Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
Thank you for the opportunity to address the school board tonight. The outfit that I am currently wearing would get me sent to the principal’s office with the current dress code regulations. It is hot today and I chose my clothing to reflect that so that I could be comfortable in the Kansas weather. Unfortunately, the school dress code requires that no tank tops be worn or shirts that expose the shoulders.
My shoulders are not a distraction. A rule requiring that my shoulders be covered so that other students are able to learn is silly and outdated. Sexualizing the shoulders of teens is completely inappropriate. My skin is my own just as every student’s is their own. I do not find it distracting when girls or boys wear clothing that exposes more than their lower arm because I am committed to learning and my focus is on the teacher, not the clothing of those around me. Furthermore, the rules are not equally enforced now as it is. Several students wear whatever clothing they want with the statement that they have family who teaches or is on the school board so the rules do not apply to them. While I disagree with their reasoning, they too should be allowed to wear clothing that allows them to be comfortable while expressing themselves as long as it doesn’t contain foul language, drug references, or weapons.
Also a concern of mine is the fact that we are not allowed to wear spandex, yoga clothing, or compression clothes to gym class. These are all allowed for regular school wear provided our shoulders don’t show, but we are required to wear looser fitting clothing to gym. I’m confused about the reason for this since these clothes are literally marketed as active wear. They are specifically designed to be worn while exercising since they allow for free movement and some are even moisture absorbing for activities that make you sweat.
My request tonight is that you would please alter the dress code regulations before the upcoming school year. We should be allowed to wear clothing that shows our shoulders because they are not a distraction to learning. We live in Kansas and it’s hot and the school is often warm even during the colder months. By the time we attend middle school we are capable of making informed decisions about the clothing that we wear to school. Being required to wear a sweatshirt over a tank top all day during the winter when it’s hot in the rooms doesn’t improve our learning. I would also like to see active wear allowed during gym classes. Uniforms for sporting teams are often made of spandex and are accepted as appropriate for those school activities. Banning spandex in gym class doesn’t make any sense. The grade school dress code allows for tank tops so long as they have a sewed seam and are not a cut off tank. I hope you will consider changing the upper school requirements to do the same. Thank you for your time.
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Updates
Reached 250 supporters
July 13, 2017
July 12, 2017
The emails I receive from you all confirm that I am not the only one feeling the weight of these arbitrary rules. I have been spending my nights drafting letters to the board members and waiting for them to acknowledge the exhaustion we feel. This process is grinding and slow but I am not walking away from it yet.
Reached 100 supporters
July 10, 2017
69 Comments
We have to get over this idea that shoulders are going to distract boys from learning. Even if they are, removing girls from class to make them change is body shaming and robs them of their chance to learn because of men. How is that equality?
The idea that students should suffer through uncomfortable weather conditions and heat exhaustion for the (questionable) benefit of male students is ridiculous and teaches that women's education is less valuable. This is unacceptable.
I am so happy to see a young woman take a stand! The focus should be on those who are "distracted", not those who are wearing everyday clothes that are within reason. As a mom of three littles, two of which are boys, I support her!
I agree that that type of top shouldn't be an issue if its sized accordingly to the person wearing it. As someone that knows Kansas heat, at times it can be almost unbearable, by being dressed comfortably, it actually gives you a better ability to learn. As our children grow into young adults we need to help them in any way to promote them being able to learn.
You can't mandate or control a students attention span. If bare shoulders are a distraction, then so are expensive jeans, colorful tops, certain hairstyles, trendy sneakers, etc. Are the students more attentive in the winter? The focus should be on encouraging respect, boundaries, and self control.
Teach boys to control themselves
"If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
Thank you for the opportunity to address the school board tonight. The outfit that I am currently wearing would get me sent to the principal’s office with the current dress code regulations. It is hot today and I chose my clothing to reflect that so that I could be comfortable in the Kansas weather. Unfortunately, the school dress code requires that no tank tops be worn or shirts that expose the shoulders.
My shoulders are not a distraction. A rule requiring that my shoulders be covered so that other students are able to learn is silly and outdated. Sexualizing the shoulders of teens is completely inappropriate. My skin is my own just as every student’s is their own. I do not find it distracting when girls or boys wear clothing that exposes more than their lower arm because I am committed to learning and my focus is on the teacher, not the clothing of those around me. Furthermore, the rules are not equally enforced now as it is. Several students wear whatever clothing they want with the statement that they have family who teaches or is on the school board so the rules do not apply to them. While I disagree with their reasoning, they too should be allowed to wear clothing that allows them to be comfortable while expressing themselves as long as it doesn’t contain foul language, drug references, or weapons.
Also a concern of mine is the fact that we are not allowed to wear spandex, yoga clothing, or compression clothes to gym class. These are all allowed for regular school wear provided our shoulders don’t show, but we are required to wear looser fitting clothing to gym. I’m confused about the reason for this since these clothes are literally marketed as active wear. They are specifically designed to be worn while exercising since they allow for free movement and some are even moisture absorbing for activities that make you sweat.
My request tonight is that you would please alter the dress code regulations before the upcoming school year. We should be allowed to wear clothing that shows our shoulders because they are not a distraction to learning. We live in Kansas and it’s hot and the school is often warm even during the colder months. By the time we attend middle school we are capable of making informed decisions about the clothing that we wear to school. Being required to wear a sweatshirt over a tank top all day during the winter when it’s hot in the rooms doesn’t improve our learning. I would also like to see active wear allowed during gym classes. Uniforms for sporting teams are often made of spandex and are accepted as appropriate for those school activities. Banning spandex in gym class doesn’t make any sense. The grade school dress code allows for tank tops so long as they have a sewed seam and are not a cut off tank. I hope you will consider changing the upper school requirements to do the same. Thank you for your time.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
July 13, 2017
July 12, 2017
The emails I receive from you all confirm that I am not the only one feeling the weight of these arbitrary rules. I have been spending my nights drafting letters to the board members and waiting for them to acknowledge the exhaustion we feel. This process is grinding and slow but I am not walking away from it yet.
Reached 100 supporters
July 10, 2017
69 Comments
I agree that tank tops should be allowed to be worn if they are not low cut in front & cover their stomachs. Boys wear them so I don't see any reason that girls can't. And the active wear should be allowed in gym especially if it's allowed in school!
We have to get over this idea that shoulders are going to distract boys from learning. Even if they are, removing girls from class to make them change is body shaming and robs them of their chance to learn because of men. How is that equality?
The idea that students should suffer through uncomfortable weather conditions and heat exhaustion for the (questionable) benefit of male students is ridiculous and teaches that women's education is less valuable. This is unacceptable.
I am so happy to see a young woman take a stand! The focus should be on those who are "distracted", not those who are wearing everyday clothes that are within reason. As a mom of three littles, two of which are boys, I support her!
I agree that that type of top shouldn't be an issue if its sized accordingly to the person wearing it. As someone that knows Kansas heat, at times it can be almost unbearable, by being dressed comfortably, it actually gives you a better ability to learn. As our children grow into young adults we need to help them in any way to promote them being able to learn.
You can't mandate or control a students attention span. If bare shoulders are a distraction, then so are expensive jeans, colorful tops, certain hairstyles, trendy sneakers, etc. Are the students more attentive in the winter? The focus should be on encouraging respect, boundaries, and self control.
Teach boys to control themselves
"If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."
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I agree that tank tops should be allowed to be worn if they are not low cut in front & cover their stomachs. Boys wear them so I don't see any reason that girls can't. And the active wear should be allowed in gym especially if it's allowed in school!