Recent changes in our dress code have been getting out of hand.

We just want a say in decisions that change the way we learn and present ourselves. Students and parents are given little choice in changes the administration makes.

The dress code is inconsistent and teachers seem to target who they are going to write up. Multiple students have stories about receiving unjust punishments and being dress coded while fully covered. For example, junior Jonathan Garcia was suspended and barred from playing in a football game for repeat violations of his shorts being too short after becoming visibly upset being sent to the office. Senior Bailee Acreman has been dress coded while fully clothed for wearing a “camisole” over a long sleeve shirt, since it is considered nightwear and banned in the dress code, and for having dark red hair. Senior Alyson Sanchez was dress coded for wearing a dress that she had worn multiple times while wearing a turtleneck and leggings underneath. Senior Jordan Maciel was dress coded while wearing a 3XL shirt over leggings, and for holes in the knees of her jeans a minute before the ending of school after just then removing the coverings on her jeans. 

Many students have similar stories. Specific rules in our dress code that we disagree with include: the inability to wear jeans with holes in them, regardless of placement, the inability to wear leggings, people being dress coded while fully clothed for wearing camisoles or tank tops over shirts, shorts cannot be 2 inches above the knee, the inability for boys to have ear piercings or have painted nails, and the inability to wear shirts with mentions to bands, sexual orientation, or even names or pseudonyms of vocal artists.

In our dress code it states that “the principal has final authority over any clothing they deem objectionable.” This is a vague rule that leaves room for misuse. 

Our freedom to express ourselves and be comfortable in classes without worrying about missing lessons over a hole in our jeans is being ignored. The student body and parents are not included in decisions that directly affect them. Administration continues to ignore the problem while our school drops districts due to the mistreatment of students, including but not limited to our dress code. Instead of listening to the students, they are threatening us with uniforms. 

We just want a say in decisions that change the way we learn and present ourselves. We plan to use this petition as evidence of support while presenting this to the school board. If you would like to help by contacting administrators, they are Sonya Gibson (sonya.gibson@fairfieldisd.org) and Jason Adams (jason.adams@fairfieldisd.org). Please continue showing support for us as we stand up for our students.