How we have fallen. when I was in tnird grade, 1969 or so, we had a huge debate whether to allow girls to wear pants to school. it was shocking. We won. Open the door..and all winds blow in.
I'm now a teacher...a parent of one of my students stopped me in the hallway and told me she wished more people dressed the way I do. (very conservatively)
Image really does matter in public schools.
My very staid mother started a movement to allow girls to wear slacks to school at about the same time. The dress code allowed only skirts or dresses for girls even when the temperature was below zero with a stiff wind. Waiting at the bus stop was painful.