Port Arthur ISD Bans Hoodies, Cargo Pants...What's Next, Jorts?
I have never liked dress codes. In fact, I hate them and, to be completely honest, I rarely understand them. For example, why do FBI agents, detectives and the like wear suits and loafers? Wouldn't it make more sense for them to be dressed like ninjas or, at the very least, combat soldiers? Whenever I see someone on a cop drama chasing a perp in a suit and tie, I think, "Dude, put on some running shoes!"
School dress codes are often the worst. They are put in place to "avoid distraction," but the dress code itself almost always leads to more distraction than what a kid is wearing. Granted, I recall my mom, who worked as a guidance counselor for many years, having to send a girl home for wearing a T-shirt that said, "Is that a pistol in your pocket or are you just glad to seem me?" Now, THAT is distracting, but failing edgy tees, hyper short skirts, hot pants and bras for tops (thanks a lot, Sue Ellen Mischke!), most kid's clothing is pretty innocuous.
Now the Port Arthur ISD has decided to enforce a code it says was always in place: no hoodies or cargo pants. ISD spokespeople claim it is for safety since hoodies can block the identification of people on cameras and cargo pants have like 1,000 pockets where kids can store "contraband." They also lean on that old word "distracting," but they might have to ban all kinds of clothing if they stick with this policy.
Look, jackets have a lot of pockets, as do backpacks and bags of all kinds. There are other kinds of pants with multiple pockets -- modern clothing technology at its finest -- so it isn't like cargo pants are the only choice of smugglers.
More at http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2013/08/port_arthur_isd_bans_hoodies_c.php .
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...for the Port Arthur Independent School District (ISD). From the Beaumont, Tx, Enterprise:
<snip>
Porterie called a community meeting on Thursday morning to spread the word about the hoodie and cargo pants rule.
"It's not about Trayvon Martin," he said of the hoodie rule. "It's about our children. I don't want any child to have to face what Trayvon Martin did. I don't want any parents to have to face what Trayvon Martin's parents did."
Well gee, if that's the case, then perhaps Mr. Porterie should work on repealing the Texas Stand Your Ground laws instead of punishing students for following current styles.
