Living near the beach in sunny Redondo Beach automatically facilitates the shedding of layers of clothing and the dawning of beachwear undergarments for most people. Not anymore for Redondo high school students. In the past two years, since the hiring of the new principal, Dr. Nichole Wesley, Redondo Union High School has been focusing on putting the kibosh on inappropriate apparel and has started enforcing dress code rules that were previously forgotten and not enforced.
“Last year we made it known we would be enforcing the rules,” said Wesley. “Most seniors had a hard time adapting to the new rules, because they weren’t previously enforced. It was hard for them to digest”
The new enforcement even spawned a Facebook page petition that resulted in over 600 members protesting the new rules. Soon after, the school forced the page creator to shut down the page – and students were outraged.
“I understand why they have a dress code,” said Brooklin Davis, a senior. “But before it was not enforced so people were used to wearing whatever they wanted, and now that it’s highly enforced it seems like a bigger issue because the students don’t agree with it.”
Being “dress coded” for the first time results in a trip to the office, a warning and a change of attire. A second offence results in a phone call to their parents and possible detention or suspension.
Davis has been warned about holes in her pants and for the length of her shorts. She said that some parents fully support the dress code, but her parents think it’s a little too harsh.
“So far every call has been supportive,” said Wesley. “Sometimes parents aren’t even aware what their kids are wearing.”
This year has mellowed out according to Wesley, but last year’s change resulted in a backlash of phone calls and emails from both parents and students. Their main complaint was that they had already gone school shopping without knowing the dress code parameters. This year, Wesley was proactive and sent out a recorded phone call in early August to every household explaining the dress code and urging them to purchase appropriate clothing.
“This year we got them before they went shopping,” said Wesley.
A packet including the dress code policy was also sent out to every home. The students also had to read and sign the policy during school registration.
Wesley said that dressing appropriately is important for school because it fosters a better learning environment.
“How you dress will dictate how you act,” said Wesley. “When you dress like you’re going to the beach or a party, you’ll act like you’re at the beach or a party. It has to do with having the right mindset.”
“I don’t think that is true,” Shelby Bassman, a senior, said in an email. “I like to dress comfortably at school and sometimes it might be against dress code policy. Learning definitely comes with comfort.”
Junior Alida Newson doesn’t think that the way someone dresses reflects or affects their learning.
“My parents somewhat like the dress code because they believe that school is for learning, not impressing other people,” said Newson. “I can agree with that, but most people dress for themselves and it helps them express themselves in a way.”
The rules ban swimwear, off the shoulder or low-cut tops, bare midriffs and strapless tops less than two fingers wide, slippers and any showing of undergarments. Most of the dress code parameters were already in the school’s rule book for previous years.
Wesley said she feels the rules are not subjective. “It is what it is. It’s really no different than the past, it’s just now it’s being enforced.”
Although according to Wesley, more girls are “dress coded,” Bassman feels like the code applies to everyone.
Boys are also required to be well groomed and not show their boxers. Other rules prohibit hats and accessories with obscene symbols, and tattoos need to be covered as much as possible.
For Wesley, it’s all about consistently enforcing rules, like the use of cell phones, academic dishonesty, littering and other offences, including inappropriate clothing.
She also added that teachers, especially male teachers, often have a hard time addressing the situation because they are not comfortable bringing up the subject and are afraid they will be accused of “looking.” When that happens, Wesley or other administrators come to the classroom and talk to the student.
Another parameter, that skirts and shorts must be as long as the thumb and finger when placed at the student’s side, has been an especially difficult one to enforce.
“Standing up it’s not so much an issue,” said Wesley. “But what they don’t realize is that when you sit down, that’s when it becomes an issue.”
If a student is told their clothes do not comply with the rules, they are asked to change or wear school supplied gym clothes. Often, Wesley said, girls know they may be asked to change and have a change of clothes with them.
“If you are asked to change your bottoms, you have to wear PE shorts that go to about your knee, and if you are asked to change your top it’s a PE shirt,” said Davis. “I know a lot of people that bring extra clothes to school just in case they get “dress coded,” because nobody wants to be seen wearing their PE clothes around school. It’s embarrassing.”
So far only about a dozen students have been cited for a dress code violation, fewer than last year. Wesley said she was surprised by the low numbers, especially because of the recent heat. But she is hopeful the low numbers will continue and the rules in the classroom will transfer to the student’s future success.
“There’s an appropriate way to dress for school just like there’s an appropriate way to dress for work,” said Wesley. “If they’re not going to learn that now, where will they learn it? ER
Taylor Brightwell also contributed to this article
