Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 19, 1990 TAG: 9003222337
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
When the temperature hit a summer-like 80s this week, students at a couple of Roanoke Valley schools wanted to wear summer-like clothes to class. But the dress codes at Patrick Henry High School and Northside Junior High prohibited shorts.
The student-requested rule at Patrick Henry was that students could not wear shorts between October and May. The policy in effect said it was OK to wear shorts to school in summer's hot weather. But weather systems seem to be violating seasonal boundaries with increasing regularity. And warm weather in the winter heats up classrooms as much as warm weather in the summer.
At Northside Junior High, the school administration allowed no shorts, period. The reason? "They say we're not mature enough to wear them . . .," said student Chris Bradley, 14. The rule doesn't fit the '90s. Or the '80s. Or maybe even the '70s. And the maturity issue doesn't fly. Shorts are acceptable attire in the elementary schools.
Students who defied their respective bans and showed up for class in shorts initially were disciplined. Tempers got (sorry) short. But at midweek, each school rescinded its policy, the tension was broken, and everyone was a lot more comfortable. Especially the people wearing shorts.
by CNB