Modesty in Schools
Posted by PLB Blogger · 2 Comments
A few days ago, a high school principal requested the students to “keep things covered up” when wearing leggings saying that there is growing concern about how modest it is. While he didn’t brand leggings as completely indecent, he said that the growing trend of wearing short shirts with leggings is causing a distraction among students. The students seem to disagree with this request of the principal; in their defense, they claim that they do not wear it to distract others but because they’re comfortable in it.
The questions that come to my mind are these. Where do we draw the line between comfort and modesty? Is it unreasonable for a school principal to request the parents of the students ensure modesty in their child’s dressing? And how much do we, as teachers, value or model modesty ourselves?
While home is where modesty and lines between what’s acceptable and what’s not should be discussed or taught. For those who argue that the school has no role, perhaps the principal did the right thing in addressing the parents, seeking their help. Accepting themselves as they are and teaching every child to respect themselves without unnecessarily drawing attention to their bodies may help when students deal with peer pressure and body image issues. In my opinion, though the primary role of inculcating modesty lies with the parents, teachers might reinforce this, as schools are often where the child faces the desire to look good or be accepted.
What do you think is the right balance between modesty in schools and understanding growing fashion trends in school? Does a student’s dressing impact them or others in school, and if yes, do schools have any obligation to intervene? Please share your opinions.
This can be a real can of worms. Clean, neat, and modest are the guidelines we use. Fortunately we have a female principal who can explain this to female students in a way that they understand. I don’t think that fashion trends should influence what is basically a moral decision. There is no “balance”. String bikinis and thong style swim wear may be fashionable, but I don’t think they are modest, even at the beach. They would not be modest attire for the classroom either.
Students will continually push the limits, and this is a distraction to others. I certainly believe that it is the obligation of the school to ensure that students are attired in a way that is clean, neat, and modest. Anything else is a distraction from learning. The student should be offered a change of clothing, or be sent home if he/she deviates from this.
As I mentioned previously, trying to define clean, neat, and modest in some kind of set of policy guidelines is a real can of worms. We tried it, gave up, and went with school uniforms.
I’m an adult and wear leggins and a shirt/sweater because it’s comfortable. Immodest??? What’s next, requesting women to wrap themselves head to toes and wear a veil? Why is it not immodest for boys to wear tight jeans, and basically, there is no everyday dressing style that’s considered immodest for men? If some class has problems, then a bird on a tree is as good of a distraction as somebody’s dressing style. At the same time, I feel it very inappropriate for a principle at school (either gender) do discuss their students’ body parts and do body policing. But young people can probably be taught that staring at other student’s body parts is immodest and inappropriate.