Posted on 09/20/2003 12:09:58 PM PDT by chance33_98
Dress code in PUSD gets mixed reviews
Porterville, California
By Henry Winckel, The Porterville Recorder
When 13-year-old Jerica Fagan shops for clothes to wear to school, she'll try on a shirt, then raise both arms over her head.
"That's to see if the shirt goes past my midriff," she said. "If it does, I don't buy it and I get a bigger one."
Jerica wants to make sure her shirts meet dress code standards at Alta Vista Elementary School. Bare midriffs are not allowed.
And that's a good thing, Jerica said.
"I think it's good to have a dress code because that way people don't go to school almost naked," she said. "Nobody would want to see a kid go almost naked."
Dale Carlton, principal of Vine Street Community School, cites safety as the No. 1 reason school dress codes are necessary.
"Look at all the deaths and shootings that are related to gangs and gang colors," Carlton said. "It's paramount that we not allow gang colors and symbols in the schools."
Two local gangs, Norteños and Sureños, claim red and blue respectively as their colors. Students with known gang affiliations are prohibited from wearing those colors. This rule does not apply to the general student population.
Allowing gang members to wear their colors or other gang identifiers would create an atmosphere of intimidation and violence, Carlton said.
And with the potential for violence on the increase, school staff have to be more vigilant.
"Years ago we were disciplining kids for chewing gum," said Gary Mekeel, superintendent of the Burton Elementary School District. "Now we're expelling them for firearms."
School administrators say a student dress code is important for a variety of other reasons:
œ It reinforces the fact that school is a place for learning.
œ It reduces distractions that could interfere with another student's learning.
œ It sets a standard of uniformity.
œ It provides structure.
œ It prepares students for society, as most jobs have dress codes.
Not everyone agrees.
"Parents need to make the decision, not the school," said Barbara Hayes, mother of a 16-year-old junior at Monache High School.
Hayes said her daughter, Jackie Yancy, is tall. It's difficult to find shirts that cover her entire midriff, she said.
Yancy has been sent home repeatedly to change into larger shirts. She and other students believe the rules are not equitably enforced.
"They seem to focus just on shirts," Yancy said. "Girls who wear ridiculously short skirts don't get sent home."
Megan Acosta, a 17-year-old senior, said she supports the dress code; however she agreed that shirts receive more scrutiny than skirts.
"Some of the girls' skirts are really, really short, but no one really ever gets sent home for that," she said. "It's just for shirts."
Despite the focus on shirts, a number of female Monache students could be seen walking about the campus this week wearing shirts that showed their midriffs. Most would automatically tug at the bottom of their shirt as they passed by an adult.
Laura Rodriguez, 16, was among them. She said she's never been sent home.
"This is appropriate to me. I don't think it's distracting," she said, pointing to her shirt. "Some girls wear clothes that are so tight, you can see every curve they have. That's distracting."
With guys, tight isn't an issue. Baggy is what's in.
The Porterville Unified School District dress code says: "Pants must be worn with the top around the wearer's waist (NO SAGGING PANTS.)"
Guys get around the rule by covering their sagging pants with shirts that are extra long.
"Some of the guys have pants down to their cheeks," said 17-year-old Annie Phavong.
To prove it, one of the girls in Phavong's group pulled up the shirt of a boy standing next to her, exposing about three inches of bright red underpants.
Girls on both sides of the dress code issue agreed on two things: guys don't get hassled, and popular kids get a free pass.
"The really popular kids, they're the ones that wear the really tight shirts and skirts that show a lot of skin," said 16-year-old Pamela Kiner.
Administrators fault the fashion industry.
"Unfortunately, that's what's being sold in the stores," said Veryl Ann Duncan, assistant principal at Granite Hills High School. "If the stores weren't selling things that were inappropriate, we wouldn't have the problem."
Acosta said this was a particularly difficult year to shop for school clothes. Everything either showed cleavage or was really short and tight, she said.
Mekeel said he had trouble shopping for his 12-year-old daughter.
"It's hard to find clothes that, when you raise your arms, you're not showing midriff," he said. "We had to spend some time looking in stores to find clothes that matched our policy."
Mekeel acknowledged it's becoming more difficult to write school dress code policies in indelible ink.
Fashion trends change, as do community standards.
"I know that the clothes we are allowing kids to wear today would have been an infraction 10 years ago," he said.
Mekeel believes a school district has to be willing to argue with the community about some of its standards.
Hayes disagrees.
"My opinion is they need to worry more about educating the kids, and less about what they look like," she said. "It's my child and my responsibility."
Dress and Grooming code for the Porterville Unified School District
1. Students must dress safely. For example, shoes must be worn at all times at school or during school activities (no thongs).
2. Students must dress appropriately for educational activities in which they will participate so as to not endanger their health, safety or welfare.
3. Clothing, tattoos and jewelry will be free of writing, pictures or any other insignia that are crude, vulgar, profane, obscene, libelous or sexually suggestive. Clothing or jewelry that advocate racial, ethnic or religious prejudice, unlawful acts, or the use of tobacco, drugs or alcohol is prohibited.
4. Dark glasses will not be worn in classrooms or offices unless a documented, health-related problem exists.
5. Clothes will be clean so as not to promote unhealthy or unsanitary conditions. Clothes must be sufficient to conceal undergarments at all times. Underwear-type sleeveless shirts, see-through, fishnet fabrics, tube tops, halter tops or other attire that expose the body in a sexually suggestive manner, and bare midriffs are not acceptable.
6. Bandannas and hairnets are not allowed. At K-8 campuses, hats and caps will not be worn unless a documented, health related problem exists.
7. Clothing will be worn as its design was traditionally intended.
* Pants must be worn with the top around the wearer's waist (NO SAGGING PANTS). Overall straps must be fastened at all times.
8. Earrings and other body piercing items will be worn in ears only.
9. Hair will be clean and neatly groomed. Haircuts or hairstyles that draw undue attention to the wearer or detract from the educational process are not acceptable.
10. Attire that may be used as a weapon may not be worn (e.g., steel-toed boots, chains, items with spikes or studs, etc.)
11. Gang-related apparel or paraphernalia, including symbols, emblems, insignias, or other gang identifiers, may not be worn or displayed. This rule prohibits the presence of any apparel, jewelry, accessory, notebook, or other attribute that denotes membership in or affiliation with gangs. In case of doubt as to whether an item is gang related, the principal or designee will consult with local law enforcement or other school personnel with expertise in gangs.
* An item confiscated may be turned over to the local law enforcement agencies for appropriate action. Confiscated items will not be returned to the student. Parents may request return of items from the appropriate agency.
12. Any apparel, hairstyle, cosmetics, accessory, or jewelry, even if not specifically mentioned above, that creates a safety or health concern, draws undue attention to the wearer, or tends to detract from the education process, is prohibited.
Consequences:
1. The first infraction will result in a verbal warning. The student will be asked to immediately correct the dress code violation. The student will remain in the office until the inappropriate dress is corrected.
* A student may change into acceptable clothing that is already at school, or call a parent to bring appropriate clothing.
2. If a student refuses to immediately correct the dress code violation, the student will be in defiance of school authorities. A parent will be notified and a parent conference held. The parent and student will review the dress code regulations with an administrator. In-school suspension and/or Saturday school may be assigned for defiance.
3. A second failure to comply with the dress code will result in additional parent conferences and one-to-five days' suspension.
4. Continued defiance of school authority or violation, which threaten a safe and secure educational environment, may result in suspension or possible recommendation for expulsion or alternative placement.
Oh, puhleeze! If she's THAT tall, she should fit into adult women's clothing, and would have no problem with the length. Wonder how Mom dresses?
When I was in high school, we had to kneel down on the floor and if our skirts did not touch the floor, we were sent to the Home Ec sideroom to sew crepe paper on the hem until it did. LOL
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