Southern Louisiana has had a heat index that is dangerously high as of late, yet Lafayette Parish School Board is enforcing that all shorts must be at or below the knee. This is just as hot as if you were wearing pants. In years past, uniform shorts needed to be at least 4-6 inches from the knee or longer. This was a reasonable rule. An example of this length is pictured above. This length is what should be considered appropriate. Yet, the new rule changes are absurd. Not only is it too hot to be wearing shorts that long (basically capri pants), it is also next to impossible to find shorts at the length they have requested. The change in pant rules was also out of the blue and with no strong argument or handbook documentation to back it up. As of the first day at Lafayette High School, Joggers were also deemed unacceptable. This was not documented in the handbook, just as the change in length for shorts. Although this change does not affect us at this present moment, as it gets chillier in the school year, this will become a problem. Reasoning for joggers being banned was because they are made from sweatpant material; This is not necessarily true. The joggers that were allowed last year are made out of the same material as the pants they are allowing this year. Thus, their argument is invalid. The only difference from the pants allowed, and the pants banned is a more fitted ankle is present in joggers. The rational thinking and planning was simply not present in these new rules being established. Not to mention, this uniform change was not announced until after parents had already went school shopping. Now, parents will have to go out and spend more of their hard earned money on more uniforms, because the clothing purchased previously is now not allowed. Punishment for students not complying to the new guidelines, is a write up. This ultimately will result in: In school suspension. For ISS punishment, a student is kept in a room or an auditorium, missing their classes and learning time. This can span from one day of lost learning, to multiple. The thinking behind the new rules are irrational. Please sign to bring our concerns to a higher level in the parish. As a community, the rights of our students should be our number one priority.