Shaundalyn Elliott's Diary
The First 180 Days

Dressed for the Occasion!

Week 23

This week began as a hectic one but finally came to a peaceful close.

I spent most of Monday trying to tie up loose ends for the Black History Month program scheduled for Tuesday night. While the students worked on their book reports, I worked on my opening speech.

Monday ended with a faculty meeting that turned into a frustrating debate over the school dress-code policy. Lately, the school has been having a difficult time enforcing the policy, and students have been coming to school with their pants sagging below their waists and their shirts untucked. Most of the teachers at the meeting expressed concern both about the students' appearance and about their own responsibilities for enforcing the dress code. I left the meeting feeling dissatisfied. In my opinion, nothing had been resolved.

Early Tuesday morning, each teacher found a flyer in his or her mailbox. Typed all in caps, the flyer read "DO NOT ENTER THIS ROOM UNLESS YOUR SHIRT IS TUCKED IN AND YOUR PANTS ARE PULLED UP!" At first, I debated whether I should hang up the sign. I had been enforcing the dress code long before Monday's faculty meeting and felt that the sign was about six months too late. During morning announcements, however, teachers were instructed to post the sign outside their doors. Wanting to comply with the rules, I did just that.

I mentioned the sign to my students several times that day and explained again what is permissible school attire and what is not. I reminded them that I would continue to enforce the dress code, as would all other members of the faculty. I also told them that if any member of the faculty asked them to modify their clothing, they should do so without hesitation.

Tuesday night, the issue of the dress code was discussed again, this time at a PTSA meeting. Although I listened as parents and administrators commented on the policy, I was really more concerned with the Black History Month program planned for later in the evening. In fact, I was quite anxious to 'get the show on the road' -- and eventually we did just that!

The students were dynamic in their performances. Teachers and students were all very proud. At the end, several parents mentioned how impressed they were with the way everyone looked and the way the program turned out. The teachers wore African attire, and the students in the choir wore red, yellow, or green T-shirts with black jeans. The students seemed excited to hear that they would put on a performance for the school on Thursday.

As the week drew to a close, the dress code was still being enforced. Teachers were patrolling, and students were rebelling. By Friday, it seemed that the situation was becoming overwhelming for everyone. Monday will be a well-deserved break for us teachers -- even if we do have to attend workshops all day!

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Shaundalyn Elliot
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