If you go to school in the state of Arkansas then it might be a good time to familiarize yourself with your state’s new dress code. Governor Mike Beebe signed a bill on Wednesday that bans students from wearing clothing that “exposes underwear, buttocks or the breast of a female.” Although the wording is a little ambiguous and makes it seem that the rules only apply to the girls – it seems that they don’t – well the “breast” one does but the others are uni-sex.
Donna Morey, president of the Arkansas Education Association, expressed confidence that a more conservative dress code would lead to an improvement in student academic performance:
We feel the bill can improve the learning environment in schools.
At the General Assembly, the assembled politicians explained that the new dress code was a serious matter and that they were doing was about more than merely preventing crimes against fashion: they were reducing the potential for violent inter-student conflict and preventing injuries:
… student competition over the manner in which clothing is worn could lead to violence and injuries during school hours.
The assembled lawmakers also said that it was appropriate that students be taught to dress in a manner that is acceptable for the workplace.
With the new law in place, students will presumably be allowed to punish students for wearing banned garments without any pesky First Amendment issues getting in the way – however – it doesn’t spell out how what punishments are allowable. Kristen Gould, staff attorney for the Arkansas School Boards Association, explained:
School boards will have to look at existing school dress code policies and make sure they are in compliance with this new law. Many of them may well be, and if not, they will have to incorporate it into their current policy and design punishment in accordance.
We have constructed a set of pictures of appropriate and inappropriate Arkansan student attire to help clarify exactly what does and doesn’t fly in the state.
For the gents: acceptable
The two young men in the picture above are perfectly attired for a day of Arkansan education. Note that the trousers are pulled up well above the region of the buttocks and that their shirts are tucked in to prevent any inadvertent display of underwear or uncovered butt crack. Ties, name tags and Book of Mormon are all optional but not discouraged.
For the gents: unacceptable
Obviously the dress style of the two young men in this picture is not up to code. While the law does not specifically forbid the intentional exposure of the male midriff, it would be a logical next step.
For the ladies: acceptable
The rules for females are a little more stringent. In addition to forbidding the display of buttocks or underwear, it also bans the wearing of revealing tops. The young lady in this picture could attend school in Arkansas without fear of legally sanctioned repercussions.
For the ladies: verboten
In addition to the top revealing too much breast, the picture also suggests that there may be an unsatisfactory amount of visible buttock. Lady Gaga would definitely be finding herself on the wrong side of Arkansas’ Board of Education.
[Yahoo]
School should be about learning; NOT trying to make a fashion statement or in these circumstances, LACK of common sense. States just need to require uniforms & be done with it all. Those students who can’t afford the required attire would have it provided at no cost to them or their family.
There is a line that is crossed when students don’t exhibit any sense & show up basically undressed as it were. There was a time in the USA that students knew how to dress & if they did not, their parent(s) made sure they DID show up dressed like they had some pride & common sense. One can come from a poor home but still be clean & dressed like they have some sense in their heads. There is nothing wrong in being poor, but their is something wrong when people seem to have no common decency.