The St. Stephens "mission, core values, vision" page claims they focus on "upholding and advancing our founders’ bold, progressive vision for a diverse, inclusive and equitable school community that respects and celebrates the unique individuality and dignity of every human being" all while enforcing a dress code that almost entirely polices the bodies of female students. St. Stephens priority should be creating an environment that makes students feel comfortable, safe, and free to express themselves, rather than enforcing a dress code that does not affect students learning experience. Without the current dress code, students would be able to express themselves without being pulled out of class or activities, and without female students feeling like they are exclusively being affected by the dress code and sexualized.
THE CURRENT ST. STEPHENS DRESSCODE:
The following items are prohibited:
Shorts/skirts that expose the buttocks and the upper thigh. Pants, shorts, or skirts with holes/rips showing skin above the acceptable length of shorts. Clothes exposing undergarments by cut or fabric. Halter tops, muscle shirts, or tube tops worn alone. Shirts that expose midriffs from front or side: all shirts must be of a length where the shirt touches the waist of pants or shorts when one stands still and straight. Clothing promoting, expressing, or suggesting sex, drugs, violence, alcohol, tobacco, or obscenities.Pajamas, except during finals. Hats are not allowed in the Dining Hall or the Chapel at any time before, during, or after school.
WHAT WE ASK:
We would like a dress code modeled after the Portland public school.
Small part of Portland dress code protocol, more on link.
I. GOALS OF A STUDENT DRESS CODE
A student dress code should accomplish several goals:• Maintain a safe learning environment in classes where protective or supportive clothing is needed, such as chemistry/biology (eye or body protection), dance (bare feet, tights/leotards), or PE (athletic attire/shoes).
Allow students to wear clothing of their choice that is comfortable.Allow students to wear clothing that expresses their self-identified gender.Allow students to wear religious attire without fear of discipline or discrimination.Prevent students from wearing clothing with offensive images or language, including profanity, hate speech, and pornography.Prevent students from wearing clothing with images or language depicting or advocating violence or the use of alcohol or drugs.Ensure that all students are treated equitably regardless of gender/gender identification, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, body type/size, religion, and personal style.
II. RECOMMENDED DRESS CODE POLICY
The primary responsibility for a student’s attire resides with the student and parents or guardians. The school district and individual schools are responsible for seeing that student attire does not interfere with the health or safety of any student, and that student attire does not contribute to a hostile or intimidating atmosphere for any student.
Students should be given the most choice possible in how they dress for school. Any restrictions must be necessary to support the overall educational goals of the school and must be explained within the dress code.
Districts should set the student dress code and enforcement policies for their entire district and take steps to ensure that all schools in the district adopt and follow it. Too often individual schools create their own student dress codes and enforce them in different ways that result in inequities within districts and in many cases policies and enforcement that are not consistent with the law or the district’s intent.
1. Basic Principle: Certain body parts must be covered for all students
Clothes must be worn in a way such that genitals, buttocks, and nipples are covered with opaque material. Cleavage should not have coverage requirements. All items listed in the “must wear” and “may wear” categories below must meet this basic principle.
2. Students Must Wear:*
Shirt.Bottom: pants/sweatpants/shorts/skirt/dress/leggingsShoes; activity-specific shoes requirements are permitted (for example for sports)
* High-school courses that include attire as part of the curriculum (for example, professionalism, public speaking, and job readiness) may include assignment-specific dress, but should not focus on covering girls’ bodies or promoting culturally-specific attire.
3. Students May Wear:Hats, including religious headwearHoodie sweatshirts (over head is allowed)Fitted pants, including leggings, yoga pants and “skinny jeans”Midriff baring shirtsPajamasRipped jeans, as long as underwear is not exposed.Tank tops, including spaghetti straps, halter tops, and “tube” (strapless) topsAthletic attireClothing with commercial or athletic logos provided they do not violate
Section 3 above.
4. Students Cannot Wear:Violent language or images.Images or language depicting drugs or alcohol (or any illegal item or activity) or the use of same.Hate speech, profanity, pornography.Images or language that creates a hostile or intimidating environment based on any protected class.
Visible underwear. Visible waistbands or straps on undergarments worn under other clothing are not a violation.Bathing suits.Helmets or headgear that obscures the face (except as a religious observance).
Further information is available on the link about training for school administrators, teachers and students, dress code enforcement, and teaching about consent.
