Keeping in step

By Mallory Panuska
Times West Virginian

FAIRMONT August 26, 2008 09:59 pm

— Each year when its time to go back to school, parents start heading to the stores to help their kids pick out clothes in the latest styles to wear to class.
And from shimmer, rhinestones and lace to denim, sweatshirts and hoodies, there is a wide range of clothing styles that are popular among kids, teens and tweens this year. But for the parents, a bigger question than the look and cost of the trend that looms is whether or not what they buy for their children is in tune with the school’s dress code.
Typically, most of the popular fashion trends —and the students and parents who choose them— adhere to local school dress codes, said Gary Price, administrative assistant of the Marion County Board of Education.
For the most part, parents are very reasonable for what they allow their students to wear,” Price said. “There are some things you may see out on the street that may be offensive and most kids understand and they don’t go that far. The vast majority of students are very reasonable with what they would choose to wear to school.”
In Marion County schools, students are basically required to be clean and presentable and dress appropriately for activities like physical education. Anything that draws attention to the student, like spandex or mesh clothing, tube tops, tank tops or midriff-baring tops, are prohibited. And clothing and accessories with vulgar, offensive or suggestive words or symbols are also against the rules. Tobacco and alcohol-related slogans and chains and chain wallets or other accessories are also not allowed.
“Basically, most of the schools just go with the basic theory of nothing distracting or vulgar or that supports something such as tobacco or alcohol,” Price said.
Area students in grades seven-12 must also follow an additional set of guidelines, which include length requirements for shorts, skirts, dresses and necklines. Some local schools also initiate additional guidelines which includes the banning of boxer shorts, pajamas, trench coats and all gang-related clothing and accessories.
And while Price said there are some violations each year, for the most part, these dress code guidelines are followed pretty well within the schools. Price said the most common violations that occur are usually with offensive T-shirts that students pick up over the summer.
“The most common (violation) is an inappropriate T-shirt that someone picks up at the beach or at one of the fairs,” Price said. “That’s usually about the extent.”
When a violation does occur, depending on the severity, the student is usually just told to either turn his or her shirt inside-out or cover up the offensive slogan, or the student is told to go home and change or have a change of clothes brought to him or her.
“We usually try to handle it in as low key a manner as possible,” Price said. “The student has done it to draw attention, and we don‘t want him to succeed in that.”
E-mail Mallory Panuska at mpanuska@timeswv.com.

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