SEXIST SCHOOL DRESS CODE DRAWS PARENTAL FIRE

Should this outfit be banned from SOMS? It is. Photo:Slate

An apparent increased attack on our school district's girls for alleged improper clothes is getting attention by many who consider it sexist and restrictive.

Last week, a group of parents sent a strongly-worded letter to Superintnedent Brian Osborne (below) critical of what they claim are sexist and unfair rules governing dress codes.

The letter states, among other things, opposition to a dress code rule that says: shorts or skirts are to be an appropriate length, to be appropriate they must reach to the fingertips of the extended arm.

The full dress code from the school district website is here:

DRESS CODE

The purpose of the school dress code is to establish standards for what is acceptable dress and grooming within the school setting with particular concern for health and safety.  The code is designed to encourage a climate conducive to teaching and learning.

§  Hats and other head coverings are not permitted unless for religious purposes or medical reasons

§  Pants and shorts must be worn at waist level.

§  Shorts or skirts are to be an appropriate length.  To be appropriate, they must reach to the fingertips of the extended arm.

§  Wear appropriate footwear.  Flip flops and shoes with no back are not permitted.

§  No clothing advertising alcoholic beverages, smoking  or illegal substances.

§  No clothing with culturally offensive messages.

§  No clothing with sexually suggestive pictures, sayings or slogans.

§   No attire or body markings that demonstrate or suggest gang-related symbols or colors.

§  No attire that exposes undergarments or anatomy.

§  IN ALL INSTANCES THE BUILDING ADMINISTRATION SHALL MAKE THE FINAL DETERMINATION ON THE APPROPRIATENESS OF DRESS AND GROOMING DURING SCHOOL HOURS AND/OR SCHOOL FUNCTIONS.

 
The parents' letter, below, cited instances at South Orange Middle School of students being reprimanded and even pulled from class for such clothing. It was sent last Wednesday and has yet to receive a formal response from Osborne, according to its authors.

School district officials have yet to respond to a request for comment.

Meanwhile, the issue drew national attention with a piece in Slate magazine by Jennifer Weiss-Wolf, a local parent who posted a photo of her daughter (above) in shorts that she says were deemed inappropriate.

Weiss-Wolf wrote:

 My daughter was punished for showing too much of her (gasp!) legs. Her school is normalizing the notion that girls’ bodies are distractions. That girls bear responsibility for boys’ reactions to their bodies. That boys have thoughts that are inherently impure and will lead to misconduct. The school’s chosen mode of punishment is disrupting girls’ educational experiences and quite possibly hindering their legal right to an education. The message and actions perpetuated by gender-biased implementation of school dress codes—the blaming and shaming of our girls—has got to stop.

It will be interesting to see if the district finds this as subjective and sexist as many parents do.