How far does something have to go wrong before we speak up for what's right?
Teachers, both men and women, have complained to me about how female students are allowed to dress (or undress) in school and at school functions.
I've also heard the same complaint from librarians, nurses, parents, grandparents - all who are concerned about this growing problem that is quickly getting out of control.
Auburn High School, as an example, has created a student dress code that states, among other things, “Students are expected to dress appropriately for school and school functions.” They should “develop an understanding of appropriate appearance in the school setting.” It goes on to state that “extremely brief garments are not appropriate (No bare midriffs).”
Sounds good on paper, but have you seen how the girls dress for school? Midriffs galore. By doing nothing administrators are saying that it's OK to ignore the rules. Somebody is dropping the ball.
And how the girls are dressing for class is also a problem. If you need validation about this, just ask the teachers in private, but nobody will speak up publicly for fear of public humiliation. Teachers are afraid of the backlash from parents, students and administrators, and being accused of sexual harassment.
If you're going to put a rule down on paper, you better be prepared to monitor compliance and back it up with consequences for violators. Otherwise what message are we sending the kids?
But this is just another symptom of parents and teachers pushing off their responsibilities. We can't blame the children. They're doing what students have always done - taking things as far as they can until they get some pushback from those in charge. These students need our direction and supervision.
The morality of a nation begins in the local community. The parents and the school district need to work together to begin enforcing an extremely reasonable dress code. How we look plays a major role in determining how we think of ourselves and how we act. You can dress modestly while still being very stylish.
The school has taken a huge step by issuing the dress code. Now it's time for the parents to back them up by doing their part. Monitor your children's behavior and make sure they're dressed right for school and school functions. We must work together to give our young people the sense of dignity and morality they deserve and keep the classroom solely for academics.
Ducayne's column runs Tuesdays in The Citizen and
she can be reached at
sacredheart6005@hotmail.com
I've also heard the same complaint from librarians, nurses, parents, grandparents - all who are concerned about this growing problem that is quickly getting out of control.
Auburn High School, as an example, has created a student dress code that states, among other things, “Students are expected to dress appropriately for school and school functions.” They should “develop an understanding of appropriate appearance in the school setting.” It goes on to state that “extremely brief garments are not appropriate (No bare midriffs).”
Sounds good on paper, but have you seen how the girls dress for school? Midriffs galore. By doing nothing administrators are saying that it's OK to ignore the rules. Somebody is dropping the ball.
And how the girls are dressing for class is also a problem. If you need validation about this, just ask the teachers in private, but nobody will speak up publicly for fear of public humiliation. Teachers are afraid of the backlash from parents, students and administrators, and being accused of sexual harassment.
If you're going to put a rule down on paper, you better be prepared to monitor compliance and back it up with consequences for violators. Otherwise what message are we sending the kids?
But this is just another symptom of parents and teachers pushing off their responsibilities. We can't blame the children. They're doing what students have always done - taking things as far as they can until they get some pushback from those in charge. These students need our direction and supervision.
The morality of a nation begins in the local community. The parents and the school district need to work together to begin enforcing an extremely reasonable dress code. How we look plays a major role in determining how we think of ourselves and how we act. You can dress modestly while still being very stylish.
The school has taken a huge step by issuing the dress code. Now it's time for the parents to back them up by doing their part. Monitor your children's behavior and make sure they're dressed right for school and school functions. We must work together to give our young people the sense of dignity and morality they deserve and keep the classroom solely for academics.
Ducayne's column runs Tuesdays in The Citizen and
she can be reached at
sacredheart6005@hotmail.com
