Inappropriate dress code reminder

[Anonymous]

I have a boy and a girl and am pretty quick to jump on gender stereotypes. And I think you have a small point about the email, OP. The contents probably should have been completely gender neutral, with references to “children to wearing unsecured shoes” and “children not wearing clothes with big armholes,” rather than specifying gender. The principal probably should have taken more care with the wording, been more considerate of possible gender non-conforming kids, etc.

But your post is the kind of over the top, making a point of being PC for the point of being PC crap that makes common sense liberals look bad. I have no problem with the underlying content. Here in the real world, girls are the ones wearing spaghetti straps and flats, and boys are the ones wearing big armholes. Girls stay in ES through 6th grade in FCPS and usually are wearing bras, have not puberty, and are physically developed by late ES. And some parents just do not have common sense when it comes to buying clothes for their kids, or don’t set limits, or think it’s more important to let their kids been cool than to insist on appropriate dress. Some of the clothes both boys and girls wear is distracting. And does not belong in school. And it only gets worse in MS. I would have not problem with a rule that said no sleeveless shirts for either gender, period.

I think you could go to the principal and argue semantics, and poor choice of defining dress code by gender. And I think most principals would concede your point. But this is not the Hill I would choose to die on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait till HS. Girls wearing booty shorts and low cut tops. Not appropriate in a learning environment. I wish we had uniforms.

Thank you! I would love uniforms in public schools, like some DCPS charters require. All this nonsense about does a 14 year old girl have the right to wear sexually suggestive clothes, and are we slut shaming our girls just takes away from learning. And I’m a strong feminist. I would not advocate for burkas. But you’ve got to use common sense. And the common sense seems to be missing from the parents who insist their tweenagers have the right to dress in a manner that expresses their sexuality/ is designed to draw attention to their sexuality AND also insist that girls have the right to attend school without boys commenting on their sexuality. You can’t have it both ways. If your kid dresses lin a sexually suggestive mannner to attract the attention of boys, she might attract the attention of boys. That is not an excuse for boys to behave inappropriately. But girls really can’t have it both ways. And just like adults going to work, kids at school need to wear appropriate attire. Since some parents just lack common sense, I think it would be great to use uniforms and get rid of the issue altogether.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely off-topic, but, omg, air conditioning. Such a luxury. When Los Angeles Unified School district decided to start the school year in the middle of August, the students had to wear, basically, nothing, to deal with the heat in the classrooms. The notes about the dress code came back home. The general parents' response was "are you crazy, it's 100 degrees outside and no AC, deal with the beach attire or move the start date".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw the following in an email from the principal about proper dress in warm weather. This seems rife with gender stereotypes (i.e. boys can wear sandals, girls can wear shirts with large armholes).

"Be sure that students are wearing proper foot gear to play safely on the playground and during PE. Girls should wear shoes that have straps that secure their foot in the shoe. As the Air Conditioner comes on in the building, continue to send a light weight jacket or sweater to cover arms. Students wearing sleeveless shirts or shorts with sandals are uncomfortable in chilled rooms. Spaghetti straps should not be worn to school. Boys should not wear shirts with large arm holes cut out. Students need to focus on learning and not distracted by revealing clothing items."

The concept of revealing clothing causing students to become "distracted" from learning is typically and disparately applied to girls so maybe that's why it doesn't sit well for me. It also seems a little inappropriate since we are talking about an elementary school.

Very little of the reminder for appropriate dress from the principal is contained in the FCPS dress code in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. There are some similar themes to the handbook but the handbook presents them in a genderless manner and the concept of being "distracting" by having revealing clothing items is no where to be found.

Are principals allowed to set their own dress code that goes beyond FCPS district policy? If so, would DCUM report this? If so, who do you tell? This came from the principal so I can't forward it to her and expect an open mind about why this may not be the most appropriate language.

Do you know any sixth grade boys? Have you seen the clothing some of these girls wear?

I have a 7th grade boy who is focused on his work, not how people dress, and I have NO PROBLEM with how girls dress in his school. The dress code, if there is one, has not been rammed down our throats, and as a woman, I would read it with my guard up, like OP.

Stop it, PP.

[Anonymous]

Also, girls -- we don't want to see your butt cheeks. Wear 5" seam shorts at least, please.

And, yes, this is directed at girls. If boys stop wearing knee-length shorts, I'll switch my message.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I think this communication from the principal seems antiquated. Is he/she old? That could explain some of the language use.

It seems people on this board think at least some kids of all ages do not dress appropriately.

Why not require uniforms then? A dress code would become irrelevant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw the following in an email from the principal about proper dress in warm weather. This seems rife with gender stereotypes (i.e. boys can wear sandals, girls can wear shirts with large armholes).

"Be sure that students are wearing proper foot gear to play safely on the playground and during PE. Girls should wear shoes that have straps that secure their foot in the shoe. As the Air Conditioner comes on in the building, continue to send a light weight jacket or sweater to cover arms. Students wearing sleeveless shirts or shorts with sandals are uncomfortable in chilled rooms. Spaghetti straps should not be worn to school. Boys should not wear shirts with large arm holes cut out. Students need to focus on learning and not distracted by revealing clothing items."

The concept of revealing clothing causing students to become "distracted" from learning is typically and disparately applied to girls so maybe that's why it doesn't sit well for me. It also seems a little inappropriate since we are talking about an elementary school.

Very little of the reminder for appropriate dress from the principal is contained in the FCPS dress code in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. There are some similar themes to the handbook but the handbook presents them in a genderless manner and the concept of being "distracting" by having revealing clothing items is no where to be found.

Are principals allowed to set their own dress code that goes beyond FCPS district policy? If so, would DCUM report this? If so, who do you tell? This came from the principal so I can't forward it to her and expect an open mind about why this may not be the most appropriate language.

Do you know any sixth grade boys? Have you seen the clothing some of these girls wear?

I have a 7th grade boy who is focused on his work, not how people dress, and I have NO PROBLEM with how girls dress in his school. The dress code, if there is one, has not been rammed down our throats, and as a woman, I would read it with my guard up, like OP.

Stop it, PP.

Does he wear flip flops or tanks with large armholes? So if he can follow the dress code, then so should everyone else, right?

[Anonymous]

Wow - who knew dress codes could be such a hot button issue.

I second the call for uniforms.

[Anonymous]

Dress codes are sexist bullshit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a boy and a girl and am pretty quick to jump on gender stereotypes. And I think you have a small point about the email, OP. The contents probably should have been completely gender neutral, with references to “children to wearing unsecured shoes” and “children not wearing clothes with big armholes,” rather than specifying gender. The principal probably should have taken more care with the wording, been more considerate of possible gender non-conforming kids, etc.

But your post is the kind of over the top, making a point of being PC for the point of being PC crap that makes common sense liberals look bad. I have no problem with the underlying content. Here in the real world, girls are the ones wearing spaghetti straps and flats, and boys are the ones wearing big armholes. Girls stay in ES through 6th grade in FCPS and usually are wearing bras, have not puberty, and are physically developed by late ES. And some parents just do not have common sense when it comes to buying clothes for their kids, or don’t set limits, or think it’s more important to let their kids been cool than to insist on appropriate dress. Some of the clothes both boys and girls wear is distracting. And does not belong in school. And it only gets worse in MS. I would have not problem with a rule that said no sleeveless shirts for either gender, period.

I think you could go to the principal and argue semantics, and poor choice of defining dress code by gender. And I think most principals would concede your point. But this is not the Hill I would choose to die on.

Boys don't wear sandals to elementary school. They just don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely off-topic, but, omg, air conditioning. Such a luxury. When Los Angeles Unified School district decided to start the school year in the middle of August, the students had to wear, basically, nothing, to deal with the heat in the classrooms. The notes about the dress code came back home. The general parents' response was "are you crazy, it's 100 degrees outside and no AC, deal with the beach attire or move the start date".

But all of the schools we went to in California, including the mohave desert, had open campuses where the hallways were all outside, classrooms were in a long row with windows on two opposite walls that could be open to get a breeze.

That helps a little when you don't have AC.

DC area schools would be much hotter than so california schools without AC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw the following in an email from the principal about proper dress in warm weather. This seems rife with gender stereotypes (i.e. boys can wear sandals, girls can wear shirts with large armholes).

"Be sure that students are wearing proper foot gear to play safely on the playground and during PE. Girls should wear shoes that have straps that secure their foot in the shoe. As the Air Conditioner comes on in the building, continue to send a light weight jacket or sweater to cover arms. Students wearing sleeveless shirts or shorts with sandals are uncomfortable in chilled rooms. Spaghetti straps should not be worn to school. Boys should not wear shirts with large arm holes cut out. Students need to focus on learning and not distracted by revealing clothing items."

The concept of revealing clothing causing students to become "distracted" from learning is typically and disparately applied to girls so maybe that's why it doesn't sit well for me. It also seems a little inappropriate since we are talking about an elementary school.

Very little of the reminder for appropriate dress from the principal is contained in the FCPS dress code in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. There are some similar themes to the handbook but the handbook presents them in a genderless manner and the concept of being "distracting" by having revealing clothing items is no where to be found.

Are principals allowed to set their own dress code that goes beyond FCPS district policy? If so, would DCUM report this? If so, who do you tell? This came from the principal so I can't forward it to her and expect an open mind about why this may not be the most appropriate language.

Do you know any sixth grade boys? Have you seen the clothing some of these girls wear?

I have a 7th grade boy who is focused on his work, not how people dress, and I have NO PROBLEM with how girls dress in his school. The dress code, if there is one, has not been rammed down our throats, and as a woman, I would read it with my guard up, like OP.

Stop it, PP.

7th grade boys aren't sharing their thoughts about girls' bodies with mom.

[Anonymous]

If FCPS goes to uniforms it should be free choice; either gender can wear skirts or pants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a boy and a girl and am pretty quick to jump on gender stereotypes. And I think you have a small point about the email, OP. The contents probably should have been completely gender neutral, with references to “children to wearing unsecured shoes” and “children not wearing clothes with big armholes,” rather than specifying gender. The principal probably should have taken more care with the wording, been more considerate of possible gender non-conforming kids, etc.

But your post is the kind of over the top, making a point of being PC for the point of being PC crap that makes common sense liberals look bad. I have no problem with the underlying content. Here in the real world, girls are the ones wearing spaghetti straps and flats, and boys are the ones wearing big armholes. Girls stay in ES through 6th grade in FCPS and usually are wearing bras, have not puberty, and are physically developed by late ES. And some parents just do not have common sense when it comes to buying clothes for their kids, or don’t set limits, or think it’s more important to let their kids been cool than to insist on appropriate dress. Some of the clothes both boys and girls wear is distracting. And does not belong in school. And it only gets worse in MS. I would have not problem with a rule that said no sleeveless shirts for either gender, period.

I think you could go to the principal and argue semantics, and poor choice of defining dress code by gender. And I think most principals would concede your point. But this is not the Hill I would choose to die on.

Boys don't wear sandals to elementary school. They just don't.

What? There are plenty of ES and MS boys in our neighborhood who wear flip-flops or sport slides (the latter with socks seems to be a trend, actually).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a boy and a girl and am pretty quick to jump on gender stereotypes. And I think you have a small point about the email, OP. The contents probably should have been completely gender neutral, with references to “children to wearing unsecured shoes” and “children not wearing clothes with big armholes,” rather than specifying gender. The principal probably should have taken more care with the wording, been more considerate of possible gender non-conforming kids, etc.

But your post is the kind of over the top, making a point of being PC for the point of being PC crap that makes common sense liberals look bad. I have no problem with the underlying content. Here in the real world, girls are the ones wearing spaghetti straps and flats, and boys are the ones wearing big armholes. Girls stay in ES through 6th grade in FCPS and usually are wearing bras, have not puberty, and are physically developed by late ES. And some parents just do not have common sense when it comes to buying clothes for their kids, or don’t set limits, or think it’s more important to let their kids been cool than to insist on appropriate dress. Some of the clothes both boys and girls wear is distracting. And does not belong in school. And it only gets worse in MS. I would have not problem with a rule that said no sleeveless shirts for either gender, period.

I think you could go to the principal and argue semantics, and poor choice of defining dress code by gender. And I think most principals would concede your point. But this is not the Hill I would choose to die on.

Boys don't wear sandals to elementary school. They just don't.

And it's not so much sandals as thongs.