With a new school year about to begin, some female students in one Texas school district may have to rethink their wardrobes. Teen fashions often leave parents a little disgruntled. Arlington Independent School District parent Frances Henson said, “I'm thinking that our daughters are growing up a little bit too fast these days.”
Arlington School Board members agree with parents and this summer, they adopted an unusual amendment to the student dress code. The new dress code reads, in part, “The display of cleavage is unacceptable. Low cut blouses, tops, sweaters, etc. with plunging necklines are not allowed."
“It's gotten bad enough that, unfortunately, our young males are looking at more than their English book, their speech book, their science book,” says school board president Sherri Wade. “And it's kind of nice to have something left to the imagination.”
Even some teenagers agree there is a problem. “I think it's good that they're doing it,” said student Tyler Edwards. Others students say it makes back-to-school shopping more difficult. “I just have to be more careful with what shirts I buy. Change my style a little,” said student Maria Lopez.
While most parents support the new rule, some worry that enforcing it could be a challenge. “I think that's going to be a little tricky, because it puts a little bit of a policeman approach to the educators, and they really need to focus more on teaching,” said Tom Pederson, AISD parent. The school board president says they'll do both… and in time, she says, the no cleavage rule will be no problem.
You could just pass out burkas.