The Observation Deck

There appears to be some hubbub about the LHS dress code.

One student was reportedly sent to the principal's office for a violation, and there was a social media protest by students.

The infraction was apparently having part of her back exposed.

If that is the story, I have no problem with the school's actions.

My only complaint about the dress code is that it doesn't allow hoodies.
That's simply ridiculous.

Does anyone else have thoughts on this?

All I can say is that this is easily the biggest furor I have seen concerning a Lakewood social issue since I've moved here. Currently Facebook is being inundated by comments from students and parents alike. And it seems that there are more parents who are weighing in.

Does this happen every year that school reopens? It sure would be nice to see parents and students alike be this concerned over more pressing issues.

Michael Deneen wrote:There appears to be some hubbub about the LHS dress code.

One student was reportedly sent to the principal's office for a violation, and there was a social media protest by students.

The infraction was apparently having part of her back exposed.

If that is the story, I have no problem with the school's actions.

My only complaint about the dress code is that it doesn't allow hoodies.
That's simply ridiculous.

Does anyone else have thoughts on this?

No hoodies is a good rule. Hoodies make it too easy to conceal an identity.

Corey

Nothing to see, move along.

Talked with the mother of the girl.

Seems like much ado about nothing.

Students will protest, school board will talk of uniforms, schools will carry on.


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This might be true but I have yet to see such an active dialogue between parents here on the Deck. I was surprised to read the vitriolic animosity between parents as to the pro's and con's of the dress code. There clearly are sharp divides in cultural and ethnic interpretations of what is proper and improper in terms of dress.

From what I read, there was a student walkout a few years ago that resulted in modifications of the dress code. Back in NYC, the students (especially in the 60's) were much more politically active and socially conscious. Was that true here in the 60's?

Alex Belisle wrote:This might be true but I have yet to see such an active dialogue between parents here on the Deck. I was surprised to read the vitriolic animosity between parents as to the pro's and con's of the dress code. There clearly are sharp divides in cultural and ethnic interpretations of what is proper and improper in terms of dress.

From what I read, there was a student walkout a few years ago that resulted in modifications of the dress code. Back in NYC, the students (especially in the 60's) were much more politically active and socially conscious. Was that true here in the 60's?

Alex,

It is all history again and again and again.

I was suspended a couple days after a kid was suspeneded in Rocky River for "long hair"
Rolling Stones/Beatle length. The next day I shaved my head in protest and was suspened
because my hair or lack of caused a disturbance.

Bell Bottoms, no bell bottoms, hoodies no hoodies, pegged pants, short shorts, no bras,
tie died, words on shirts, blah, blah, blah, blah

Baggy clothes...



Clothing does not kill people, people in clothes, or out of them do.

Nothing to see move along...

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For a nostalgic look back at just one aspect of the 1960's dress code for the Lakewood Schools- from, um...my personal perspective...

...just click here to access one of my past columns in the Lakewood Observer:

http://lakewoodobserver.com/read/2011/0 ... -the-boots

Back to the beat...

Gary - you are truly a wordsmith par excellence!

BAH! In 1972-73, ST Ignatius students had a student strike to eliminate their haircode. During the long-hair era, we weren't allowed to have hair touch our ears or collar. And there were plenty of Jesuits willing to trim it up.

A former principal told me that while the hoodie ban may seem harsh considering students crossing outside in all kinds of weather, there were too many incidents of smuggling contraband in said hoodies. While there were no news reports of most of the incidents, there a couple that if true, justified the hoodie ban.

I think the Lakewood schools could loosen up on some of their dress code to take into account individual style changes. Hair coloring is pretty much common in the US at this point. I have co-workers who have streaks of color or completely re-colored hair and it does not impact their work quality or their co-workers ability to complete their own work. I think this would be an easy place to give a little. If there is some actual data from any study that shows hair color and its impact on student education I would love to see it.

i think the hoodie ban is also ridiculous, especially while they have students walking back and forth across the street during the winter to get to the mods.

Regarding the concern of contraband I am under the belief that if you treat kids like prisoners don't be surprised when sometimes kids act like them.

Well the big bra burning went 20 students showed up in the yearly protest of LHS' dress
code. For this protest students were asked to wear white and no bras, most did not follow
the rules.

For an update on other dress code protests, search "dress code" in the search feature.

Since we were first told that tight pants are one of the things sent from the devil, dress
codes and dress code protests seem a bit mundane. Put let the wee ones have their protest.

What was different this time was the number of parents supporting the protest.

Good work, democracy at work.

Carry on, nothing to see.


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Jim O'Bryan wrote:Well the big bra burning went 20 students showed up in the yearly protest of LHS' dress
code. For this protest students were asked to wear white and no bras, most did not follow
the rules. Students protesting were given a home study day.

For an update on other dress code protests, search "dress code" in the search feature.

Since we were first told that tight pants are one of the things sent from the devil, dress
codes and dress code protests seem a bit mundane. Put let the wee ones have their protest.

What was different this time was the number of parents supporting the protest.

Goo work, democracy at work.

Carry on, nothing to see.


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Jim,
In terms of dress codes...During your revolting years was it ever mentioned to educate the mentality of the people being offended? Did growing your hair long stop you from getting a good education? More appropriately, did it stop people with short hair from getting a good education?

A scenario... growing your hair long inhibits the people with short hair from learning. Did anyone stop to think that maybe the people with short hair should be taught to respect the people with long hair and not look at them solely for their follicles? Cutting hair is just a band aid to the larger problem.

There is actually a lot to see here, not sure why you would carry on and brush over, unless you have forgotten your rebelling days. Or maybe, you are a short hair supporter now.

Corey

This story seems to have legs!

Corey, you nailed the main point of this. The "victim" in the eyes of the school board is the poor young men who are distracted by the fact they are surrounded by young women. Young women are being asked to dress in a way that does not indicate that they are, in fact, young women.

It isn't a far leap from this thinking to blaming a rape victim because she dressed in a way that "asked for it."

Proud of the kids and proud of the new focus.

Corey

Only glossing over the facts that each year there is an "incident" each year there is talk of a
dress code, from as far back as I can remember. As I mentioned in other threads my first
school protest was a 6th grade walk out over them wanting us to go to the Zoo for graduation.

Next would be 7th grade for "hair to short" while others got it for hair to long.

I vividly remember Pete York and I getting dragged into Dr.Howe's office for wearing clothes
that displayed "The Zid-Zag man" as the good doctor put it, "He is on every pack of marijuana
cigarettes, which completely caught Pete and I off guard, and we asked to see it.

I remember standing in protest, and in the Good Dr.'s office with "The Lakewood 7" as we
protested the closing of our smoking pit.

Each and ever one would have been worthy of, "Nothing to see, move along."

AS for this protest, it started over a clear violation of the dress code, which was lost in the
discussion. While talking with the girl's mother yesterday, I asked "Was there a tail light
out?" In other words reason to stop her, and she said yes. It was after that a secretary
heard two workmen commenting on the girl, and she suggested a shirt.

So far, I only see one violation, and it is not being discussed.

The mother was proud of her daughter, as was another father at the Root today with his
daughter. I think it is great they are spreading their wings and protesting.

What else is there to say?

Does one need to make mountains out of mole hills that they cannot control?



Merely side entertainment to forget the ethically challenged city hall.

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