Officials at a Texas middle school are backpedaling on a new student dress code policy they contend is aimed at addressing mental health issues after it sparked a backlash from parents.
“In response to some concerns that were brought forward by parents and teachers of the community, the campus improvement team – which consists of teachers, parents are part of it – looked at all the different concerns that were brought forward and proposed some changes to the dress code policy,” Sarah Venegas, executive principal for the El Paso Independent School District, told KDBC.
Just days before students at El Paso’s Charles Middle School returned to class on Monday, Principal Nick DeSantis sent a letter to parents with a new dress code policy that bans all-black clothing because it’s “associated with depression and mental health issues and/or criminality.”
“What they are not allowing is for students to wear clothing that is black from top to bottom,” El Paso Teachers Association President Norma De La Rosa told KKTV. “They can wear black shorts to PE. They can wear it on free dress day, but they just cannot wear it from top to bottom.”
De La Rosa continued: “The intention is to ensure the physical and mental safety of their students and was initially initiated due to concerns observed by teachers at the end of the last school year.”
Parents and others immediately trashed the policy change online, with many pointing out the obvious fact that clothing color has no bearing on a person’s mental state.
“I would say that mental health and depression, they don’t have colors,” Krista Wingate, chief of child and adolescent services at El Paso’s Emergence Health Network, told KDBC. “They don’t have outfits. They have other signs that are really important to look for.”
“The color of clothing has nothing to do with your ability to do anything or feel any emotion,” Alex Lucero wrote in a Facebook post cited by WILX. “They should concentrate on making sure that the children are taught properly and that their parents are fully involved in their children’s learning.”
“Making students wear a different color isn’t going to magically make them a completely different person,” Alexis Contreras added.
Others were upset because they had already purchased school clothes for the year.
“We already bought black pants, so we have to buy again, the pants,” Fabiola Flores told KDBC. “They should ask, do they like a ‘hey what do you think?’ like ‘we’re thinking about it!’”
The controversy prompted the EPISD to issue a statement to the news site outlining the reasoning behind the policy change.
“Charles Middle School is updating its uniform policy to enhance students’ well-being and sense of pride,” the statement read. “This decision, carefully considered and approved by the Campus Improvement Team – comprising parents, faculty, staff and community stakeholders – aims to foster a positive self-image among students and more effectively showcase the school’s colors and pride.”
“The dress code changes were a response to concerns and recommendations brought forward by the stakeholders of Charles Middle School. The school appreciates the community’s feedback and collaboration in making these changes,” the district wrote.
EPISD Superintendent Diana Saavedra offered a similar take in an Aug. 2 message posted to the district’s website that promised officials “are committed to continuing this dialogue to strengthen our collaboration.”
