craigdailypress.com

There aren't many conflicts between what's in students' closets and what they're allowed to wear to school.

In some cases, that's just because they chose to ignore the dress code, sporting an "I'll wear it until I get caught" attitude."

Although Moffat County High School Principal Jane Krogman said that dress code violations were fewer during the first week of school than they usually are, students admit they're testing the boundaries.

"There's so many people doing it, you can't stop it all," said senior Christine Reed, who on Friday was sporting a belly-baring polo. "It's also the first week of school. There's only so much they can do."

Krogman said although the preppy look is coming back into style, some are still wearing short shirts and hip-hugging pants.

The dress code prohibits students from baring their midriffs, wearing spaghetti-strap shirts and too-short skirts.

Short shirts pose a problem in that they tend to creep up.

Reed says girls are able to pull the shirts down to an appropriate length when asked by a teacher, but they'll go right back up.

"If you look around there are always people wearing stuff that's inappropriate," sophomore Katlyn Chesser said.

No one had said anything by lunch time about her shorter-than-mid-thigh skirt, but she expected to hear something before the day ended.

"I would like to wear a tank top and not have to cover it," she said.

Her friend, Amber Southard, sported a black hoodie in the August heat. She wore it, she said, to cover the spaghetti strap tank top that's not allowed.

She thinks she'll wear a hoodie a lot this year.

"We should be able to wear the types of clothes we want to wear," she said.

The school district doesn't require students to wear uniforms. The policy states that officials understand the need for students to express themselves.

Yet once that expression becomes distracting, offensive or suggestive -- the line is drawn.

School policy makes unacceptable clothing or jewelry that advertises -- through words or symbol -- drugs, alcohol or tobacco, is profane or is gang-related. It also prohibits clothing with words or graphics that are obscene or sexual in nature.

That's junior Chris Herod's main problem with the dress code. He thinks its enforcement is hypocritical.

"Woods students get to wear shirts that say 'got wood?' tell me that's not suggestive," he said.

He thinks the code could be a little more lenient.

"You're discriminating against what people want to wear."

Chesser thinks teachers discriminate in their enforcement of the dress code.

"Popular kids get away with it," she said.

Herod said some teachers are more lenient than others about the policy.

Reed said she's seen students have to turn their shorts or shirts inside out because they had inappropriate pictures or slogans on them.

Any student who violates the dress code will be required to change into appropriate clothing or make arrangements to have appropriate clothing brought to school.

In that case, there will be no further penalty.

If the student cannot obtain appropriate clothing, they will be penalized. On the first offense, they will be given a written warning and an administrator will notify their parents/guardians. On the second offense, the student will stay in the administrative office for the day and do schoolwork. A conference with parents/guardians shall be held.

On the third offense, the student may be subject to suspension or other disciplinary action as outlined in the school discipline code.

Christina M. Currie can be reached at 824-7031, ext. 210 or by e-mail at ccurrie@craigdailypress.com.