As Temperatures Rise, So Do Dress Code Violations

When it comes to the student dress code in Anne Arundel County schools, there is no rule of thumb, but there is the finger rule.

The regulation states that girls must wear skirts and shorts that extend to the tip of their fingers when holding their arms at their sides. Additionally, shirt straps must be three-fingers wide.

However, as teachers and administrators across the county know, the rule is frequently broken, especially as the temperatures start heating up in spring and early summer.

“I probably say something three to five times a day easily,” said Old Mill High School Principal Sheila Hill. “In the winter we have fewer [incidents], but they still happen.”

On the first day back from spring break, Hill said she had roughly 15 conversations with young women regarding their clothing before 1 p.m.

Girls just want to have fun

Girls are the most consistent offenders when it comes to the school dress code, Hill said. Several girls interviewed at Old Mill admitted to changing their routes to class in order to avoid Hill because of their fashion choices.

“I don’t think girls are ever surprised [when stopped by administrators for their clothing]. Every girl looks at herself in the morning,” said Laney Rosdail, a senior from Annapolis. “She knows what’s up.”

Typical violations for boys include wearing hats in class or suggestive messages on t-shirts.

The high number of dress code violations could suggest a significant disconnect between students’ and administrators’ idea of appropriate clothing.

“It’s really hard to look nice and follow the dress code,” said 17-year-old Trina Christian, admittedly one of Old Mill’s most consistent dress code offenders. “I do what I want. I don’t feel like changing things.”

Fashion No-No’s

According to the Anne Arundel County Student Handbook, “students are to dress in clothes that promote a safe and respectful learning environment. Clothes that create a disruptive environment or cause a healthy or safety hazard are not acceptable at school.”

“[The policy] is important because the intent is to keep the focus on instruction and to eliminate distractions,” said Anne Arundel County Schools Spokesman Bob Mosier.

Students interviewed said some of the most common violations of dress code pertain to short skirts or shorts, low cut tops on girls and low-hanging pants on boys. Even flip-flops aren’t technically permitted, but are usually allowed by faculty and administrators.

Crime and punishment

Hill estimates she sees anywhere from 20 to 50 incidents a week. But students whose only infraction is violating the dress code rarely see serious consequences -- a policy maintained countywide, said Mosier.

“Most infractions don’t go to paper, so there is no way to document how many a student may have,” said Hill. “Mostly, there are meetings with the student and/or a phone call to the parent. Occasionally we place a message that a ‘warning’ was given into the student’s folder.”

When stopped by a teacher or administrator, dress code violators are taken to the office and asked to “re-situate” their attire if possible. Then, if the clothing is still deemed inappropriate, students are asked to put on alternative clothing, such as gym clothes or a sweatshirt for the day. If the student refuses, parents are called to come remove the child from the school.

At Howard County’s Hammond High School, the administration keeps a XXXL sweatshirt that must be worn by those breaking the clothing policy, said Government and Leadership teacher Alec Livieratos. The sweatshirt reads, “Dress Code Violator” with a bar-code image beneath the text, he said.

Sometimes additional enforcement is necessary, but only if the student refuses to cooperate, said Hill.

“It would have to involve another behavior and not the dress code to warrant a punishment,” said Hill.

The lack of punishment for violations could be a reason why students dress however they want regardless of the rules, said Rosdail. “[The punishment] is not even a slap on the wrist. You just get out of class for a little bit.”

The influence of parents

One thing administrators and students do agree on is that parents play a part in helping kids decide what is appropriate to wear to school.

“I think the more parents talk with their children and emphasize what is appropriate, the less disruption there will be,” said Mosier.

Students admitted that monitoring school clothing is important, but felt the level of regulation was unnecessary. Several Old Mill seniors emphasized the role parents play in what kids wear to school and how they view their attire.

“If my mom don’t care if I wear leggings, why should [administrators] say something if my mom don’t have an issue with it,” said Christian.

At times, administrators must handle parents who disagree with the school’s restrictions. When that’s the case, principals like Hill try to put things as delicately as possible.

“There’s a fine line between cute fashion,” Hill said, “and distracting our young men.”