Of all the issues that we deal with in the course of a school year, very few draw as much interest, and sometimes controversy, as the dress code.

Like virtually every school district, we do have a dress code. It’s Fairfield Board of Education policy JFCA, and that policy says that the dress code “may be reviewed annually.” We have decided to do a review of it this year. Beth Prince, an assistant principal at the Intermediate School, has bravely accepted my request that she lead the effort.

Dress codes are important, for both safety and to help students stay focused on learning. We don’t allow clothing, jewelry, tattoos and other items that promote or glorify alcohol, drugs, sexually suggestive contents, lewd symbols or slogans, gangs or cults, or hate, violence, death, suicide or gore. The code spells out all the body parts that have to stay covered, and deals with wearing heavy jackets in school, shoes (no flip-flops in grades K-6, for playground safety reasons), hair and make-up, and piercings and jewelry.

Inevitably the subject of uniforms comes up. Most parochial schools have had students wear uniforms for many years. Some public schools have adopted a standard mode of dress, for example, khaki pants and blue polo shirts with collars. Supporters of that option believe it removes the competitive pressure young people feel to have the latest, and usually most expensive, fashions. People who don’t support that option often cite the limitations on a student’s freedom of expression, and the right to dress the way he or she is comfortable.

In many facets of school life, including the dress code, we try to reflect the values of the community. Those community standards and values often evolve over time. (Stop by Central Elementary some day and take a look at the class pictures from the 1940s and 1950s hanging on the walls.) Our current dress code says “hair color must be a natural color or tone.” It’s only my personal opinion, but I’m not sure that a student with green or blue hair causes much of a disruption anymore.

But some of our community standards and values are more enduring. I haven’t heard any outcry to allow more displays of skin. Avoiding disruptions to the learning environment is a major part of why we have a dress code.
 
As the committee that will review the dress code gets down to work, it will be seeking input in a variety of ways. I believe the process is as important as the product, because this is a great opportunity, especially for our students, to learn how to express their own opinions, listen to how others feel, and have a hand in developing something that has broad community support.

Published in the Fairfield Echo, Nov. 5, 2009.