The town next to our just instituted what is an amazing new dress code. https://www.eths.k12.il.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=1381
It specifically ALLOWS:
*leggings
*spagehtti straps
*hats
*visible waistbands on underwear and bra straps
And it says that students ( and staff) are responsible for managing their own " distractions".
Wow! I’m in favor. But based on comments in newspaper many ( who don’t live in the town ) are not.
I don’t dress like that for work, and my kid’s job is to go to school, so she doesn’t dress like that either. But I don’t really care what other kids wear.
I think there is a lot to admire in the dress code and its stated goals, but I also think that there is such a thing as dress appropriate for certain situations.
Good. Absolutely the model that all schools should follow.
Personally, I don’t think there’s anything inappropriate about wearing spaghetti straps to school.
Students can practice self-control. It’s good training for life.
I agree with @Consolation
also, is it polite to wear hats inside now?
Looks like the dress code intends to make off-limits what is commonly seen as “major” types of inappropriate dress (e.g. showing more underwear than waistband, covering one’s face or ears (other than religious observance), accessories that could be weapons) but not take the responsibility for more “minor” or less agreed upon issues (length of skirt/dress/shorts, hats, sleeveless shirts, etc.).
There could still be issues and controversies dealing with the content-based restrictions:
For example, does a T-shirt that references “beating” or “crushing” a rival sports team come under the first prohibited category in the above list? Does a T-shirt with a Confederate States flag on it come under the third or fourth prohibited category in the above list?
“also, is it polite to wear hats inside now”
In some religions it’s not just polite, it’s required. Recognizing that " impolite. to wear hats indoors" is a vestige of one specific cultural tradition that many do not follow makes this policy a good one.
Just a guess, but I bet very few of the students wearing hats indoors are doing so for religious reasons. I’m puzzled by the American obsession over what to wear to school but I acknowledge it exists and is part of the general attitude toward education. Many other countries with very successful educational systems don’t have this focus and in fact wear school uniforms without issues.
I just realized the code specifically allows pajamas to be worn to school.
Basically the school says “wear what you want as long as it’s not offensive, but be ready to be a lesson in what not to wear”
“Just a guess, but I bet very few of the students wearing hats indoors are doing so for religious reasons”
It’s not that they are wearing them for religious reasons. It’s that the idea that there is something rude about wearing a hat indoors is based on a culture that is not shared by all. If your religious culture is that (indoor or outdoor) hats are a sign of respect, even if you don’t observe that part of the religion the idea that wearing one is rude would be foreign.
Basically the school says "wear what you want as long as it’s not offensive, but be ready to be a lesson in what not to wear
The school also tells staff that this " lesson" must be respectful and not made in public.
I like it. I wish my kids school adopted it.
And when my kids get paid to be there, I will consider school to be their job.
I like this. I think it’s furthering the idea that it’s not girls’ responsibility to police boys’ ability to pay attention.
I prefer the Aussie or British approach. The least interesting thing about my family is their clothing. Functional, appropriate and pulled together, they express themselves other ways.
The only folks IME who get their undies twisted about this very issue are folks from the older set of boomers and older generationed folks, some ex-military, and/or some socially/religiously conservative southerners/midwesterners.
Last time this came up was at my Catholic elementary school where it was not only prohibited on account of politeness, but also because it wasn’t part of the school uniform.
However, there was an exception for students who were wearing hats to cover up scars from injuries, surgery, etc. Ironically, one older teacher from another class who tried giving one such student who was covered under such an exception ended up getting so loudly read the riot act by our principal that students whose classrooms happened to be on the same floor were able to hear.
I never heard hats were against dress code because of politeness/respect–I thought it was that certain hats are associated with gangs, and that things (like weapons or drugs )could be concealed under a hat.
My daughter had a friend in high school who couldn’t wear his antique pocket watch to school because it violated the dress code that forbid chains!
This rule’s common in many traditionalist religious institutions/households and in Anglo-Saxon/European cultures going back to the Medieval era.
One supposed origin for this tradition was that it originated from a time hats were worn partially to shield the owner from incoming garbage/sewage being tossed out from the upper stories of castles/buildings onto the streets below. A common and yes, unsanitary practice back in that time.
Since the hats were likely covered in muck from the tossed garbage/sewage…especially if one was in a more densely populated area…continuing to wear one’s hat indoors would be like wearing muck ridden footwear indoors.*
Interesting hat discussion, thanks!
I wasn’t aware any religions wore hats. I know some wear headgear, but not hats.
I personally am a big fan of winter hats, but don’t own any baseball caps.
sounds like a good dress code