with little fuss. But as those same girls approach middle school, leggings have become a clothing accessory that's increasingly controversial — and seemingly, the favorite new target of the school dress code.
Haven Middle School in Evanston, just north of Chicago, took what turned out to be a contentious stand: If you wear leggings, you need to have a shirt or skirt over them that reaches at least down to your fingertips. In other words, girls need to cover their behinds.
I can't necessarily disagree with this. Sometimes leggings are made of different materials and, if they are not thick enough, can show underwear. As I used to tell the boys at Roosevelt who had baggy pants, I'm not interested in seeing your underwear.
But is a distraction factor or an expectation of what students should wear to school? (I always told prospective Roosevelt students on tours - you don't have to dress as if you are going to church or to see your grandmother but don't dress like you're going to a party.)
Clearly frustrated with the debate, Haven Middle School teachers posted this statement on the school's website to explain the reasoning behind the leggings policy: "We believe, through years of experience and professionalism, that it is essential to our school's climate that we set a standard of expectation and decorum."
They denied that they acted because leggings distract boys, as has been alleged by some parents.
"The notion that girls' clothing affects the way boys learn is not, and never will be, our message," the statement said.
At least one former teacher who's now an expert in education law advises schools to continue to focus instead on safety — and to ignore students' unusual dress, if it's not disruptive or disrespectful in some way. Beyond that, Nancy Hablutzel, a professor of education at the Chicago-Kent College of Law, says consistency is important.
CNN has a story on prom dresses which I think is a far trickier issue. It truly is a dress-up night and NOT a day at school. As well, girls have different bodies and some dresses might be more showy on one girl than another. But again, it's an evening out.
For Holly Manson, a mom of three teens in Oakland, Maine, one simple saying has made the difference between absolute dread during prom season and actually welcoming the rite of passage.
Younger girls often wear them as pants with little fuss. But as those same girls approach middle school, leggings have become a clothing accessory that's increasingly controversial — and seemingly, the favorite new target of the school dress code.
Haven Middle School in Evanston, just north of Chicago, took what turned out to be a contentious stand: If you wear leggings, you need to have a shirt or skirt over them that reaches at least down to your fingertips. In other words, girls need to cover their behinds.
I can't necessarily disagree with this. Sometimes leggings are made of different materials and, if they are not thick enough, can show underwear. As I used to tell the boys at Roosevelt who had baggy pants, I'm not interested in seeing your underwear.
But is a distraction factor or an expectation of what students should wear to school? (I always told prospective Roosevelt students on tours - you don't have to dress as if you are going to church or to see your grandmother but don't dress like you're going to a party.)
Clearly frustrated with the debate, Haven Middle School teachers posted this statement on the school's website to explain the reasoning behind the leggings policy: "We believe, through years of experience and professionalism, that it is essential to our school's climate that we set a standard of expectation and decorum."
They denied that they acted because leggings distract boys, as has been alleged by some parents.
"The notion that girls' clothing affects the way boys learn is not, and never will be, our message," the statement said.
At least one former teacher who's now an expert in education law advises schools to continue to focus instead on safety — and to ignore students' unusual dress, if it's not disruptive or disrespectful in some way. Beyond that, Nancy Hablutzel, a professor of education at the Chicago-Kent College of Law, says consistency is important.
CNN has a story on prom dresses which I think is a far trickier issue. It truly is a dress-up night and NOT a day at school. As well, girls have different bodies and some dresses might be more showy on one girl than another. But again, it's an evening out.
For Holly Manson, a mom of three teens in Oakland, Maine, one simple saying has made the difference between absolute dread during prom season and actually welcoming the rite of passage.
"'I always told my girls
to 'dress classy not trashy' and so when they make their clothing
choices, they tend to go towards the classy stuff," said Manson, who
responded to a request for comment on CNN's Facebook page.
One school sent home a notice, complete with acceptable and unacceptable dresses. It is kind of funny because the "good" dresses are mostly flouncy while the "bad" dresses are either very tight or tight and shiny.
Here's what Seventeen magazine is suggesting; looks good to me.
Comments
These rules disproportionately target girls. I don't like the messages they send to girls about their bodies and about who gets to make decisions about their bodies.
--ams
I do wonder sometimes what exactly students are trying to say with the clothing they choose: the "sex worker chic" leaves me cold. But maybe I'm just an objectifying old fogey.
I remember getting sent home for wearing pants to school in the snow. Yeah, I'm old.
Some of the rules can bite me. My daughter looks great in her manga leggings.
I like your attitude.
Momma
She wants a dress code for parents.
I'd never let my daughter wear that to school. Kids learn the hard way that people will judge them by their behavior and appearance. If it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck, it's a duck.
-Lets be practical
A young women should never show up at school with cleavage (or any navel) exposed and should always CYA regardless of their size and school dress codes.
Anyway I agree with all of the above that teachers shouldn't say anything, and the decisions should be left to kids & parents about what to wear, as long as there's no safety issue. My kids are still little, but I hope they will not ever have a teacher make them feel bad for the way they look or what they wear. That is much worse than when a fellow student does it, which is sure to happen- kids are pretty cruel, but you expect the cruelty from a kid.
Put simply: if a boy is distracted by what a girl wears, it's the boy's fault, not the girl's. He needs to fix it, not her.
"I realize the schools want a "paper trail" so that they can condemn students on a case by case basis and my daughter understands that as well." -- Let's be practical
This is a real problem. The system is designed for selective enforcement, subject to the biases of the adults in the building. It also encourages kids to see how far they can push. Bad stuff all around.
So when a male students wears their pants around their knees it is the girls fault if she is distracted (or disgusted) by this dress style?
And of course, the right dress code will ensure that teenagers are never distracted by the opposite sex. Cover kids enough, and their ankles will distract each other. Learning how to get things done despite life's distractions is a necessary skill.
And I wasn't offended by the sex worker comment, just thought it was a strange leap.
Momma
What would be wrong is if others were to impose their standard and say "What's wrong with you? Who wears leotards and long sleeves to swim? You don't need your own private swim time!"
I agree with Josh. The only way to stop the "rape culture" on campus is to place the responsibility of control on the "distracted" males. And I respect Po3's right to dress her own children as she sees fit.
I think a school is a WORKplace, the students' job is to learn there (not no be distracted by really provocative pieces of clothes) and also, you have to think about the teachers, administrators, adults, who try to work in this environment. Just think about the fully developed middle and high school girls and boys, they do mean distraction to the classmates and the young adults in the community.
Also, I firmly believe to prevent any incident by not provoking it.
I hear as most of you are saying: "but the USA is a free country so anyone can dress, act, talk how do they want". I think in order for our students to learn how to behave responsible (free?) as they grow up they have to learn the limits first, and the dress code in school could be a step to get there (as part of the learning culture). This still means that the students could dress freely how they want when not in school.
Ps.: I had a similar feeling driving on Aurora from IHS/BHS a couple of times before, as someone earlier...
-Yes for DS (dress code)
I know where you're coming from. I was born in a patrician Latin American family. Never been one of the free swing 70's hippie chicks (more 70's nerds). Upbringing is key and must done by parents. If the school has an issue they should only raise with the parent, and if there is no satisfactory response, have an equitable non-shaming way to bring things in line.
A school is a workplace for adults. They choose their workplace and are compensated for the work they do there. An adult who chooses to work in a middle school or high school environment goes into it knowing that they'll be working with teenagers. If they're unhappy there, they've chosen the wrong workplace.
For students, a school is the place they receive services the state is mandated to provide to them. They are required by law to attend school. They do the work of learning there, but it's not their workplace.
What do you mean when you write I firmly believe to prevent any incident by not provoking it? What kind of incidents can children avoid by wearing the proper clothing?
Teaching my children how to dress and behave in various environments is my responsibility - one I'm not willing to pass on to the school district.
I recall my younger son, when he was in high school, saying that when the weather gets nice the girls tend to not cover up. I asked him if that was a bad thing and he said,"Not for me right now but my daughter won't ever dress that way. Too distracting."
Acting in sexist or aggressive ways based on how someone is dress is wrong. But noticing a girl's body is not a crime.
Should schools be involved? As others have mentioned, there are safety issues so the school has the right to curtail some clothing choices for that issue.
Should schools be involved? As others have mentioned, there are safety issues so the school has the right to curtail some clothing choices for that issue.
Should schools be involved? As others have mentioned, there are safety issues so the school has the right to curtail some clothing choices for that issue.
That's the bottom line. End of story.
-- get real
Mirmac, you are right, I was born in another country the same way as many of our fellow citizens (not in South America though). But I don't think this fact has anything to do with the question we are discussing here.
Yes, parents should educate their children about the clothing their should/could wear in school. But there are many parents who are failing this job (which is quite obvious if you go to any MS or HS and just look around). In this case I think that a dress code that is written in the school policy book and enforced on a regular basis, could help the community in a positive (and not a shameful) way. I think that what we have in SPS is the worst case scenario: we do have written policies but no one enforces them on a regular basis (and this sends a wrong message to our students for sure).
Lynn: Answering your question: "What kind of incidents can children avoid by wearing the proper clothing?"
Any kind of incidents, starting with the every day bullying that is going on in our schools. And I don't think a HS student should be called as a "child" when if they are 17, they could be charged as adults for their actions.
- Yes for DS
We are talking about middle school and high school students - who range in age from 11 to 18 years old. I'd consider most of them to be children. If you're looking for a legal definition, I believe in Washington parents can be held liable for damages caused by their children under the age of 18.
These are public schools, and they exist to fulfill the state's responsibilities to our children. While I expect my children to treat everyone with respect, I don't think we should cede more authority to the schools than is strictly necessary. This is one area where I think schools are pushing those boundaries.
These yoga pants are distracting to many males but soon they will be mundane and something else will come along. Maybe long dresses. That would shock for awhile.
D
This creates an instant desire for these styles from consumers, and dress designers respond in both the fashion and wedding worlds by taking their inspiration from the hottest new trends that consumers are looking to purchase. Additionally, strapless styles in particular are really popular because they are flattering for a wide range of body types, and can be paired with a variety of different types of skirts. Strapless dresses can be paired with a full ballgown skirt, an elegant column skirt, and also a fit and flare mermaid skirt - so you see a lot of dresses designed with a strapless top for both prom and wedding wear.
Hope this helps!