Raising their arms, a group of
Wood River High School girls demonstrates how everyone’s midriff
shows in apparent violation of the school’s dress code. Express photo
by David N. Seelig
Students sit-in to protest
dress code
By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer
Teens sitting on the floor of a
Wood River High School hallway Thursday, Feb. 12, were not protesting a
war, but were demonstrating for what they felt is their right to
self-expression.
Due to a recent crackdown on dress
code violations, students gathered in a sunny upstairs hallway of the
school, sitting out the day’s classes.
At the end of last week, students
had been warned that the dress code would be strictly enforced as of
Monday, Feb. 9. By Wednesday, 45 "referrals" had been issued. Each time
a student was sent to the office with a referral from a teacher, they
were given a large, green T-shirt emblazoned with the words "Dress for
Success" to put on for the remainder of the day.
The dress code of the Blaine
County School District was not strongly enforced during the first five
months of the school year, WRHS Principal Graham Hume said.
À la 1968, Patrick Bussa
serenades the girls participating in the sit it protesting the Wood
River High School dress code. From left, Samantha Tapia, Jackie
Moore and Chandin Persaud. Express photo by David N. Seelig
Because of a murder investigation
that involved a student, "we made a conscious decision to let the dress
code take a back seat." But in November after the school district did
"360s" at each school, it was suggested that the staff at WRHS enforce
the dress code.
These 360s refer to yearly visits
by district administrators who, based on their findings, ask for
adjustments where needed.
The district’s dress code calls
for all students to wear clean, loose fitting clothing as opposed to
skin-tight attire. Tops and pants must meet with a no-skin-showing
requirement even when arms are raised, a person is seated, or bent over.
Sunglasses, caps and hoods can not be worn in the school or on school
property until school is dismissed. Gang related attire is prohibited,
as are any clothing, jewelry or accessory item with writing or pictures
that are vulgar, profane, prejudicial or promote illegal activities.
At 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Hume spoke
briefly with the students participating in the sit-in. He said they
would have unexcused absences, though not truancies. They also would not
be permitted to make up the missed school day. Many of the girls were
doing homework anyway amidst a clutter of backpacks, snacks and
magazines.
One of the two organizers of the
protest, Cait O’Connell, said Ketchum Mayor Ed Simon was their legal
advisor.
"We have the right to protest.
We’ve done the research," she said.
The group had several
sightseers—other students who came by on the way to classes—as well as
two freshman boys from a multi-media class, who were videotaping the
sit-in.
Two boys sat down and joined the
ranks of the girls who have been cited most often. Midriffs and cleavage
skin showing are the most common reasons girls are given referrals.
One girl said she had a jacket on
and was told by a teacher to take it off to check for visible skin and
then was sent to the office.
The other organizer of the
protest, Jessica Owen, said many of the girls are annoyed with the new
degree of strictness in code enforcement.
"When we get called down to the
office, there are three options we’re supposed to be given: Go home, put
on the T-shirt or go to our locker to find something of our own to put
on," Owen said. "They haven’t been giving us those. Just the shirt. If
we don’t return it, we’re charged $20."
"All my clothes are against the
dress code," another girl said. "I can’t afford to buy new ones."
Students pointed out pictures of
girls in the teen and fashion magazines littered about that showed lots
of midriff. This is the fashion of their day, they argued.
Despite the fact that Hume had
agreed to the sit-in, one language arts teacher, Tim Neville, came over
to talk to one of his students. "Get in my class," he said pointing his
finger down the hall. She refused.
Two sophomores, Jackie Moore, a
slight girl in a baggy shirt, and Samantha Tapia in a flannel shirt sat
together off to one side.
"I was going to wear a muumuu
today," Moore said. Another girl added, "How about a poncho."
Moore said she’d been given a
referral when she’d worn a black T-shirt covered by a white turtleneck
with a slit in the center.
"They said it brought attention to
my breasts," she said.
"It’s not as if we were walking
around in just our bras," freshman Rachel Riemann said. "We do have
clothes on."
In the WRHS office, Hume
considered the situation with a degree of tolerance and amusement.
"It’s pretty straight forward," he
said. "Originally it was about shirts and pants meeting (at the belt
line). But Victoria’s Secret came out with thongs and now they think
it’s cool for them to be seen above the pants. Most kids dress fine. For
the vast majority, it’s no big deal.
"The bottom line is no one should
feel uncomfortable in the classroom. If a girl has a low cut top and a
teacher needs to help her at her desk, it’s uncomfortable," he said.
"I’ve watched kids for years and have no issue with self expression
unless it’s unsafe or makes someone uncomfortable. Now with sexual
harassment out there, we can’t afford to not pay attention."
Samantha Tapia and Jackie Moore
listen as teacher Tim Neville orders Moore back to class during a school
sit-in Thursday. Express photo by David N. Seelig
Hume sent a memo to all staff
members last week explaining the situation and instructing the teachers
to "go through it with students, talk about consequences and answer
questions."
Last fall, when some kids
complained about not being able to wear hats and hoods at school, even
outside, they discussed it with Hume and a committee made up of
students, staff and Hume. The rule was amended to say that when school
was dismissed for the day they were allowed to wear hats and hoods
outside.
"The kids felt good that someone
had listened. It’s one of the reasons we have kids on that committee.
They always have a chance to redress it."
Civil disobedience is fine, he
added. "But they need to pick and choose, whether it is or isn’t
reasonable. Is it a viable reason to protest?"
He said the staff was informed
that if the kids wanted to join the sit-in, they could, and that they
could go back to class. "We have to honor the fact that they have a
right to do it. It’s OK."