Teachers lost in time?
Allison Lambert’s Sept 17 2004 article in the Times Colonist titled “T-shirt Patrol
Shames Students in Obeying Dress Code”, shows some high school principals are
over controlling sticks-in-mud. In the first two paragraphs we learn of a teenage
girl who showed up at Ecole Horizon Jeunesse high school, in Montreal with bare shoulders and a plunging neckline. She was given a choice: cover up with either
a jacket or a school t-shirt. So far, at least five schools are using school t-shirts to
enforce dress codes. The principals’ reasoning is that t-shirts work better than
detentions. So, they agree that they must enforce the dress code one way or another,
yet don’t say why they need to enforce it.
“The consequence of dressing inappropriately is having to wear a T-shirt
that they wouldn’t be caught dead in’ said Chuck Merilees, principal of St.
Thomas High… Our goal is not to embarrass kids. We want to educate them”
He gives no explanation how so-called inappropriate attire impedes the
students ability to be educated. The article doesn’t state who considers crop tops,
plunging necklines or strap tops inappropriate, other than the principals enforcing
the dress code. The principals don’t even offer any support to their opinion why
such attire is inappropriate at school. At the beginning of the year students of
Ecole Jeunesse are told what they can and can’t wear to class. The article doesn’t
say that they are told what is indecent about any forbidden attire: like the
girl’s strap top shown in the picture, for instance. All Jeunesse students, are given an option of replacing or covering the offensive article of clothing before being
asked to put on the T-shirt. Their principal, Eric Demers, say they ‘re given a chance
to challenge their principal and state why the clothing should not be considered
indecent.
“Students will usually change on their own since the t-shirt identifies the
teenager as a dress code violator, it attracts unwanted attention from
other student”
A member of the governing board at Westwood High says it’s a good idea cause
it’s better than sending the students home. He gives no justification for being so
strict with attire that either measure should be taken. Students aren’t the only
ones that oppose the dress code. The principal of Jeunesse faces opposition
from some parents who feel schools shouldn’t enforce dress codes.
