Concerned about the new West Campus dress code? Want to help make a difference? Our goal is to talk to administration to help change the dress code to include less strict and unreasonable rules. And this petition will help to show support for the dress code reform. 

Some of the new rules include no leggings and shorts and skirts that must be 3” above the knee cap which will be measured with an index card. Which is a big difference from last year where leggings could be worn if a long shirt or sweatshirt was worn, covering your butt, and shorts needed to reach the middle of the thigh. In addition, the rule that shirts must be within 2” of the collarbone was added. Along with the rule stating no strap tops, halter tops, off the shoulder blouses, crop tops, tank tops, or tube tops are allowed. The 2-inch rule just about rules out any shirt for girls other than crew necks since women’s shirts are often cut lower than men’s. These rules not only severely restrict what students can wear to school, but they are also mostly directed at girls. Often the excuse for the restricting of girls bodies is that a woman's body is “distracting” to boys and in turn, they need to be covered. 

Also, due to certain campus monitors strict enforcement of the dress code, whether a student is within the dress code or breaking it, students often feel the need to avoid them, finding new routes to class, in fear of getting dress coded.  

Besides the strict rules, the penalty for breaking the dress code is extreme. With a student’s first offense they will receive lunch detention. Their second, two lunch detentions. The third, a parent conference and 1 week of community service or lunch detention. And in their fourth offense, they will be suspended and placed on school probation. In comparison to other high schools in the district, the penalties for breaking the dress code are nowhere near as severe as those at West. These are excessive and unfair punishments for breaking the dress code. 

We would like the West Campus dress code to reflect that of McClatchy and Hiram Johnson High Schools. Both having only four simple rules and are not directly targeted towards girls.  

CKM: https://ckm.scusd.edu/school-rules

1. Students can wear hats.  However, teachers in classrooms can require students to remove them.                                                                            
2. Students can wear tank tops as long as undergarments and/or private areas are not exposed.                                                                            
3. Shorts, dresses, and shirts must be a length that ensures undergarments and/or private areas and or midriff are not exposed. 
4. Students cannot wear clothing that displays or insinuates weapons, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, nudity, profanity, sexual innuendos, or gang affiliation.

Hiram Johnson: https://www.hiramjohnson.net/sites/main/files/file-attachments/student_handbook_2018_-_2019.pdf

1. Clothing must not interfere with instruction or other activities. 
2. Clothing accessories or markings that advertise obscene, vulgar or discriminatory phrases or symbols, and/or controlled or illegal substances are prohibited. 
3. No gang-related clothing and accessories (gang markings or pictures, gang color, etc.)
4. Students must wear shoes at all times. No bare feet.

If you have any questions please reach out to wcdresscode@gmail.com