Should middle school students be allowed to wear leggings at school?

[Asclepias]

It is currently a dress code violation for students to wear uncovered leggings at public schools and many parents have been complaining about it. What are your thoughts about dress code rules in public schools?

Dress codes increase violations and lead to suspensions. It's the dumbest crap I have ever seen.

School is for learning. Its not a fashion show. Kids should learn to follow the rules for the environment they are in. If this increases violations and suspensions then that means someones parents are not doing their job.

That's a whole lot of should, Asclepisas. The world should do a lot of things. They don't though. The reality is that some of these kids are stuffing shoes with plastic bags to make the shoes fit. They aren't going to be able to have enough money to clean those clothes in the middle of the week and the name of the game is to keep kids in school. The only group of people this serves is the adults that can pretend nothing is going on. There are bigger arguments to have.

I went to catholic school for 4 years. My parents bought me 5 pair of pants, 5 shirts and 3 sweaters. I was responsible for washing my clothes and frankly I made sure I washed them because there was no way I was going to go to school with dirty clothes on. This washing was done on Sunday morning without fail. If for some reason the uniform had to be washed during the week my mother did it which made me feel like crap since she worked so hard already. The uniforms are less expensive than just wearing regular clothing which is a benefit to low income households like ours was. What benefits do you see in letting kids wear what they want?

 

[Asclepias]

I agree, Ascelpias, if all students AND teachers must abide by a strict uniform code.

You seem to confuse children with adults.

I agree with Jake. The teachers should be held to a dress code as well to set an example.

 

[skye]

It is currently a dress code violation for students to wear uncovered leggings at public schools and many parents have been complaining about it. What are your thoughts about dress code rules in public schools?

Kids should wear uniforms to school.

I agree. ^^

 

[Billy_Kinetta]

I would mandate all students in the public school system wear grey sweatsuits and black Chuck Taylors, with an American flag shoulder patch.

That's it.

No american flag comrade.

Okay, now it's two American flags, one on each shoulder.

 

[Asclepias]

I would mandate all students in the public school system wear grey sweatsuits and black Chuck Taylors, with an American flag shoulder patch.

That's it.

No american flag comrade.

Okay, now it's two American flags, one on each shoulder.

No gang symbols

 

[Billy_Kinetta]

I agree, Ascelpias, if all students AND teachers must abide by a strict uniform code.

You seem to confuse children with adults.

I agree with Jake. The teachers should be held to a dress code as well to set an example.

Agreed. I read Jake as expecting teachers to also wear sweatsuits.

 

[ScienceRocks]

I don't give a fuck. Let them wear panties as far as I am concern.

 

[usmbguest5318]

"Maybe" is my answer, but that option doesn't exist among the poll options. I don't see the matter as binary, which is how the poll answer options tacitly present it.

I am of the mind that there are very few always-appropriate/always-inappropriate garments for individuals to wear. What "works" and when and what does not "work" and when depends as much on the wearer as it does on the circumstance of the wearing.

If the child is going to wear them as shown below, then no....

​

If the child wears them as shown below, I see no problem with their doing so....

These ways of wearing leggings is fine for going to class.

(I don't approve of the coquettish bimbo pose, but the leggings are okay.)

The photos below are of high school students at the high school my son attended.

These looks are a bit more fashionable than I suspect most girls would don for school, but if my daughter were to wear it to class, I wouldn't object on the grounds of the leggings being inappropriate.

(Is the coquettish bimbo pose "a thing" among young women these days?")

If the school has an equestrian program, wearing something like this is fine for practice and whatnot. The look below is fairly typical of what my daughter wears/wore for recreational riding activities.

​

Similarly, if the child's body shape is what I call "two tons of fun," then, mostly no, she should not wear leggings in lieu of pants or a dress/skirt. However, if she or her style guides have good style sense, there're ways she can wear leggings that don't look gross.

​

At the end of the day, it just depends....I think parents and a school's administrators need to consider each case individually. Of course, school administrations prefer "cookie cutter" approaches to things like dress codes, but they are sometimes reticent or disallowed to implement a mandated uniform.



Aside:

I don't know why, but it strikes me as odd that, for the most part, dress code issues seem to swirl around girls rather than boys. I have three boys and a girl, and all of them figured out how to "put their sexy on" well before I'd have liked them to. As goes young male "sexy dress," what I observed differing was that "boy sexy" seemed to focus on how loose garments drape over their muscles rather than being skintight. From what I can tell, my kids' friends know as much about "putting their sexy on" as do adults.

At the end of the day, I had to accept that neither I nor the school's staff could police their every outfit choice. Accordingly, I had to trust in their exercising the good judgment they were taught to have. Giving kids free reign to exercise good judgment with their sartorial decisions and the consequences thereof strikes me as a fitting part of the "leash" parents can safely give kids. After all, learning to resist sartorial temptation -- be it the wearing or the inspiration attire may catalyze for "reaching out and touching" -- is among the things young people need to learn to resist and, when appropriate, not resist. It's never too soon to learn a lesson, and, frankly, the sooner one learns a lesson, the better.​

 

[fncceo]

We need to go back to old fashioned school dress codes that import values and decorum...

 

[JustAnotherNut]

I agree with uniforms, especially with middle schoolers.

 

[Slade3200]

Parents' call not the schools' in my opinion

What about jeans with holes? Or gang symbols like bandanas?

What is this, 1985?

Ha. I wish. These are real things that our local school has dress code restriction for. There has been a lot pushback from parents about the leggings. School wants to teach kids discipline and set basic standards of dress etiquette... parents want to be able to decide what their kids can and can’t wear to school

 

[JakeStarkey]

I agree, Ascelpias, if all students AND teachers must abide by a strict uniform code.

You seem to confuse children with adults.

No, that's you. Teachers should set the example.

 

[usmbguest5318]

I agree with uniforms, especially with middle schoolers.

I won't ever object to the notion of uniforms, yet I think there are school settings where their implementation provides more value than in others. From my observations of my kids' school experiences and from occasional visits to some D.C. area schools, it seems to me that the issue of what kids wear to school comes up in coeducational schools and doesn't much do so at unisex institutions. It seems by my casual observation that even though the students can wear pretty much whatever they want, save for the color of the pants and shits, they pretty much dress alike.

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

I agree, Ascelpias, if all students AND teachers must abide by a strict uniform code.

You seem to confuse children with adults.

I agree with Jake. The teachers should be held to a dress code as well to set an example.

I believe the teachers should have a little leeway in how they dress but it would have to be within certain guidelines. They are after all the authority figure in the classroom.

 

[JustAnotherNut]

I agree with uniforms, especially with middle schoolers.

I won't ever object to the notion of uniforms, yet I think there are school settings where their implementation provides more value than in others. From my observations of my kids' school experiences and from occasional visits to some D.C. area schools, it seems to me that the issue of what kids wear to school comes up in coeducational schools and doesn't much do so at unisex institutions. It seems by my casual observation that even though the students can wear pretty much whatever they want, save for the color of the pants and shits, they pretty much dress alike.

Yes that could well be true. The bigger problem in a co-ed school is the reasons behind the clothing choices. In a boys or girls only school, the pressure of looking good for others isn't there as much as in co-ed schools. Where you want to look good for the opposite sex, but also as good as the next person. When that competitive edge is taken out of the equation, there are less issues because of it.

Although the 'uncovered' leggings for girls could become an issue with male teachers

 

[usmbguest5318]

I agree with uniforms, especially with middle schoolers.

I won't ever object to the notion of uniforms, yet I think there are school settings where their implementation provides more value than in others. From my observations of my kids' school experiences and from occasional visits to some D.C. area schools, it seems to me that the issue of what kids wear to school comes up in coeducational schools and doesn't much do so at unisex institutions. It seems by my casual observation that even though the students can wear pretty much whatever they want, save for the color of the pants and shits, they pretty much dress alike.

Yes that could well be true. The bigger problem in a co-ed school is the reasons behind the clothing choices. In a boys or girls only school, the pressure of looking good for others isn't there as much as in co-ed schools. Where you want to look good for the opposite sex, but also as good as the next person. When that competitive edge is taken out of the equation, there are less issues because of it.

Although the 'uncovered' leggings for girls could become an issue with male teachers

Although the 'uncovered' leggings for girls could become an issue with male teachers

I suppose anything is possible; certainly being at once a letch and a teacher is not at all mutually exclusionary. For my part, however, the male teachers and the possibility that they might be lecherous aren't things I'd cite as reasons for any student to refrain from "putting on their sexy" to go to class.

 

[Disir]

It is currently a dress code violation for students to wear uncovered leggings at public schools and many parents have been complaining about it. What are your thoughts about dress code rules in public schools?

Dress codes increase violations and lead to suspensions. It's the dumbest crap I have ever seen.

School is for learning. Its not a fashion show. Kids should learn to follow the rules for the environment they are in. If this increases violations and suspensions then that means someones parents are not doing their job.

That's a whole lot of should, Asclepisas. The world should do a lot of things. They don't though. The reality is that some of these kids are stuffing shoes with plastic bags to make the shoes fit. They aren't going to be able to have enough money to clean those clothes in the middle of the week and the name of the game is to keep kids in school. The only group of people this serves is the adults that can pretend nothing is going on. There are bigger arguments to have.

I went to catholic school for 4 years. My parents bought me 5 pair of pants, 5 shirts and 3 sweaters. I was responsible for washing my clothes and frankly I made sure I washed them because there was no way I was going to go to school with dirty clothes on. This washing was done on Sunday morning without fail. If for some reason the uniform had to be washed during the week my mother did it which made me feel like crap since she worked so hard already. The uniforms are less expensive than just wearing regular clothing which is a benefit to low income households like ours was. What benefits do you see in letting kids wear what they want?

If you attended a Catholic school then that is a different ball game.

First, the uniforms in public schools are part of a larger program of zero tolerance--which is a bunch of crap.

Not everyone owns a washer and dryer. There are parents who wash the clothes on payday but don't have enough money to wash clothes until the next payday. The kid either is so humiliated he doesn't attend school or gets bounced because he is not in compliance with the code and is still too humiliated to explain why unless you dig for information. AND you are able to dig without embarrassing the kid. Some parents, and I use that term loosely, don't make it a priority and they just suck meanwhile the kid still gets code violations and gets bounced.

Pick and choose your battles. There are kids that have dealt with serious trauma and they can't see a future. Getting them to walk through the door let alone participate in class is a battle.

So, what do kids get out of wearing what they want? The pretense they are expressing their individuality. They have clothes they are comfortable in. The clothing can be used as a bargaining chip. I dealt with a kid that had a red faux hawk and facial piercings. His mom told him he could wear what he wanted and could have facial piercings (but could not have his ears gauged or have tattoos) providing he didn't get high and remained on the honor roll.

 

[usmbguest5318]

The bigger problem in a co-ed school is the reasons behind the clothing choices.

I had to chuckle upon reading that sentence. I did because the thought that came to mind when I read it is that if there is a problem with anyone's -- minors and adults -- sartorial choices, it derives from the reason they made the choices they did. There are far too many reasons and choices to enumerate, but one example that fairly well summarizes the gamut of the reasons is found in the photo-meme below.

Quite simply, a major problem is that folks think they look good wearing "A" when the reality is that their body just isn't a "A-appropriate" body. And let's be honest, why would anyone willfully leave their house not on a stretcher and looking bad, that is to say, looking either like they don't own a mirror or like someone other than they is whom they see upon looking in the mirror?


Aside:

If you like clothes, it behooves you to stay fit because when you are, you won't look bad wearing anything that fits, but when you're obese, that you can fit in the garment doesn't mean it fits you.
-- My wife​

My wife delivered that statement in a conversation explaining to our daughter why she, like her brothers, was required to do aerobics and weight training.

As a pre-teen, our daughter wasn't keen on having to hit gym. As a high school senior and now woman, there's no denying she revels in the fact that she heeded the advice her mother gave her. She absolutely loves the fact that she's grown into being "Hollywood hot" woman, as we teasingly refer to her looks and shape. It took a few years of "bitching and moaning" for her to get on board with working out; however, now, she works-out seven days a week. LOL

FWIW, my wife and I had one overarching goal, to raise our kids so that upon becoming adults, the world would, as much as possible, truly be their oyster. While part of that has to do with career and related matters, an equally material part of it rests in the social sphere, which is why we taught/required our kids to get fit and stay that way. Now that they're all grown, whether they maintain that, to what extent, and/or for how many years into the future they do/don't is their choice. As far as I'm concerned, I am content that they "entered the world," so to speak, having no material deficits. I think as a parent that is about all one can reliably do for one's kids.​

 

[JustAnotherNut]

The bigger problem in a co-ed school is the reasons behind the clothing choices.

I had to chuckle upon reading that sentence. I did because the thought that came to mind when I read it is that if there is a problem with anyone's -- minors and adults -- sartorial choices, it derives from the reason they made the choices they did. There are far too many reasons and choices to enumerate, but one example that fairly well summarizes the gamut of the reasons is found in the photo-meme below.

Quite simply, a major problem is that folks think they look good wearing "A" when the reality is that their body just isn't a "A-appropriate" body. And let's be honest, why would anyone willfully leave their house not on a stretcher and looking bad, that is to say, looking either like they don't own a mirror or like someone other than they is whom they see upon looking in the mirror?


Aside:

If you like clothes, it behooves you to stay fit because when you are, you won't look bad wearing anything that fits, but when you're obese, that you can fit in the garment doesn't mean it fits you.
-- My wife​

My wife delivered that statement in a conversation explaining to our daughter why she, like her brothers, was required to do aerobics and weight training.

As a pre-teen, our daughter wasn't keen on having to hit gym. As a high school senior and now woman, there's no denying she revels in the fact that she heeded the advice her mother gave her. She absolutely loves the fact that she's grown into being "Hollywood hot" woman, as we teasingly refer to her looks and shape. It took a few years of "bitching and moaning" for her to get on board with working out; however, now, she works-out seven days a week. LOL

FWIW, my wife and I had one overarching goal, to raise our kids so that upon becoming adults, the world would, as much as possible, truly be their oyster. While part of that has to do with career and related matters, an equally material part of it rests in the social sphere, which is why we taught/required our kids to get fit and stay that way. Now that they're all grown, whether they maintain that, to what extent, and/or for how many years into the future they do/don't is their choice. As far as I'm concerned, I am content that they "entered the world," so to speak, having no material deficits. I think as a parent that is about all one can reliably do for one's kids.​

True dat, I suppose. But my thought when I posted that is from the teens perspective and especially middle schoolers who are just becoming sexually aware and aware of their own bodies. They don't usually make smart choices in their mannerisms or dress choices. And it is usually the kids that choose the clothes they wear and parents just foot the bill.

Sure they want to look nice, but kids tend to dress to compete for attention, as to the reasons behind their choices.

Wearing uniforms to school is really no different than those that wear uniforms to work. At school, it does take out the competitive edge. Kids are still free to wear whatever they choose on their own time.

I will say the longer blouses that cover the inappropriate details are much more tasteful and can even look good on larger bodies. And that goes for adults as well. Yes I have & wear the leggings on occasion. They are comfortable & warm and I wear the longer blouse or sweater that covers what is nobodies business but mine & hubby's

 

[Coyote]

I'm all for dress codes in schools. That way you remove brand name competition, sexual distractions, gang symbolism, and other provocations that have no place in the schools. Schools are for educating not "freedome of expression". Besides it would be so much easier on the parents. You could have one day a week be a wear whatever you want day.

I think it's time to tighten up dress codes in schools.