Oh, the dreaded dress code.  Coming up with a policy that everyone agrees upon and that is easily and consistently enforced is difficult.  We can get out the ruler and measure how wide the strap is across the shoulder and if the skirt is closer to the knee than to the hip.  No one would argue that if you see the small of a girl’s back (and then some) that the exposure is just a little too much. But what about tight shirts?  What is too tight?  What is too low?  Many of us might say, like Justice Potter Stewart referring to obscenity, “I’ll know it when I see it!”  The problem is, we all have different ideas about what is appropriate or not appropriate for certain environments, based on past experiences, gender, age, culture, etc.  Some of us have a much higher tolerance for skin than others; some of us simply don’t notice that kind of thing, and some of us are too busy teaching to be bothered. 

      For boys, muscle shirts and/or super-baggy pants that expose underwear are all the rage in some circles, but I think we all agree that exposing one’s skivvies is simply not acceptable in school.  For girls, the issue is more complex.  How we look and dress defines many of us girls and we want to fit in socially.  The style of dress that is popular now (skinny, low-rise jeans; tight shirts layered over other, even tighter shirts; low-cut “baby-doll” tops; and short shorts and skirts) can look perfectly demure on one girl but completely unacceptable on another based on her body-type.  Besides, any parent who has taken a daughter out shopping to buy back-to-school clothes knows that these styles are all we can find, unless we plan on dressing our girls like our boys.  Fashion, like it or not, is going to impact what girls wear.  Maybe the answer is a uniform.  Or, maybe not.

      I hear from some people that it is the responsibility of the parent to make sure their kids are dressed respectfully for school.  True enough.  But let’s face it, how hard is it to walk out the door in the morning with a nice sweater buttoned up to the neck,  then minutes later walk into school and take it off?  Kids will do this.  It doesn’t mean they are belligerent or disrespectful, or thumbing their nose at the rules….they are just being teenagers.  Or maybe they just got hot!

      Dress codes became popular with school officials and parents in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s to maintain safety and security in the wake of increased violence and gang activity.  Kids coming to school in gang colors were striking fear in the other students.  Trench coats and baggy pants could hide weapons and drugs.  Thankfully, we at LDMS, don’t have to worry much about that.  On the other hand, we want an environment that is conducive to learning with as few distractions as possible.  Skimpy, revealing clothes are distracting, even if the person does not intend to portray that image.  So, in our continuing effort to get the word out, be consistent, and provide all of our students with the best environment for learning, we ask that you review the dress code with your child on pages 13-15 in the Student/Parent Handbook.  If necessary, we will pull kids aside and tell them (respectfully and politely) to cover up or change.  You might even get a phone call asking to bring your child something else to wear.  We really don’t want to do so; it takes kids out of class and away from what we are really here for – to teach and learn – and it is a major inconvenience for you.  Thank you for your support and understanding!

                                                                                                            LDMS Faculty and Staff