Why don't schools punish rule-breakers

Why

don't schools punish rule-breakers

It has occurred to

me that no comment us students make about the strain that

these new dress code rules put on our wardrobes will sway

the school board's decision. It doesn't matter if the new

rules are ludicrous to us or not. You need a quick

solution and this was all you can come up with.

You gave two reasons in the

newspaper to justify this new "tucked-in

shirts" rule. One was that the absence of baggy

clothes will mean less violence. Don't you think that is

a little prejudiced? Many of my friends and peers,

including myself, sometimes wear baggy clothes, since

that is the style. Everyone wears clothes like that, not

just "gang" members or violent types.

The second reason you gave

in the newspaper was that "students will act how

they are dressed." You made it sound that anyone who

doesn't tuck in their shirt or who wears a tank top is a

slob. This statement is also very prejudiced. There are

many different styles of tank tops. Some lack taste, are

very inappropriate for school and others are very

tasteful and appropriate enough for church. The same goes

for shirts that are not tucked in.

A t-shirt that falls to

your knees is rather inappropriate, but a fitted shirt or

sweater that doesn't even fall to your hips is tasteful.

I realize how hard it is

for you to differentiate with your all-purpose rules, but

you should not punish all Fayette students for the bad

taste of a few.

In closing, I'd like to say

that these rules do about as much good towards stopping

school violence as sweeping dust under a rug does for

cleaning a house. It's a quick fix because you can't come

up with anything better. I've gone to school in Fayette

County for 11 years, and never did I once fear for my

safety because of someone else's clothing. It is not the

issue here. The issue here is violence.

Children commit acts of

violence today because the consequences are not as harsh

as they should be. A child no longer gets punished for

mouthing off to an authority figure. Fighting in school

only carries a few days' suspension. Why is the system

afraid to punish and enforce?

Kimberly Alberts

Fayetteville

J unior, Sandy Creek

High School

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