Dress Code
By Caramia Putman & Jazmin Ramirez
Dressing Down the Dress-Code
What’s the right dress code? Should they exist at all? Surely, students shouldn’t wear clothing that promotes violence, or illegal activities. School is place of learning, not distraction. But when you have people deciding when you do and don’t look appropriate, thinks can get sticky.
At Ukiah High, the dress code is ambiguous. Not only that, but it’s unknown by much of the student body. Here it is in it’s entirety:
Inappropriate Clothing
In general clothing that is distracting to the learning and working environment or may result in violence is not allowed.
Specific guidelines include clothing or emblems that are:
Excessively revealing.
Inappropriate for a professional workplace.
Promote violence.
Promote violation of laws (Marijuana, alcohol, violence, etc.)
Advocate racial, ethnic, or religious prejudice.
Unsafe for a work environment (i.e. bare feet or lack of protective clothing in shop classes).
The purpose of a school dress code is to prevent school from being a distracting environment. Additionally, school dress codes should prevent violent or hateful messages, to create a setting focused on learning and acceptance.
The Ukiah High dress code seems vague compared to schools that specifically ban spaghetti straps, or shorts that don’t reach your fingertips. Yet, authority argues ours accommodates for a variety of fashions by focusing on what the clothes reveal on each specific wearer. But, students do not get to choose what their body looks like. Additionally, students argue a vague dress code allows supervisors to pick who they code, and justify their choices more easily.
The Ukiah High dress code seems standard compared to other schools in the district:
EAGLE PEAK DRESS CODE
Eagle Peak students are expected to dress in a manner which promotes a safe and positive learning environment. Good taste, the weather, health, and safety are factors that shape our dress code policy and rules. The following bullet points explain Eagle Peak’s dress code: No short shorts or skirts, including shorts that reveal one’s behind or underwear.
Bare midriff blouses and shirts are not allowed, or transparent clothing. Excessive cleavage is not allowed.
No excessive pants holes, or otherwise ripped or torn pants.
Tank tops are allowed, but straps must be at least two fingers wide. No spaghetti straps and/or no bra straps showing. Tube tops are not allowed.
No sagging pants, including pants that reveal underwear.
Hats and hoods are to be taken off in classrooms.
Spiked jewelry worn as necklaces or bracelets and clothing with spiked studs are considered a hazard and not allowed. Wallet chains are not allowed, No pajamas or slippers (except on designated “spirit days.”), No attire which has references to sex, drugs, or alcohol.
In P.E. 6-8th grade students may not wear open toed footwear, i.e. sandals or flip-flops; 5thgraders must wear closed-toed shoes at all times.
Clothing which is intolerant of race, creed, or sexual identity is not allowed.
No gang attire. This includes red or blue belts or shoelaces, bandanas of any color, or solid red and blue colors. Also, no clothing with gang signs, i.e. “13” or “14”.
All dress code infractions will be dealt with on an individual basis, parents will be notified, and a student may be asked to change their clothing.
CLOVERDALE HIGH DRESS CODE:
No lettering or designs referring to drugs, gangs, alcohol, sexual behavior, that contains profanity, or
that is demeaning to any race or to either sex.
No visible undergarments, halter-tops, half shirts, low-cut tops and shorts should be fingertip length.
Appropriate footwear must be worn at all times.
Please note: Physical education, science, and shop teachers may impose more stringent requirements than
above as needed. If your clothing is not appropriate, you may be asked to change clothing, parent called.
GANG AFFILIATION and/or ACTIVITY:
It is important to maintain a campus that is safe for students and staff in accordance with the mandate of
the Constitution of the State of California. In meeting this commitment, the governing board finds that
gangs, or any groups, which initiate or advocate activities which threaten the safety and well being of
persons or property on school campuses are dangerous and harmful to the purposes for which the school
operates. Any article of clothing, paraphernalia, accessories, insignia, styles, or graffiti, which in the
judgment of school officials is gang related is prohibited. (In making these judgments, school officials
shall take into consideration information obtained by appropriate community agencies and resources.) No
apparel will be allowed (or other items), with insignias that indicate gang affiliation (e.g. hair nets,
bandanas, blue or red belts, hats, or shoe laces). Sagging pants (two or more sizes too large) will not be
allowed. Any other clothing, which, in the opinion of the administration or the police department
represents gang-related paraphernalia, will be strictly forbidden. If clothing is not appropriate, you
may be asked to: 1) change clothing with parent contact; 2) change clothing with one day detention; 3)
Students will be put on an anti-gang contract, if dress code violations continue.
However, students and supervisors this year are clashing over this code. No one seems to be arguing about its contents, but are questioning authorities’ biases. It’s not necessarily the code that is the issue here, but how it is enforced. Stay tuned for the next issue to hear specifically from students and supervisors about relevant issues like sexism and racial profiling.