Controversy over high school dress code for parents

Why are people insisting that this woman purposely broke the rules (the rules don’t apply to me, etc.) when it’s been stated by one of her harshest critics on this thread that this woman had never before interfaced with this school until that morning? If this was her first interaction with the school, and this school has a parent dress code in place that no other school in the district has, a set of rules that current parents of the school weren’t even aware of, how the heck was she supposed to know that she could potentially be in violation of school rules? She even asked to see the policy and they refused to show her. How is that defensible???

A few posts back, someone explains that even according to the NOW published dress code, the woman’s clothes are in compliance. If this is the case, why the continued criticism? Because people don’t like her outfit and think it’s tacky? That’s what we are going to go with? I don’t like her outfit either, wouldn’t get caught dead in that headscarf or whatever. But I don’t get to dictate what others should find ok, and barring obscenities or revealing private parts or messages of hate or violence, I would never even give a thought to someone else’s choices that are not (in my opinion) “tasteful.”

I don’t know how the woman behaved after being embarrassed in front of her kid. Maybe she was completely awful and that’s why things escalated. None of us know that for sure as far as I can tell, so I’m back to the initial issue, which is someone at the school took it upon themselves to declare her outfit “against the rules,” refused to produce these rules when asked (a reasonable request imo), then publicly released the rules the next day- to the surprise of many current parents who claimed to know nothing about them. The whole thing seems really sketchy to me.

I was just noticing something like that, @momofthreeboys, attending grad ceremonies this weekend. The opening speakers ask very clearly, several times - please hold applause until the end because we have a large group. Each event, not only do a handful of parents and guests not only a applaud but cheer raucously. Because rules are just tor those other people, not them.

Also those parents who insist on sitting in seats marked reserved for students.

There used to be rules for water fountains too.

As stated ad nauseam, this woman would have absolutely no clue about these rules. The appropriate response would have been to let her complete her business, then fill her in on school rules etc. And if there wasn’t a readily available hard copy of this dress code, I’m at a loss.

There are two issues being conflated here.

One. Is the mom who was asked to leave an appropriate interpretation of some unknown dress code. No - for the most part seems to be the consensus.

Two. Can a principal recognize a problem in her school and address it with a published dress code for adults on the premises. Absolutely.

Are parents being shamed as mentioned here several times?

Yes. if they are unaware of the adult dress code on school promises. They should only speak to them privately and give them a copy of the dress code.

No. If they are aware of the code or have been given a copy after a private conversation - they are shaming themselves if they don’t follow the rules.

Is this an outrageous set of guidelines? No. Can people look for exemptions and perhaps changes. Sure.

I sense this is not the underlying problem here.

It’s a struggling school and the kids are perhaps reflecting some lack of self esteem or hopeful outlook the principal senses is starting at home.

And this indifference towards school is being reinforced by the adults. Also, when she addresses a particular student dress or behavior - the kids point back to the adults on campus and say “why should I do x, look at how these parents/-adults come here everyday. Why can’t I “.

It’s also a women’s issue. Many feel this is targeted at women more than dads. Maybe it’s a reflection of the district. Maybe not a lot of dads coming to school. Maybe the ones who are coming on the premises are reasonably attired. I’m not there, so I don’t know.

It also seems that many women are sick of people telling them how to dress or to limit their sexual or individual identities.

It’s reasonable, how i dress shouldn’t make me a sexual target. It’s also reasonable to be put off.

This seems like it’s an offshoot of the leggings debate.

FWIW seems to be primarily a woman vs woman debate. Most men I know don’t give a fig or actually like them on women. So I think that’s a battle I will wade away from carefully.

This code is for a facility serving minors and adults on the premises are held to higher standard. I’m ok with that conceptually.

Once announced, just comply.

Perhaps the curler thing can be removed? Unless there’s a underlying meaning of complacency as determined by the community.

Perhaps these aren’t example used on the thread of the hard working waitress trying to do two things at once. It might be a thing in the district, I am not aware of and it could symbolize something else.

There’s also a racial and income component it feels like when reading previous posts. We certainly don’t want to embarrass any one culturally and because they can’t afford certain clothes.

I don’t see that here. No one is saying fancy dresses and suits. Or name brands or not.

It seems like the principal wants school grounds to be universally devoid of overly sexualized clothing. Also perhaps her concerns about bringing a level of seriousness to the school atmosphere.

Also since the principal is a POC, lives there everyday and is a woman, perhaps we can give her some slack regarding this code. There’s a revolving door here and she is trying to change things. Sometimes it’s different on the ground than our experience.

We universally beg for improvements and better educational opportunities for low performing schools.

Many which are inner city and poor.

She is trying to change a culture and we cry foul. Nothing changes, if nothing changes.

Maybe she has an idea and we should see that happens first. I’m ok with a couple of pissed off parents, if it in fact it helps to improve the outcomes for these children.

It’s hopefully just one piece of a puzzle she is trying to put together.

@romanigypsyeyes virtual hand-raising. Single parent of two kids, little help, three jobs, grew up very low income, slowly climbing into the middle class…never found it necessary to arrive at school half-dressed or hair in curlers, nor did my mother ever do that. What I see is pure laziness and has little to do with how much money you have. People with class, even the poorest people with class, wear clean, modest clothing when doing business, and especially while doing business that affects our children and where they might be bullied or otherwise humiliated if we did not. Money has little to do with this. Class, self-esteem and saving our kids from embarrassment has everything to do with this.

Work clothes for some professions may be considered by some to be inappropriate around schools.

The dress code was poorly written, poorly communicated and poorly administered. And opinions may vary - I am personally not a fan of the principal’s outfit. However, the appropriateness (or inappropriateness) of any dress code depends on the local demographics and culture, so outsiders should not judge.

That said, classism is not setting up the appearance standards (no matter right or wrong), but rather assuming that underprivileged or hard-working parents somehow do not, cannot or should not care. Contrary to popular belief, they consider such “helpful” attitude patronizing and offensive. Money does not buy grace

@NEpatsgirl congratulations. I’m glad your life circumstances never necessitated that.

100% my whole point was that we have no idea what these parents are going through and I, for one, will try to never judge a parent who is there regardless of what they show up in.

And because I’m simply repeating myself, I’ll bow out again.

Reality check. Legally mandated race-based segregation does not equate to school rules (for all races and genders) about hair curlers. Not in this universe.

I remember seeing this on the News. Interesting that Houston ISD allows each school to establish their own dress code. That is not how Austin ISD works - the district sets the dress code. However it’s only ‘student’ dress code. I’ve never heard of ‘Visitor’ dress code.

Having looked at the James Madison HS Houston ISD rulebook (below) - I don’t know how enforceable a parent dress code is and I believe there is a big difference between a Recommended dress code vs an Enforceable dress code.
https://www.houstonisd.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=230827&dataid=210215&FileName=2017%202018%20Madison%20HS%20Student%20Handbook%20English%20Version%208.23.17.pdf

The rulebook would have to have a ‘Campus’ Dress code for ALL Visitors to the school. A parent is a Visitor. There is none and I’m not even sure you can do so for a Public school. It will be interesting to see how this plays out and whether this stays with the Houstin ISD School Administration or grabs the attention of the higher-ups. This clearly goes to what is and what is not allowed by Law for that school district.

I love watching the News - it’s like a nighttime soap opera drama - you never know what you will see next.

My guess is that a parent dress code is Constitutionally unenforceable. But don’t kniw if anyone would bring a challenge.

If I understand this correctly, the school prevented the parent from entering the building to enroll her daughter – a student who was legally entitled to attend that school.

Is it even legal to prevent an eligible child from enrolling in a public school?

The principal is actually still talking about what she has planned for the school. She was on the radio earlier this week. She is a graduate of this high school, has 30+ years experience in education and did wonders at her previous school, to the point that Ellen DeGeneres noticed and awarded them funding. She was saying that they have standards and must have standards. She said they are teaching self respect and being appropriate for the situation so that the students never miss out on an opportunity their education has provided. She said they have had parents come to the high school in lingerie, exposed thongs, everything out and on display.

She said the mother would have had to take the stairs to the second floor and go through the building to get to the office the register her daughter. Of course the prior school would not make a fuss – she is leaving. If you have to tell people not to come into the school in their PJs,etc., it is just sad and just a first step to changing a mindset.

@TQfromtheU said:

This lady wasn’t in her PJs, nor was she wearing lingerie or an exposed thong. I haven’t researched this myself, but several posters here say when looking at the dress code, it appears she was in compliance.

She was new to the school and wouldn’t have known the “dress code.” She asked to see it and they wouldn’t produce it. So if she tries to return the next day, she still doesn’t know what the actual rules were.

Other parents claimed they had never heard of this dress code.

I saw the photo of the mother. She didn’t look obscene or like anyone who needed to be kept from going out in public. My taste? No, but so what?

This is a PUBLIC school. How can you prevent a parent from registering their child due to a dress code you won’t even produce for her???

@TQfromtheU she was at her other kid’s school in the same district right before coming to this one because her son goes there IIRC ( based on the interview I saw and read last week).

Additionally, this is the only one in the district with a parent dress code.

And do you think this parent helped her daughter adjust to a new school in any way by causing this fuss? More likely the other kids are mocking her for a parent who looks like trash and the new school’s administration and teachers are giving her a wide berth; I would. The kid claimed bullying problems in her regular school, this sure didn’t help the transition to a new one

Most people avoid needless controversy where possible, @mom2twogirls. Neither the teachers nor the staff have the time or energy to get involved in battles with parents, particularly parents whose first instinct is to call the press. No sane person would seek that out (including you?). The highest duty to this kid was a quiet and easy transition to a new school, which was an abject failure. Even if the mom disagreed with the code, couldnt she say ok, I will come back dressed, and then challenge it with the principal, the board, etc etc after I get the kid settled? Not make a public scene with the police and the press on my kid’s first day?

However, was there any previously announced or defined parental dress code, other than “whatever the principal thinks is ok / not-ok at the time”? Seems like the principal failed to “avoid needless controversy where possible”.

She wasn’t given the dress code, so how would she know whether she would be in compliance the next day either? It wasn’t given out until after the press requested it.

You actually don’t know how I would react to difficult or demanding parents. The truth is, I didn’t give them wide berth when I was working as a preschool teacher, as it would have meant I wasn’t doing my job. When faced with a difficult parent (or grandparent), I would kill them with kindness and refer to my boss as needed anything beyond that. I can assure you that I saw parents in a range of clothing. It made zero difference on how I did my job. And frankly, there were more troubling issues for some kids that what kind of clothing their parents chose to wear.