Tigger bouncing I wrote about dress codes when I first started this blog. Here’s that entry. (Also a different post asking if liberals and conservatives dress differently.) But THIS story takes the cake. Do you think that public schools should have a dress code? If so, how strict can it be?

—Freckles

School sued over girl’s socks

A seventh-grader might end up in court for wearing Winnie the Pooh socks to school.

Toni Kay Scott, 14, was sent to an in-school suspension program called Students With Attitude Problems last year for violating a dress code, according to a lawsuit against the Napa Valley Unified School District and Redwood Middle School.

She had donned socks with the Tigger character from the Winnie the Pooh cartoons on them, along with a denim skirt and a brown shirt with a pink border.

But the school’s policy requires students to wear clothes with solid colors in blue, white, green, yellow, khaki, gray, brown and black. Permitted fabrics are cotton twill, corduroy and chino. No denim is allowed.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in Napa County Superior Court by The American Civil Liberties Union and a law firm on the girl’s behalf, alleges that the dress code is unconstitutionally vague and too restrictive.

“We should be able to show everyone who we are and have a way to express ourselves, as long as we aren’t showing off things that shouldn’t be shown off at school,” the teenager said in a statement.

The lawsuit said the policy goes too far and forces aesthetic conformity in the name of safety. The rules violate the California Education Code, said plaintiffs’ attorney Sharon O’Grady.

A telephone message left Tuesday at Redwood Middle School was not immediately returned.

Copyright © 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

middle school kids

Sir Jorge Says:

March 21, 2007 at 11:34 am

In schools that have gang related problems, a school dress code can help.

However, Tigger is not a cause for alarm. The story sounds like someone is on a power trip.

Agnes Kincaid Says:

March 22, 2007 at 11:55 am

Blaming clothing for social problems in a school is like blaming the deck chairs for the sinking of the Titanic.

When school administrators blame clothing, they are tacitly admitting their own failures, their own shortcomings and their own incompetence.

Sam Says:

March 22, 2007 at 3:52 pm

I used to be opposed to school uniforms as they seemed to be a suppression of individualism. However, now I’m not so sure.

School uniforms over the world (including here in the UK) are very effective at bridging wealth and class divides. Rich teens can’t show off wealth and poor families don’t have to buy the latest Nike’s to keep up with the Junior Joneses.

Obviously there should not be lawsuits over socks. Obviously teens will always find a way to subject each other to judgement and abuse, but school uniforms lessen (though do not remove, of course) the material aspect of this.

Pierre Says:

March 23, 2007 at 4:04 pm

This kid doesn’t stand a chance in court. The courts have consistently ruled that schools may enforce a dress code. The one exception to this is with political speech (see supreme court case Tinker V. Des Moines.)

bunnydeneuve Says:

March 25, 2007 at 3:36 pm

I’m not sure about this, because my parents made me wear a school uniform in H.S. where they didn’t have school uniforms. The students made fun of me and gave me hell. They told me to bring in a mini-skirt and change in the bathroom. Although I can’t stand my parents and think that they’re responsible for me being so screwed up and closed-minded, the uniform taught me to be less shallow. It makes me cover myself when I go out. I never show cleavage. I am a liberal, but I do cover up simply because men love to look at women who aren’t covered. So having to wear a uniform is not a violation of rights; it is for the protection of kids so that they won’t need to compete with each other or get raped for instance. I find it odd that they’re going that far over a cartoon, but kids push their limits. First it’s the cartoon, then someone else will want to wear a gang bandanna, and they’ll wonder how come she was allowed to wear socks, but they can’t wear their bandanna.

Mark Harris Says:

April 4, 2007 at 9:10 am

I really don’t think we need one. unless girls are coming in with just Bras and Panties then that would be a problem. Our school just got ripped for wearing bandannas. I don’t think that would be a problem.

Melony Louise Says:

April 6, 2007 at 6:30 pm

I prefer freedom in what I wear [hence why I'm very glad I never went to a public high school] but I don’t think the school’s rules are vague at all, and she went out of her way to break every rule she could. I mean, yes, the rules are stupid no doubt, but srsly chilluns, school is more about learning than your damn lame ass Tigger socks anyway!

In summary, something a petition would have been more appropriate than a lawsuit and a suspension on the girl’s record for when she starts applying for colleges.

christina Says:

May 6, 2007 at 11:15 am

hey tigger is so nice but the uniform is not nice u have to change it … why dnt u make the color pink 4 girls blue 4 boys nd put pooh pic ok

bobby Says:

July 20, 2007 at 4:52 pm

kids really need uniforms in all schools because then you wouldnt be made fun of about your close and i dont agree with the situation

Melissa Says:

August 20, 2007 at 7:14 pm

yeah she broke the rules and all but god just send her home to change or something i mean its not like she broght a knife to school or something they’re taking it way to far

Jason Says:

January 12, 2008 at 3:23 am

I think a person should wear whatever they want. I will certainly not be very happy if the school committies tries to tell me i can not wear my camouflage cargo pants or jersies or told me i that i have to start wearing some socks. All they should be concerned about with me is if i did page 58 in my math textbook etc not bug me about my jersey or question me why im wearing sneakers in the middle of winter without socks. myob p.s. I understand their concern if a student was wearing something vulgar. But i wasnt…….. So. Leave. Me. Alone. thanx. Jason canada.