Dress Code

Yesterday, Twin Falls Times News posted an interesting article on the updated dress code for 6th grade through 12th grade students that was just adopted by the Twin Falls School district on July 8 (you can read the article HERE.)

There are multiple elements of this article that are of interest to me. It becomes increasingly difficult to be on campus of any school today because of the clothing styles that more reflect a music video than that of commonly accepted appropriate attire in the work place. (however, even that is on the move toward less appropriate.)

The article by Brian Smith was well thought through and he did a good job of addressing the challenge before administrators and teachers this coming school year. The hardest thing facing Twin Falls School District in this will be in the enforcing. How will the school district handle sports attire (which becomes less and less every year)?

The dress code addresses the length of shorts and skirts. Even though the new dress code has not been published yet the new length is longer, not shorter, than previous dress code. The new length, according to the article, is ‘just above the knee.’ It used to be ‘mid-thigh’.

Here is the old dress code of Twin Falls School District (HERE)

Students are to observe the following guidelines regarding student attire:
1. Shirts must have a modest neckline (no cleavage) and be long enough to cover the midriff
(front and back). No spaghetti straps, tank tops, tube, off-the-shoulder, halter tops, or muscle
shirts will be allowed. No backless, strapless, or half tops are to be worn.
2. Clothes must conceal undergarments (boxers, thongs, undergarment straps, etc.) at all times.
No see-through, excessively tight or torn, or revealing attire is permitted.
3. Shorts and skirts must be no shorter than mid-thigh in length.
4. Pants must be worn at hip-level or higher (no excessive bagging or sagging).
5. No pajamas, slippers, or sleepwear of any kind is allowed.
6. Hats or head coverings (including sunglasses) of any kind are not allowed.
7. Shoes must be worn at all times.
8. Students are prohibited from wearing or carrying clothing, accessories or jewelry, or displaying
piercings or tattoos, which by picture, symbol, or word, depict or allude to any of the following:
Drug usage, including alcohol and tobacco;
Controlled substances of any kind;
Drug paraphernalia;
Gangs;
Violence, hate groups, racial separation;
Sexually explicit, lewd, indecent, or offensive material; or Illegal acts.
8. Visible body piercing or magnetic/glued jewelry on face, eyes, arms, hands, tongue, and
feet is prohibited. Earrings and nose studs are allowed (see MVHS exception). Spikes,
chains, wallet chains, studs, bolts, dog collars, needles, pins, sharp objects, or other jewelry
deemed unsafe is not allowed at school.
9. Excessive or extreme make-up is not allowed.
There may be exclusions to the dress code policy for religious or health reasons.

Even from a biblical standard, this could be a borderline modest code or a good conservative dress code (a few exceptions.)

Most Interesting for me is that this may be more strict than one may find at a Christian private school or church youth group. wow. The bible does address the clothing of disciples and gives guidelines to pattern ones life after. I’m happy to see the Twin Falls School District address this growing problem. Christians are biblically obligated to dress modestly and reflect holiness.

Conservative dress does not make a heart right with God, but… a person right with God will dress accordingly.

Should there be a noticeable difference in the way attenders in a church dress and those in a public school dress? I argue that there should be. Remember that Scripture says the reason for the law was to show the lawless that he was indeed lawless. A dress code is needed for a school, private or public. I can’t imagine what it would be like if there was no code and everyone did what they thought was right in their own eyes.

In the Times News article, Brian Smith notes, “Draw a line in the sand, and some students are bound to cross it. Let that line fade into the surf, and students will draw their own.” This is a fair observation of what has been happening and will continue to happen even with a new dress code. But, the statement is true for all people everywhere… let the line fade into the surf, and we will draw our own line.

The fall out of this new dress code is yet to be seen, but I applaud the Twin Falls School District of attempting to address this issue. I would also like to see the school district address the dance, sports, and cheer team clothing too. The half-time show of the last high school basketball game I attended was difficult to endure, but then again, that was a Christian school.

Here is a good article for consideration on this issue for believers. HERE “Christian women have a biblical obligation to dress modestly and reflect holiness.” Mary Mohler