Williams: Henrico schools’ new dress code is overkill
Asign posted outside a local nightclub lists a ban on plain T-shirts, do-rags and sagging pants and requires collard shirts.
It's doubtful the establishment is asking its customers to wear green leafy vegetables. But this is just one example of the occasional absurdity surrounding dress-code enforcement.
Which brings us to the Henrico County School Board's new countywide school dress code.
After reading the sundry restrictions in the new code, I wondered what was wrong with the old one. The previous broad restrictions on revealing clothing, exposed undergarments, indoor headgear (except for religious purposes) and apparel with inappropriate messages seemed perfectly adequate. Perhaps there was a clothes-related crisis we weren't made aware of.
What the board has come up with is a policy so persnickety that it makes you wonder why the system doesn't simply resort to school uniforms.
Hey, I'm not pushing the idea. I'm still emotionally scarred from the trauma of having to wear a plaid tie as part of my parochial-school youth. But there comes a time when even the most well-intended rules become overkill.
The new policy lists every conceivable covering of the head -- some downright synonymous. "Do-rags, bandanas, head scarves . . . ." OK. We get the point. You don't like'em, don't want'em.
"Excessively tight or skimpy clothing" leaves plenty of room for interpretation. Rules monitoring the width of dress straps (not less than 2 inches wide at the shoulder) and dress, skirt or athletic-shorts lengths (no more than 4 inches above the knee) would seem to require teachers and administrators to carry rulers or tape measures.
Who are we kidding here? These youngsters aren't stupid. They see their parents wearing jeans to work on Fridays and observe what passes for appropriate church wear on the Sabbath. In our increasingly casual environment, you're trying to put the hammer down? Good luck with that.
Look guys, I feel your pain. The kids, in some cases, have gotten out of control.
It's sad that you feel the need to state that swimwear and sleepwear are not appropriate attire for school. But when a dress code starts barring large combs, brushes and curlers anywhere on school grounds, it seems a bit over the top. Unless there has been an outbreak of boar-bristle attacks, or curler fights in the cafeteria, this strikes a blow only against good grooming.
If the ban on coats indoors was necessitated by hidden firearms, that's a tragic sign of the times. Fortunately, there was no need for that when I attended a Henrico school (Hermitage) whose thermostat always seemed set at an ideal temperature for chilling beer.
Taken as a whole, the plethora of rules seems excessive and cumbersome. Do you really want a dress code so detailed that your faculty and staff must patrol the halls like fashion police in search of a collar? And how do the more random rules enhance the quality of education in Henrico County?
At a time when educators should be cultivating sound decision-making and judgment among adolescents, these rules treat them like children and breed rebellion.
We all want students to dress for success, but authoritarianism is a poor teaching tool. Education should be instilled by degree, not decree.
Contact Michael Paul Williams at (804) 649-6815 or
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Reader Reactions
Michael…Michael…Michael…I think you protest too much. Or perhaps you miss the broad intent vs. being captured by the details. In a society where personal rights usually forgets the other part of the line (aka “responisbility”), the problem with “no rules” is total disorder becasue soem people have no common sense whatsoever. NOW I do agree that having a fixed uniform or a very strict dress code is basically silly, clothing does not show intellectural smarts or work ability, but some level of standards and overall good taste is needed. For example to ban headgear (except for religious reasons) in the boardscope gets rids of hats and caps as well as whatever else (i.e. Do-rags, bandanas, head scarves which may smack as cultural/racial bias). Do I really think teachers will use a ruler and measure shorts, no, but I do think its pretty clear when shorts are “too short” and then are not worn for comfort but to get the boys “interested”. And for the records, grownups are not much betetr at following rules either. In work settings where I was employee in Richmond and Hampton Roads where a “casual dress code” is allowed, volators were send home to change. Who were these voliators? Grown women, wearing see through or sexually suggestive clothing or in some casts very little clothing which may be grat for a club, but is totally inappropriate in a professional work setting or dealing with clients. My own experience tells me some rules are needed, but the rule of common sence also falls under the enforcement of said rules.
Seems like an awful distraction from education. Let the students wear what they will, our schools are not the place to enforce some school administrator’s ideal of culture. As long as student dress doesn’t create a dangerous or inappropriate setting, why bother to create an intricate list of standards.
I’m not surprised, I attended a high school in the West End that was rife with problems despite its middle to upper class reputation. While the assistant principal at Godwin High School was busy censoring the production of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, students were busily selling drugs in the lavatory, and one of our most decorated Chemistry instructors was engaging in some illicit chemistry experiments with a student on his off hours.
My point is that school administrators back in the early 90s always seemed particularly focused on silly little things like dress code standards, and almost completely oblivious to the real challenges and issues that were facing students. Luckily there were teachers focused on what matters, the students, and you could tell these hard working students regarded the administration with the same trepidation as the students.
Most students will go on to work at companies that have dress codes (or even uniforms). It is not too early to learn what is considered appropriate wear for school (which in my opinion, their “job” at that age). As another poster mentioned.. I doubt they will be walking around with rulers.. but if there is a question whether something is allowed.. they can always “go to the tape.“ We all know that pajama’s really aren’t acceptable daytime attire.. if their parents haven’t taught them that.. maybe the school can give them a clue..so they can grow up and be employable. I know that you can’t judge a book by it’s cover, but in the “real” world, you are judged to a certain extent by your appearance and your ability to present yourself in an appropriate manner for the occasion.
I for one do not think that the new rules are overkill. In fact, I think that it is about time. I agree that all rules may not be enforced at all times, but this school board is trying to take a stand that enough is enough and I applaud them for it.
MPW this is a good topic, considering how controversial such rules are. But I think when localities make such rules, they’re doing so from a choice of (a.) do something or (b.) do absolutely nothing. I don’t think the purpose is to have Nazi-like enforcement patrols in the hallways looking for clothing violations.
Probably they feel that at least POSTING the rule will make some kids uncomfortable wearing such stuff, as in ‘We really don’t want you to wear that clothing here.‘ (Not so much to waste time & money sending patrol squads to comb the hallways!) Its more like sending a subtle message. Or not-so-subtle one. If it gets 33% results then I guess they feel it accomplished something.
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