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| STUDENTS PROTEST DRESS COD |
I have seen several stories about the girls at
Bingham High School being denied entrance to the Homecoming Dance last weekend. The girls' attire was deemed as inappropriate according to school dress code. As a result, on Monday, students walked out of class in protest to the school's strict enforcement.
I also heard about this on the radio morning shows, and on Fox 13. This article was taken from everybody's favorite family online news source, KSL. It was reported that the girls felt that the dress standards were too strict and not equally enforced. The dress code required that the dresses cover the chest and
back at the armpit, and the hemlines could not be
higher than mid-thigh when seated.
When girls attempted to enter the dance, they were stopped, evaluated for modesty and dress code conformity, and then either admitted to the dance, or told to go home to change. If they were able to meet the standards they were welcome to come back to the dance. The administration is reporting that before the dance they had an assembly about the future enforcement of dress code for the dance, sent home emails, and even passed out fliers. An interesting note is that the article included a plug for a business that sells inserts for dresses, which makes them modest enough for dance dress standards.
So the question is, if everyone knows about the rules and chooses not to follow them, then who is responsible for the girls not being allowed entrance to the dance? I think that because the school explicitly informed the students and parents about the future dress code enforcement that it was the responsibility of the parents and students to adhere to the expectations. I think that because parents are allowing their girls to wear clothes that they know are not accepted by the school's dress code, that they are antagonizing the situation. The rules apply to everyone and the mindset that "the rules do not apply to me" is part of the problem with the entitled attitude that some youth have today.
This article did not seem entirely cogent. It was fallacious due to the fact that both sides of the issue weren't thoroughly discussed. It leaned more towards the school and the ample heads up they provided students and parents. Furthermore, it also discussed an option that the students had available to them to allow them entry into the dance by purchasing modesty inserts for their choice of clothing. It seemed one-sided.
I find your post intriguing and I agree with your comments. If students and parents do not like the rules there are channels established by school districts for generating change. It is sad that these students missed a dance rather than abiding by the school guidelines and following the protocols of change.
ReplyDeleteAs I was watching this story play out on the news I also had the same thoughts as you. These girls knew the rules they should abide by them. Then the news started showing some of the dresses the girls were wearing when they got sent home. Some the dresses were not very modest, but I noticed that they still met dress code requirements. Did it say no strapless, sleeveless, spaghetti straps, or halter top dresses in the school dance dress code? When they say chest must be covered does that mean no cleavage or that the chest must be fully covered? How high up on the chest must be covered? I would bet that with the dresses you have pictured above, when the girls are seated it would go right to mid-thigh. The school should make their dress code more detailed. Did they hold up dresses during the assembly and say this style of dress can be worn, but this one can't. I agree the girls were pushing the limits of the school's dress code, but if the school doesn't want to have the conflict, they should not leave any room for the limits to be pushed. They should flat out say dresses must be to the knee (if seated they won't go past mid thigh), and dresses can not be spaghetti strap, halter top, sleeveless/strapless, and back must be covered up to the arm pit. Better yet, they could just say back must be covered completely, then it doesn't leave any room for argument. Then again, they also wouldn't have to worry about a dance because students would not want to show up looking like they were going to their grandmothers' funeral.
ReplyDelete@Debbie, I do think that parents are the key in this situation. If they knew the dress code then they shouldn't waste money on something their daughter couldn't wear. @Amber, I completely agree with you. And I may not have all the information about how explicitly the dress code was detailed. But, you make an excellent point that teenagers love to look cute, and dressing like someones grandma doesn't sound too attractive.
ReplyDeleteIt's my opinion that, as well intended as the rules may have been, the school's administration along parents and pundits alike have missed a greater point here. I've written about this here:
ReplyDeletehttp://imnosaint.wordpress.com/2014/05/30/rape-culture/
@Young, I am trying to understand your position. Do you believe that because the school is requiring the girls to adhere to the dress code, that they are encourage the notion of a rape culture?
ReplyDeleteI failed to mention that I thought this article was fallacious in nature because it didn't thoroughly cover the standard expected or show exactly what the school did to describe the requirement of dress to enter the dance.
ReplyDelete