Are public school dress codes legal?

Question

The Watson Chapel public school district in Jefferson County, AR has an absolutely ridiculous dress code. Students are being sent home for things like visible seams on pockets, and thread that's a different color than the fabric (not radically different, like you might be able to tell the difference in direct sunlight different). They require "polo style" shirts and they're sending students home because the shirts have more than 3 buttons. Is this even legal?

I think states are different as to the legality, but here's a website I found for North Carolina: http://www.netmar.com/~acluofnc/studentrights2.html

I guess I'm actually asking if it's legal in Arkansas, and can they be this strict?

Answer 1

Absolutely not. Tinker vs Des Moines. This is the supreme court ruling that states "A student does not leave their first amendment rights at the schoolhouse gate." The first amendment covers freedom of speech, religion, press, petition, and assemblage. It has also been determined that freedom of expression is covered under freedom of speech. However, there have been rulings since Tinker that have allowed schools to ban vulgar dress, but I don't see how khaki pants are any less vulgar than jeans. You just need someone to challenge this in court, and I think it would end very quickly.

Answer 2

Unfortunately, and most likely, yes, but it shouldn't be. The most pecific dress code I have ever seen is skirts must go under the tips of your fingers, you cant where shirts that show your belly-button, and thats only for girls, also the forrbiden camoflauge. THats as worse as I've seen dress code get, but WOW. THere are even schools with DDR machines in their pe classes and now people are worring about different colored clothes, imean BIG DEAL. I kinda get the more than 3 buttons thing though, becuase girls might pull the spaces between the buttons apart, showing a lot more than needed. I say you should just go there looking gangster.

Answer 3

It appears to be legal.

There are good reasons to have dress codes (and uniforms) ... class differences are very touchy when in junior high and high school. Even so, I don't care for them.

What is fascinating is observing how clever students are at pushing the boundries of any code. For some reason, it reminds me of life 100 years ago when the flash of a woman's ankle was a scandal.

Watching even 20 minutes of television on any channel, I doubt any dress code will be a comfort to our students today.

Answer 4

Uniform codes have been in force in every school in Australia for quite some time, and yes, they are quite legal. We were sent home from school for all the reasons you stated, even to the point where we were unable to wear long sleeved shirts under our uniform, we were only allowed to wear the school jumpers. I've had a theary for some time that its one of the main ways a school makes revenue, but they feed us the cock and bull story that its for our own safety..... yeah right.

Answer 5

They're as legal as wearing a Wal-Mart vest

and that dude on the top has an avatar like mine's

Answer 6

Yes, my county has the same type of dress code....it's basically a uniform.

Answer 7

thats so stupid!! i thought my dress code was strict, but i guess not!! i think thats absolutly ridicolous!! whats wrong with having more then three bottons, none of my shirts have less then three bottons holy crap thats bad

Answer 8

If it is then it shouldn't be! This is one of the most ridiculous things i have ever heard!!!

Answer 9

uhhh yea i think it is legal. but its pretty ridiculous.

Answer 10

hell no let them tities show