There has been a recent uproar on social media over a letter that was sent to parents by a Middle School Principal in Texas.
In the letter, mental health has been cited as the primary reason behind the school’s ban on black clothing.
Do you believe that this was required?
“Charger Nation,
We have put a great deal of time and effort into adjusting our dress code policies based on feedback from families, faculty, staff, and community stakeholders. Our goal with dress code, as well as everything else we do, is to provide a safe environment that inspires and empowers all Chargers to thrive. As such, we are removing opportunities for students to hide, use, and distribute items that they should not have in school by eliminating sweatshirts with hoods and pockets. We are also eliminating a look that has taken over on campus with students wearing black tops with black bottoms, which has become more associated with depression and mental health issues and/or criminality than with happy and healthy kids ready to learn. Simultaneously, we also attempted to design a dress code that would be as economical as possible for families. Therefore, we are excited to introduce the dress code for the upcoming school year:
Shoes: Must be athletic or uniform style with a closed toe. No sandals, crocs, slippers, slides or flip-flops.
Socks: Solid color in white, grey, or black.
Bottoms: Khakis or blue jeans. No rips, tears, distressing, cargo pockets, extra pockets, or hidden pockets. Bottoms must be worn at the waist and length must be at the fingertips or beyond when the arm is fully extended.
Tops: Hunter green or black polo with a collar in a plain style or with a Charles logo.
Sweaters: Hunter green or black crew neck sweatshirts in a plain style or with a Charles logo. No pockets. No hoods.
Winter Coats: Any color/design, but must be taken off and put away while inside the building. If worn while outside during the school day, must be free of profanity, images of or promoting illegal drugs/paraphernalia, or explicit images or content.
Physical Education: Plain, solid-colored t-shirts (no collar) in grey, gold, or black. Plain, solid-colored shorts, leggings, joggers, or sweatpants in grey, gold, or black worn at the waist and with a length at the fingertips or beyond when the arm is fully extended. Students change into PE clothes during PE, but MUST change back into uniform after class.
Never Acceptable Items:
No hats, beanies, or sunglasses in the buildings.
Hoodies, or other forms of winter coats, must be off while in the buildings.
No body piercings except ears. No gauges.
No tanks, spaghetti straps, crop-tops, midriff, ripped tops, or any tops that leave portions of the torso exposed.
All clothing must be free from profanity, illegal drugs/paraphernalia, or explicit images or content.
No pajama wear.
No sandals, crocs, slippers, slides, flip-flops, or open-toed footwear.
No bottoms with rips, tears, distressing, cargo pockets, extra pockets, or hidden pockets. Bottoms must be worn at the waist and length must be at the fingertips or beyond when the arm is fully extended.
No electronic devices of any kind are to be worn or used in the buildings.
Free Dress: Clothing of any color, style, or type that is not expressly prohibited in the “Never Acceptable Items” section.
Sincerely,
Principal DeSantis”
