School dress codes, extreme? (Dallas, Garland: spring break, school districts, gangs)

[cincylifer]

By now everyone knows I am on the hunt for a school district..lol
Anywho...my kids were checking out some of the districts websites and they stumbled upon dress codes. Now I am all for dress codes, but she was looking at one school in the Garland district, which didnt allow shorts, and only capris if they were near the ankle. Also one of the middle schools you couldnt wear shorts until after spring break...Someone please say it aint so!?!

It is burn your $%@ heat, and you cant wear shorts to school?

Is it like that at all the schools? And if so, whats up with that?

[DFWgal]

They generally abuse the A/C so don't worry too much about the heat.

[DFWNewHomeSpecialist21]

ALl school districts and each individual school has their own Dress Code Policy. Some schools are getting strict on what students can and can not wear. I have a daughter and her school wears only uniforms. I personally like the school uniforms but that is just my opinion.

[cincylifer]

I like uniforms too but even with those, kids should be allowed to wear shorts, or skorts

[TXNGL]

Originally Posted by DFWgal

They generally abuse the A/C so don't worry too much about the heat.

True! My daughter is still taking a jacket to school. As for the dress codes, I think most of them are more about what they're trying to prevent (you can only imagine what some of the students would wear, with their parents' blessings too). For instance Dallas has a belt rule. If slacks/jeans have belt loops, the student must wear a belt. That's to prevent that stupid sagging pants/gangster look. Why boys think it's cool to walk around looking like toddlers who don't know how to pull their pants up is beyond me, but I must be getting old.

[TXNGL]

Originally Posted by cincylifer

I like uniforms too but even with those, kids should be allowed to wear shorts, or skorts

Yeah, I don't get that one either. DISD allows shorts and skorts (uniform) but they must not be shorter than the tips of the fingers. Did that make sense?? The kid holds their arms down by their sides and the shorts can't fall above the tips of the fingers. I don't know why that's so hard to explain! LOL.

[FarNorthDallas]

You can still wear shorts in Richardson ISD, but they must be of a certain length. Some elementary schools in Richardson have a uniform, some don't. Most don't. None of the jr high and high schools do. You can wear shorts in high school - again, of a certain length.

[ChristieP]

I grew up in Mesquite schools, and we were not allowed to wear shorts past the 4th grade. With the current fashion trends of revealing clothes, I can see why this is not unusual, and why so many districts have gone to uniform dress.

You really don't need shorts before spring break, which is in mid-March. Even then, the weather is usually in the mid-70s.

[BigDGeek]

This was a long time ago but I attended Dallas public schools and we were not allowed to wear "short shorts" or tank tops beyond elementary school. From junior high onwards, the "fingertip rule" applied to skirts and shorts, exceptions being made for cheerleaders and girls on the drill team. We did not have a belt rule but we were also not allowed to wear earrings or studs anywhere except for our earlobes, and boys were not allowed to wear earrings. No chain belts either, no flip flops, no tank tops, tube tops, or halter tops. Shoes had to be closed-toe or worn with stockings/socks. If our shoes had laces, they had to be tied. Also, t-shirts with vulgar expressions or that promoted drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes were not allowed. Greek t-shirts for sororities and fraternities were also not allowed. Our dress code was fairly strict, but nobody seemed to have much trouble sticking to it!

[Spree]

My son has worn shorts all year at his high school, except the days he has to give a presentation for class, then he wears kahki type pants, dress shirt and tie.