UPDATED: Do You Find This Top 'Inappropriate' For Middle School?

Originally posted at 6 a.m. Updated at 11:50 a.m. with comments from Principal

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A Fuller Middle School seventh grade girl was singled out, by a male physical education teacher, at Fuller Middle School for what he said was an “inappropriate” top to class on Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 8.

The student’s mother expressed her anger in an email to the teacher, after her daughter came home upset from school.

“My daughter came home today and was upset by the fact that you told her that her T-shirt was inappropriate for gym class,” wrote the mother to the teacher. Patch has chosen not to identify the mother, so not to identify the student.

“Can you please tell me how this t-shirt is inappropriate? It covers her skin and is not revealing anything to the male population that could offend them. Should she be wearing a turtle neck in 90 degree weather?,” wrote the mother to the teacher, and also copied to the school principal Sharon Seyller.

The mother did not receive a response from the teacher, but the principal of the school suggested a face-to-face meeting with the mother Wednesday.

No note came home from school from the teacher nor did the physical education teacher contact the parent on Tuesday.

Fuller Principal Seyller said “We are reviewing the grading rubric and other practices that are implemented in the class room related to student dress.”

According to the mother, the gym teacher told the girl her top was “inappropriate.” He then asked her to stand in front of the co-ed gym class and asked students to identify what was wrong with the top.

The mother took a photo of the top the girl wore to gym class and submitted it to the school, questioning the gym teacher and the school’s policy. She also submitted a copy of that photo to Framingham Patch, which is attached to this report.

In response to the teacher singling out the child Principal Seyller said “We take parent and student concerns seriously and respond on an individual basis. This is an example of such a case that we are addressing with those involved.”

The mother told Framingham Patch she had a phone call with the principal Wednesday morning.

She said she and her daughter are meeting with the teacher and principal on Thursday morning.

“I am not happy about this situation and I hope that this will encourage change going forward. It is awful that it happened to my child or anyone’s child,” she told Patch.

Fuller Middle School has a published dress code policy in its handbook.

It reads:

“The way you dress and groom yourself affects the way you feel and the way the world perceives you. When you come to school, you are dressing for your job as a student. Your clothing should be clean, neat, simple and comfortable so that you can do your best work while in school. Outerwear should reflect the weather conditions. Sneakers are required in
the gymnasium.

What Not To Wear
Clothing that is disruptive to the educational process is not acceptable at school. This includes clothing that causes others to be distracted or offended. Shorts or skirts must be a minimum of past or equal to the fingertips when arms are straight down and shoulders relaxed.
Unacceptable clothing includes, but is not limited to, hats, sweatshirt hoods, pants below the waist, see-through clothes, shirts that display a bare midsection, shirts that are cut too low or show cleavage, short skirts or shorts, and hanging chains. No undergarment should be visible (bra straps, boxers, or shorts under pants).
Clothing with words or images that have sexual connotations, extreme or violent imagery, or references to alcohol or other drugs are not allowed.
Head wear, coats, and vests are to be placed in a locker upon arrival at school and not to be worn during the school day. A sweatshirt or sweater may be kept in a locker to wear when needed. At the discretion of an administrator, exceptions to this rule may be made for religious or medical reasons.”

What the girl wore to gym class would appear to fit the Fuller Middle School’s policy.

But Framingham Patch has learned that the physical education teacher has created his own dress code for his class.

He sent home a memo to parents dated Aug. 29, asking both parents and students to sign a stricter dress code policy than the school’s handbook that prohibits “v-neck shirts” and ”low cut collars.” The teacher also requests that all t-shirts have sleeves.

“Students should be dressed so that their clothing does not hinder their performance,” wrote the physical education teacher. Patch chose not to name the teacher at this time.

A copy of that memo, sent to Framingham Patch from other parents at Fuller Middle School, is also attached to this report.

The mother said from reading that memo, all she can guess is that her daughter’s top was “low cut” and showed her daughter’s “collar bone.”

She told Patch she does not see anything “inappropriate” with what her daughter wore to class, and wants an explanation from school administration.

“Given the nature of physical education class, there are separate clothing and foot wear requirements. These are outlined in the grading rubric given to all students in grades 6-8 which parents are asked to review and sign,” said Fuller’s principal in an email to Patch.

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Do you think this shirt is appropriate for a seventh grade girl to wear to gym class? Post your thoughts in the comment section below.