Warm weather and recent fashion trends have recently put some students at odds with the campus dress code.
According to associate principal Sharon Bartlett, the dress code is consistent in all of the schools within the Acalanes Union High School District. She said the assistant principals from all four schools have worked hard to make sure the dress code is the same.
Dress code rules can be found on page 20 in of student handbook section of the school issued planner.
Bartlett emphasized the importance of dressing appropriately on campus. “This is a business environment, so we dress for business. For students or for us [faculty members] it means that we’re not distracting, we’re not focusing on recreational attire, we’re dressed for business and we take care of business,” she said.
Bartlett also acknowledged that clothing not appropriate for school can be appropriate in other settings. She said, “All of us have things in our drawers and our closets that we love, that are just cute, but that aren’t appropriate for business, whether you’re working in an office or you’re coming here on campus.”
Junior Juliet Rosso is one student irritated by the rules. “It’s unfair to make girls feel that they can’t dress a certain way because they distract boys,” she said. Rosso believes the school should teach boys not to over-sexualize girls rather than fight a losing battle with female fashion. She believes that since boys are allowed to wear trendy styles like ‘bro tanks,’ there is a double standard.
Bartlett however, contends that there is an expectation for all students to wear clothing that is different from what they might wear in more casual settings. “We have different clothes for different purposes and the purpose of the dress code has always been to keep it a business-like atmosphere,” she said.
“We have to keep in mind that when you have a public institution that serves everyone, you always have to be a little bit more on the conservative side because what you would choose as being comfortable in and appropriate might make someone else very uncomfortable,” Bartlett said. She added that the school is supported with public money and it is the school’s duty to provide a safe and comfortable environment for all.
According to Bartlett, some dress code rules are rarely broken. For example, gang apparel has not been an issue. “Our problem is that it’s warm weather and fashion sometimes dictates ‘fashionable’ to be some things that aren’t consistent with the business environment,” she said.
Bartlett plans on sending out a reminder on Schoolloop and on the online bulletin to students and parents about the existing dress code.
“We can’t assume that our standards or our values or our aesthetics are someone else’s and you kind of always have to plan for the more conservative side of that to honor everybody,” Bartlett said. She added that she does not believe anyone is dressing to be provocative. She thinks students are just dressing in what they consider to be fashionable. Bartlett emphasized the importance of not offending anyone. “We must plan accordingly and be aware,” she said.
According to Bartlett, most of the referrals she receives are from teachers. However, if she or anyone else in administration sees a student who is in violation of the dress code, they ask the student to take care of it. She said they ask the student if there is “something they can cover up with and please don’t wear it again.” Bartlett said there is no specific punishment for a dress code violation.
However, senior Amanda Ratcliffe believes the policy is being implemented inconsistently. “They’re going after specific students and it’s all based on body type. One person could wear something and it’s totally socially acceptable but another person could wear it and it’s not socially acceptable at all,” she said.
Ratcliffe explained that in the middle of a classroom a student will get randomly picked on when there may be multiple violations of the dress code in that room. “They’re definitely picking on people so it makes everything unfair,” she said.
“We’re trying to honor everybody’s comfort and be consistent with the dress code which was designed to do that,” said Bartlett.
Although Rosso believes it is reasonable for exposed midriffs to be be prohibited, she thinks tank tops and shorts that “cover everything” should be allowed.
“We tend to have more issues with women because of culture and advertising what’s fashionable,” Bartlett said. She said the school has had issues with men’s sagging pants and tank tops in the past, but it came and went. Bartlett explained that teen fashion goes through phases like the “baby doll crop tops” of several years ago.
According to Ratcliffe, she was ordered to go home and change her clothes, which she believed was wrong. She explained that there was someone wearing the same outfit who was not also sent home. “It’s a complete double standard for everyone in every situation,” Ratcliffe said. Though she admits she has violated the dress code frequently she said, “I didn’t really care so I kind of just walked away from them.”
“We have excellent scholars, we have athletes, we have caring individuals. I think the whole dress code thing is kind of a tempest in the tea pot. It’s warm weather. I think we all just need to be reminded it’s not summer and it’s not the beach,” Bartlett said.