School Clothing

The issue of school clothing is apparent in several chapters of the textbook and is also a daily issue at the school I am teaching in. At Roosevelt, we have a policy that has raised many concerns over the past week as the temperatures continue to rise. If girls want to wear skirts or shorts to school that is fine--so long as they extend to within 1 inch of the top of their knee. At first I glance I totally understand this policy. Unfortunately, a lot of girls feel the need to show the bottom of their tush whenever they are wearing shorts of a skirt. However, I have a few problems with this policy in my school...

* First of all, I think we can all agree that we live in a society that promotes the sexuality of girls 24/7. It does not take much channel surfing on your television to find loads of situations where women are exploited as sexual objects. Open any magazine and you will find countless ads of young, sexy women wearing scraps of fabric as "clothing." Does it not seem a bit hypocritical to create a society that places such an emphasis on physical appearance and then punishes girls who where shorts deemed "too short?"

* I have had several boys in my classes show up wearing just a basketball jersey. A basketball jersey does not cover much up. In fact, it covers up very little. However, none of these boys have ever been told to put a shirt on. This seems like a major double standard to me.

* Two girls in my class were removed last Friday for wearing skirts with leggings under them. Now, the skirts did not meet the schools 1 inch off the knee policy but in the girls defense, they were wearing leggings underneath the skirt as well. This is a very popular style not only here in the US but around the world. Personally, I thought the girls were very tastefully dressed and the fact that they wore leggings underneath (they were NOT see through either) was a classy touch. But the administration did not agree and decided it would be better to pull the kids from class and send them home!!!! (GREAT IDEA!!) *sarcasm!*

* For the most part my school is pretty good about making sure girls are not showing too much cleavage. However, I have seen lots more boobies bouncing around the halls than I have seen girls with their tail feathers out (see urban dictionary! he he). In all seriousness, the day that two girls were removed from my class while wearing skirts with leggings I had at least 3 other girls who were clearly showing the top halves of their breasts. Please tell me which is worse!!

Ok. I understand the need to regulate what students wear to school. Not only is it a distraction to everyone around them but it also only further objectifies women as sex objects. I agree that there needs to be regulations in place. However, I feel that this should be left to the discretion of the staff and not made into a formal policy (ie skirts must be 1 inch above the knee). This just feels like another way to exert power over kids who already feel a bit powerless. What are we doing here?!?