Teen Style According to Our School Policy *cough*

Teen Style According to Our School Policy cough

by Gayla McCord on September 8th, 2008

Last week I asked readers what was worse, holes in jeans or a t-shirt with a saying that had sexual double meaning. It seems ‘normal’ people take the same position I do in believing the t-shirt were more offensive.

The teen who was recently punished for looking at his cell phone during lunch returned to school following his 1.5 days out of school suspension and during the third hour into the day was called out mid-class for holes in his jeans. The ‘enforcer of rules’ for the school made him go to the gym and put on the shorts he wears for PE and instructed him to wear them the remainder of the school day.

Maybe I’m wrong in my thought process, but 1. the holes in the jeans were much lower on the legs than the shorts and 2. we live literally ONE mile from the school, ON the same road. Why were we not called to bring him something else to wear?

I became so infuriated that I emailed the ‘enforcer of rules‘ and cc’d the principal. In my request I asked directly for a copy of the cell policy (shown below) and asked clearly “why a child was permitted to go the full day with a t-shirt that’s so offensive, while one with holes in his jeans was called out?”

Cell phones continue to be a cause of concern at SHS. During the 2006-2007 school year, we had 34 incidents that led to disciplinary action because students did not properly follow the policies outlined in their student handbook. Listed below are those policies and the associated consequences should students not follow them.

Cell phones may be brought into the building.

Cell phones are to be placed in lockers immediately upon entering the building.

· Students may not “check” for messages or send “text” messages during school. Cell phones are to be turned off and kept off until dismissal.

Cell phones are not to be used to take pictures anywhere in the building during school.

Examples of violations and their consequences are outlined below:

Innocent discovery: student has cell phone in his or her pocket, bookbag, coat, etc. but it does not ring. That student will be suspended for the remainder of the school day (upon notification of parent).

Disruption of class/activity: student has possession of cell phone and it rings or beeps to indicate a received message or low battery. That student will be suspended for the remainder of that school day plus one additional day.

Student is using phone during school: student will be suspended for the remainder of that school day plus an additional two days. The phone will be confiscated and it will be returned only to the parent.

The first response was ONE sentence letting me know the above policy was attached.

I then responded with:

I appreciate your forwarding the policy, however, you neglected to answer the remaining concerns and questions I had.

Why is it that a child can go through the day with a t-shirt that has obvious sexual double meaning when a student with holes in his jeans is called from class, made to wear his gym shorts and parents not called?

I would very much appreciate a straight answer in why and how this can happen unless it’s that certain kids are overlooked while others are observed more closely and are being made an example of.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand a rule is a rule and while the cell policy seems a bit harsh to me, it is the policy and the kid broke it. Understandable!

The response I received this morning:

I did not see the child with the tshirt on that had the double meaning. Apparently, none of our teachers saw it either, or they would have reported it to me. It is not a perfect world. We try to do the best we can.

My first instinct was to blast off a response that said “YOU didn’t see the holes either, they were reported to you and I know the student with the tshirt has the same teacher during the day, so it might be worth asking the teacher who doubles as fashion cop, to beef up on her policing skills.” BUT I refrained. I know I’m overly tired (couldn’t sleep last night) and a touch of PMS - so I didn’t want to make it more difficult on the kids.

I do anticipate the kids will be asked who was wearing the tshirt - I simply instructed them to tell the ‘enforcer’ that it’s not their place to do HIS job. The kid that wore the shirt is a relative of my twins via their bio dad so they don’t particularly want to out him.

I want so much to homeschool the kids - at this point however, my husband refuses to allow his son to be homeschooled. This makes it very difficult because I don’t want there to be anymore segregation in our blended family than what is already there at the insistent actions of my husbands family.

Would it be wrong of me to go ahead and pull my kids out while making my stepson continue going through this school system? It’s my SS who has suffered the most at the hands of the ‘enforcer.’

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