A story just surfaced which reported that despite hot temperatures outside and lacking air conditioning inside, the interim principal at Tottenville High School in Staten Island has handed out detentions to 200 students for violating the new dress code - 90% of whom were female.
The new dress code prohibits the wearing of tank tops, low-cut shirts, and shorts that don't reach fingertip length. Especially due to the "sweltering" classrooms, many students have continually protested against the new dress code by wearing tank tops, shorts, and the like.
As one senior at the school said, "That's what girls wear when it's hot out. It's unfair to them."
Another student said, "Tottenville should just be an all boys school considering this dress code is only affecting the girls."
Yet another commented that it was "humiliating to be pulled aside like an object."
Due to the growing controversy, school district officials released a statement where they said the dress code was enforced to prevent distractions in the classroom. Those whom have been punished for violating the dress code have been asked to either put on a large t-shirt and gym shorts provided by the school or wait for their parents to bring them a different outfit.
While I can understand teachers wanting their students to not be distracted during class, especially nowadays, clothing should be the least of their worries. Let's be realistic. At that age, boys will constantly get distracted by girls they find attractive, regardless of what they wear. The same goes for girls at that age and finding a boy in class attractive. It goes both ways, and it rarely has anything to do with their choice of clothing. At work, what's one more likely to get distracted by? A phone call from a friend or partner, emails, social media, a game of some kind, or someone's outfit? Will a boss punish 200 people for wearing outfits which may draw gazes from members of the opposite (or even same) sex?
Also, what's more distracting to the learning environment - sweltering hot classrooms due to a lack of air conditioning or someone's outfit? What's more distracting to the learning environment - wearing a tank top or fearing you may get embarrassed and punished for wearing that tank top?
Lastly, while people of all ages should display respect for themselves with what they wear, women's fashion freedom shouldn't be diminished just because some men may not showcase genuine respect for them depending on their choice of attire.
School district officials should be focusing on the bigger problems at Tottenville High School. As a matter of fact, I recommend students (protesters) at the school start a new phrase: "Distraction free! If you fix the A/C!"
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/09/15/3567291/dress-code-staten-island/
The new dress code prohibits the wearing of tank tops, low-cut shirts, and shorts that don't reach fingertip length. Especially due to the "sweltering" classrooms, many students have continually protested against the new dress code by wearing tank tops, shorts, and the like.
As one senior at the school said, "That's what girls wear when it's hot out. It's unfair to them."
Another student said, "Tottenville should just be an all boys school considering this dress code is only affecting the girls."
Yet another commented that it was "humiliating to be pulled aside like an object."
Due to the growing controversy, school district officials released a statement where they said the dress code was enforced to prevent distractions in the classroom. Those whom have been punished for violating the dress code have been asked to either put on a large t-shirt and gym shorts provided by the school or wait for their parents to bring them a different outfit.
While I can understand teachers wanting their students to not be distracted during class, especially nowadays, clothing should be the least of their worries. Let's be realistic. At that age, boys will constantly get distracted by girls they find attractive, regardless of what they wear. The same goes for girls at that age and finding a boy in class attractive. It goes both ways, and it rarely has anything to do with their choice of clothing. At work, what's one more likely to get distracted by? A phone call from a friend or partner, emails, social media, a game of some kind, or someone's outfit? Will a boss punish 200 people for wearing outfits which may draw gazes from members of the opposite (or even same) sex?
Also, what's more distracting to the learning environment - sweltering hot classrooms due to a lack of air conditioning or someone's outfit? What's more distracting to the learning environment - wearing a tank top or fearing you may get embarrassed and punished for wearing that tank top?
Lastly, while people of all ages should display respect for themselves with what they wear, women's fashion freedom shouldn't be diminished just because some men may not showcase genuine respect for them depending on their choice of attire.
School district officials should be focusing on the bigger problems at Tottenville High School. As a matter of fact, I recommend students (protesters) at the school start a new phrase: "Distraction free! If you fix the A/C!"
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/09/15/3567291/dress-code-staten-island/
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