Students at Shawnee’s Jim Thorpe Academy will be required to adhere to a new dress code beginning with the 2008-09 school year, and faculty at the school say the move is designed to enhance the students’ educational experience.
Debra Watson, director of the school, said the faculty has been working to eliminate “barriers to learning.” These include clothes that are too revealing or show gang-affiliation.
The list of clothes that will be acceptable will be included in the 2008-09 student handbook. A draft of the dress code was presented this week to Shawnee Board of Education members.
“Dress codes and school uniforms have been used by schools and supported by federal courts as a way to increase student discipline and improve school safety,” the draft reads. “School dress codes and school uniforms improve the learning environment, eliminate gang attire and competition among gangs and communicates to students that school is a place for learning.”
The draft indicates that the following applies to shirts:
• Must have collar and may be either oxford or polo style;
• May be long- or short-sleeved;
• Must be solid white, black, gray or navy blue;
• Must be tucked in;
• May be accompanied by a white T-shirt worn underneath; and
• May be worn with a tie, if oxford style.
The following applies to sweaters:
• May be cardigan, vest, crew or V-neck style;
• May be solid white, black, gray, khaki or navy blue;
• Must be worn over an approved collared shirt; and
• May be worn like a sweater if they are worn over an approved shirt, are an approved color and do not bear advertising or logos.
The following applies to pants, skirts and shorts:
• Must be worn with a belt if belt loops are present, and the belt must be solid brown or black and have an appropriate buckle;
• May be solid navy blue, khaki, white, black or gray;
• Shorts and skirts must be knee-length; and
• Must fit and be worn at waist level.
No blue jeans will be allowed.
The following applies to shoes:
• No open-toe or open-heel sandals or flip flops are permitted;
• Must be black, brown, gray, navy blue or white; and
• Shoestrings must match shoes.
The following applies for coats:
• Sports coats, blazers or dress jackets may be worn in the classroom, and they must be solid black, navy blue, white, gray or khaki; and
• Outer coats, jackets and hoodies may not be worn in the building.
The draft reads that no attire with advertising or logos will be permitted, and no headgear will be allowed in the building. Headgear includes hats, visors, stocking caps, bandanas, headbands or any other head covering.
Sunglasses may not be worn in the building, and no student may carry a bandana or wear inappropriate jewelry or belt buckles. No sleepwear or undergarment may be worn as an outer garment, and attire that reveals the chest or exposes a bare midriff, bodice or abdomen is not allowed.
The draft reads that the following also are not allowed:
Any article of clothing or haircut depicting gangs, satanic occults, violence, sex, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, mutilation or language that could be considered obscene, vulgar or ethnically discriminatory.
“We hope we’ve got it broad enough for them,” Watson said of the available choices. “I don’t think it’s as restrictive as a uniform. We’re not trying to be that restrictive.”
Watson said several local retail stores have the styles of allowed clothing at reasonable prices. She said the school may even consider discussing a possible grant through Wal-Mart to help some families with the cost of acquiring the apparel.
“We don’t see this as a huge expenditure,” she said. “We’ve talked with the kids and they know this is coming.”
Watson said the dress code has been discussed with her students, and they seem receptive to the idea.
Jason Smith may be reached at 214-3932 or william.j.smith@news-star.com.
