Area schools' dress codes don't address cultural attire

Area public schools don't have specific dress code policies for cultural attire that may have dealt with the incident that occurred when Nathan Warmack wore a Scottish kilt to the Jackson High School Silver Arrow Dance in November.

Principal Rick McClard asked Warmack to change from his clan kilt into pants. In response, thousands of people have signed an Internet petition calling on the Jackson schools to change their dress codes.

Friday, the school district's lawyer said the district has decided that Warmack can wear the kilt to school or any school function as long as it doesn't create a disruption or problem.

"He can wear that kilt to school if he wants, to the prom, to a basketball game," Steve Wright said.

The dress codes at Jackson, Central and Scott City schools simply require students to dress in a way that does not distract other students.

Occasionally students try to push the limits of acceptable dress for the school day. Each school has specific policies trying to keep up with the changes in body adornment, particularly body piercings and changes in fashion.

Jackson Middle School principal Rodney Pensel said most of the dress code rules are in place for safety and health reasons, especially when it comes to piercings.

"An eyebrow ring can be a safety concern," Pensel said. "If they're walking down the hall and someone turns with their book bag and it catches their eye or somebody slams the locker, it can be dangerous."

Scott City Middle School prohibits chains as a safety concern, namely the heavy ones that connect the belt loop and pockets, said principal Paul Sharp.

"It could be used as a weapon, and a lot of times they get caught on desks," he said.

The middle school's dress code does not address piercings.

Central High School also forbids any student to wear body jewelry unless it is "flush to the body." All piercings in or around the mouth are banned.

Central High School principal Dr. Mike Cowan said he enforces this rule when he's aware of the piercing, but concedes that tongue piercings can be difficult to detect. He said the number of piercings on students has increased in recent years.

"I think our kids have been willing to work with us," Cowan said. "But you never get perfection."

Pensel said his schools has few problems with piercings. Most of the student dress code violations are committed by girls and have increased since the popularity of low-ride jeans.

At the Jackson schools, shirts must cover the midriff and neck to shoulder. Shorts and skirts have to be appropriate length. Principals, the administration and the teachers determine what is and is not appropriate.

Cowan said the back-to-school fashion fliers and commercials that appear every July tip him off to the dress code violations that will occur during the school year.

"The kids want to wear what is popular at the moment, and we understand that," he said, adding "Some of those popular choices are more appropriate for school than others."

The same is true at the middle school level.

"Because the kids are at such developmentally different levels, what is appropriate on one young lady may be very inappropriate on another young lady, and it could be the exact same top," Pensel said.

Pensel says he just has to use his common sense.

The nurse or a female assistant deal with girls who break the dress code rules and Pensel deals with the boys. A second person is always present for dress code discussions with students, Pensel said.

Central High School has similar dress code requirements. "The mode of dress should reflect a wholesome attitude toward school without creating offense or distraction or disrupting the school's learning environment," the school's written student dress code says.

The policy lists specific items not allowed under any circumstances such as bandanas of all colors, and anything illustrating or representing with words or symbols the use of alcohol, tobacco or drugs. Sexual representations or issues, violence, profanity and all other forms of provocative and inflammatory issues are also banned on dress.

The consequences for breaking the dress code at Central can be severe. A first offense can land a student with one to 10 days of out-of-school suspension.

Scott City Middle School prohibits similar forms of dress, specifically mentioning Coed Naked and Big Johnson advertisements. Bandanas are allowed as long as they are not worn as hats. Otherwise, Sharp said he advises students that "if you look in the mirror and you think to yourself 'Hmm, I wonder if I should wear this to school,' then maybe you shouldn't."

Students at the middle school face embarrassing fashion as a penalty for wearing an inappropriate shirt, said Sharp, who keeps in his office about 10 T-shirts that he purchased from the thrift store. Whether one of a puffy Frankenstein or one of sketched human organs, Sharp swaps the students's shirts with one of his as an alternative to calling parents.

The "un-hip middle school shirts" work, said Sharp, who has only had to use them once this year.

Southeast Missourian reporter Julia Metelski and the Associated Press contributed to this report.