In North Carolina, they're hard-core about their public school dress code. When 12-year-old Danielle O'Neal was seen wearing her shirt untucked, she was sent to in-school suspension where she was made to copy pages of the school's dress code.
Her parents are outraged, and they're threatening to sue, saying that it was an overzealous overreaction by the school to a minor infraction. They believe their daughter's education was threatened because she had to miss class during the suspension, and they're fighting to make the dress code policy "right and fair for these kids."
My first reaction was a huge eye roll that with all of the problems in our schools they chose this to focus on something like a wayward shirttail; and, like many others, I wanted to offer a big cheer for the parents for going to bat for their daughter like this. But the more I think about it, the more I think she deserved what she got.
I agree that requiring students to tuck in their shirts and wear belts is ridiculous. All shirts don't look right tucked in (think tunics), and it's just not always a flattering look on everyone. If it's a uniform that's one thing, but just insisting any and every old shirt be tucked in is a dumb rule as far as I'm concerned. But it is a rule.
The school says the dress code has improved student success rates. Superintendent Wanda Dawson told WNCT "a school dress code is a positive and cost effective way to create a more unified, positive, and safe school climate focused more strongly on the learning process."
Agree or disagree, but the bottom line is -- it is a rule, and the students knew about it. There had even been a recent school-wide announcement that no more warnings would be given for dress code violations. So, minor or not (her shirt was said to be hanging five or six inches below her sweater), she was breaking the rules
Just like it was a rule when I was in school that we had to wear socks. No matter how many fashion magazines I displayed to show them how much better things looked without socks, I still had to wear them or go to detention. And I did go to detention sometimes.
So what did my parents do? They told me to wear my socks or sit in detention. Since I didn't really like detention, I sucked it up and wore socks. End of story. Yes, some rules are meant to be broken, but you have to be willing to pay the price for doing the breaking; and it's good preparation for "real life" when you may have to wear a uniform you don't like, or follow a rule of your boss with which you don't agree. You don't have to ... but then you may not have a job. Just like Danielle doesn't have to tuck in her shirt ... but then she won't get to attend class. As hard as it may be, life is about choices and the consequences of those choices.
I'm all for kids and parents fighting to change their school dress codes, but not for them to be up in arms about it when they violate rules already on the book. And incidentally, 9 on your side reports this wasn't the first time Danielle had violated the dress code either.
So while it's easy to make a cause of out of kids like this, and to blast overzealous school rules, it's important to remember they are rules. Protest them if you will (and there are plenty that should be protested!), but if you want to teach your kids that breaking the rules is okay, then you better prepare them for living with the consequences too.
Do you think this girl should have been suspended for an untucked shirt?
Image via 9 on Your Side
Tie-Dye for the Fourth of July!
Kim and Kanye's Baby Name Predictions!
Moms Love Birthday Parties, Too!
Father Knows Best - Happy Father's Day!
Comments 32
one word : uniforms. if they are that stressed about dress codes, then have them wear uniforms. Hell, it would make things a lot simpler in my house!
So, instead of making her come in early or stay after school and serve detention, you take her out of the classroom? My high school allowed you to wear a long lab coat if you were in violation of dress code because parents argued that kids shouldn't be kicked out of class for dress code, it's not like you slapped the teacher. I wonder if they would have let her back to class if she did tuck it in - doubt it.
No wonder parents are taking their kids out of school. Spending so much time on whether a shirt is tuck in. Now I'm all for order and students learning to keep their appearances neat and clean but you have so many rules it's confusing. So they decided to kick her out class for a shirt hanging out.
Stupid rule.
Now the kids are going to spend more time obsessively checking over every bit of their clothes to make their laces are tied just so, not a single inch of shirt is sticking out, every button done up, etc than paying attention because even one infraction means a huge ordeal and suspension.
Way to focus on learning, school.
Typical nazi public school employees, following their furor "superintendent"'s orders! Newsflash nazis, FU and f**k your "dress code!