Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, if I don't let my daughter wear leggings without a cover in public, I'm somehow shaming her? So, in order to not shame her, I should encourage her to wear see through clothes? Or booty shorts? Why do we have to have these conversations about girls? Because boys clothes over everything! Unless they wear their pants low, of course.

Maybe you're not familiar with leggings, which are not synonymous with see-through clothes or booty shorts.

Here is a girl in a leggings outfit that would be banned at Deal:

http://i00.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v0/1919627582_1/2014-Fashion-Girls-Leggings-for-autumn-and-spring-Girls-Stretch-Skinny-Printed-Floral-Dots-7different-designers.jpg

A ban on see-through clothes and booty shorts would be appropriate.

But the girl in this photo looks to be about 10 yrs old. The average girl wearing this at age 13 will look quite a bit different, and not in a good way.

Anonymous wrote:So, if I don't let my daughter wear leggings without a cover in public, I'm somehow shaming her? So, in order to not shame her, I should encourage her to wear see through clothes? Or booty shorts? Why do we have to have these conversations about girls? Because boys clothes over everything! Unless they wear their pants low, of course.

Maybe you're not familiar with leggings, which are not synonymous with see-through clothes or booty shorts.

Here is a girl in a leggings outfit that would be banned at Deal:

http://i00.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v0/1919627582_1/2014-Fashion-Girls-Leggings-for-autumn-and-spring-Girls-Stretch-Skinny-Printed-Floral-Dots-7different-designers.jpg

A ban on see-through clothes and booty shorts would be appropriate.

So, if I don't let my daughter wear leggings without a cover in public, I'm somehow shaming her? So, in order to not shame her, I should encourage her to wear see through clothes? Or booty shorts? Why do we have to have these conversations about girls? Because boys clothes over everything! Unless they wear their pants low, of course.

I do think this is a generational thing. I'm in my 50's and have had more than my share of arguments with my teenage DD through the years about wearing leggings only when covered by something at least tunic length. It falls on deaf ears, and most of her friends wear leggings and don't worry about it. I personally don't think it looks nice to see the lines created front and back by leggings. But I think younger people don't feel the same way.

Anonymous wrote:I don't let my 3yo wear leggings without something covering the butt portion.

Just wow.

I don't let my 3yo wear leggings without something covering the butt portion.

At least Deal doesn't have a uniform.

I don't understand why anyone lets their daughter wear leggings as pants, period, other than out of sheer laziness (easy to shop for since they are everywhere). They should not be considered clothing - they are for layering. Why not just let them show up in tights with no skirt or dress? And yes, I have daughters, and no, they do not wear them uncovered outside of the house.

I think, as a parent, you should let the principal know you object to the dress code. You don't have to "make waves" but you can make your concerns known in a polite conversation or letter/email. It is sexist, but it won't change unless parents say something.

I'm a middle school teacher (not at Deal, though a friend teaches there). I do think it is sexist, yet at the same time, I know from experience that leggings do distract sometimes. Interestingly, they seem to distract other girls rather than boys! The girls are constantly comparing each other's bodies for signs for fitness or imperfection.

First dress code item in the student handbook:

Students have the right to choose their manner of dress and personal grooming unless it presents a clear danger to the student’s health and safety or interferes with the educational environment of the school or classroom.

All of the items below it would appear to fall define danger / interferes with environment.

Leggings???

Anonymous wrote:I think there was a protest last year, some boys wore leggings and boots shorts. I personally have no issue with the school having a 'reasonable ' dress code. I am ok with the restriction on leggings, see through clothing, short shorts, low hanging pants, bare midriffs. I don't see why tank tops, track pants, Jennings are forbidden though

Albright didn't mention track pants yesterday. Maybe they changed that part.

I feel bad for the heavier girls. My child is tall and slender and all clothes fit her fairly well. Many heavy girls are going to be much more comfortable in stretchy material and feel chafed in jeans.

I am all for reasonable attire and went to a school that had uniforms. I'm glad they can't show bellies, underwear, or bra straps. I just don't see why well-fitting leggings are not "appropriate" unless it's to hide the female form, which is not inherently inappropriate unless people label it as such.

Maybe Deal should implement poor kid-style uniforms like Hardy. That would immediately solve the issue.

(Alternatively, Deal could mandate rich kid-style uniforms, like Visi or St. Albans, with coat and tie. That would also solve this issue)

I think there was a protest last year, some boys wore leggings and boots shorts. I personally have no issue with the school having a 'reasonable ' dress code. I am ok with the restriction on leggings, see through clothing, short shorts, low hanging pants, bare midriffs. I don't see why tank tops, track pants, Jennings are forbidden though

Deal's 6th grade orientation was yesterday and I am over the moon happy with the school.

However, the dress code strikes me as sexist. Leggings and "jeggings" are not allowed unless their is a fingertip-length skirt over them. It doesn't matter what material or how loose the leggings are.

Principal Albright, who was otherwise amazing, prefaced his statement re: leggings by saying it's not sexist because no one gets to wear them.

Except generally only girls wear leggings and there is no reason to ban all leggings outright other than to conceal the girls' silhouettes.

I'm not going to make waves. This is my daughter's community where she needs to be supported in learning.

However I feel this sent a terrible message to the girls about their bodies being distracting or inappropriate -- just as they are navigating puberty. My daughter feels that way too, as do a couple of her friends - and brought it up without my saying anything.

Has anyone tried to talk to a school administrator about an issue like this?