School Dress Codes

I think the issue people have with dress codes today are more about the sexism behind them rather than the actual code. The idea that it is the girl's responsibility to dress "modestly" and not wear yoga pants so as not to distract the boys. By punishing a girl for wearing something that is so called inappropriate, you are putting all the fault on her and taking all blame off the boy (or whoever is being distracted in this case).

Having no children of my own and being past school age, my opinions are not very well formed on this subject.

However, I think certain clothes are inappropriate for children. And let's face it, high schoolers are children. Short shorts and take tops, in my opinion, can sometimes be..questionable. However, once you start saying that, then where should the line be? How short is too short, etc. Which I think is exactly the issue.

Overall I think there's too much focus on it. They're just clothes, chill out. How about we focus on the academics more?

shadowofender, it sounds like you and I feel pretty much the same about this overall! But you mentioned "high schoolers are children" and for me that struck a chord somehow. Not that I disagree (unless we're talking about 18 year olds who are in their senior year home stretch), but I think that schools should be focusing more on getting high school students to that point where they are NOT children, and letting them effectively dress themselves is one way to do that, in my opinion.

I dunno. I might regret this post because it's not THAT well thought-out. I'm not saying there's one way that everyone "should dress" in life beyond high school...there's room for all kinds in the world. But I think sometimes, teens who have been held back a lot in expressing themselves tend to be less independent in other ways and for a longer period of time. Every student and family is different, and at the end of the day I'd say it's more for parents to decide if their teenage children are going to wear this or that, than the school administrators and teachers. But for me personally, being allowed to wear some things that were considered "bad" or punk/weird/etc was a part of creating my self-identity and by the time I was in college I felt like I was over that and ready for whatever came next. Not that someone with dreads and spiked clothes isn't an adult...some certainly are, and responsible at that...but I think there's just a lot of complicated stuff going on for most teens and being told they have to wear a polo and khakis could send some over the edge (I don't mean suicide/murder, I just mean like, extra angst and crazy).

My sons are expected to respect women period, even if those women don't respect themselves by dressing in a way to draw inappropriate attention to themselves. However, respecting all women doesn't mean all are what I consider worthy of admiration. A 13 year old girl who olds her shirt up to show off her stomach in an online post get blocked. Why? She is seeking attention in the wrong ways. My job is to protect and teach my children. And her parents are obviously not raising her in line with the morals I am teaching mine. Either that or maybe they don't hold her to the standards I hold mine.

It is the rules we had in school and what my kids have now, except for the skinny jeans and tights. We have a problem here and it isn't the dress code. It is kids who don't respect authority, girls who don't know modesty, and boys who don't know how to respect and value young women. I have sons. My oldest is to dating age. If he wants to talk to a girl outside of school I check her social media sites. If she is dress poorly I tell him to move on. I tell my son don't seek or encourage behavior from a girl you like that you wouldn't want your sister doing as well.

Don't the boys have a problem with "knowing modesty"? What does that mean, anyway?

Do the boys hold such low value of women that it is effected by their clothing that day? Are women who dress modestly more deserving of respect than those who don't?

You police the girls your sons ^talk^ to? Are they allowed to thank a female who holds the door for them but you judge to be dressed immodestly?

Women are only to be respected if they remind you of your sister?

My sons are expected to respect women period, even if those women don't respect themselves by dressing in a way to draw inappropriate attention to themselves. However, respecting all women doesn't mean all are what I consider worthy of admiration. A 13 year old girl who olds her shirt up to show off her stomach in an online post get blocked. Why? She is seeking attention in the wrong ways. My job is to protect and teach my children. And her parents are obviously not raising her in line with the morals I am teaching mine. Either that or maybe they don't hold her to the standards I hold mine.

Seltzer - My kids do dress themselves, and have been for some time. They pick their clothes out at the store, and if they chose something I know is against dress code I let them know it can't be worn to school... spaghetti strap tank tops have to have something over them, halter dresses are not permitted, and they must remain very aware of how they are sitting and playing when wearing a dress and opting out of tights or leggings/shorts underneath. I explain to them that they have to abide by rules, and that not doing so as an adult can have consequences that are far more serious.