Tampa Bay Coalition
Message sent to Earl J. Lennard, Superintendent and
Hillsborough County School Board Members. Urging
school board superintendent and members to create a
non-gender bias dress code for senior portraits.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2003 10:04 PM
Subject: RE: Hillborough County School Dress Code
Dear Earl J. Lennard, Superintendent and Hillsborough
County School Board Members
I am writing to about an issue that is of
great importance to me, the Hillsborough school dress
code. In particular, I would urge you to eliminate the
gender bias that is exhibited in the dress code, in regards to senior
portraits.
I would not suggest rescinding the dress code
policy. Because, I do agree, students should be required to wear professional attire for their senior portraits and under
gowns worn for their graduation ceremony.
However, I do not feel it is appropriate, to require
female students to wear, a costume which has no usage
in everyday life, while permitting male students to wear
standard professional attire. Female students should be
allowed to wear the same such standard professional attire, as are males
students. It is considered to be
appropriate attire for professional women to wear in the workplace and should be considered appropriate
attire in our schools dress codes for senior portraits.
The dress code policy requiring female students to wear a scoop neck drape is
out of step with the times. Thus, it should be changed to reflect what is
considered to
be acceptable and appropriate attire worn by women in
the workplace.
It is an embarrassment that a school board would
waste tens of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money defending this antiquated
policy. Surely, these tens of thousands of dollars of taxpayers money, could
be
better well spent, if used toward enhancing educational
programs at our schools.
It is time, for the school board to eliminate antiquated gender
specific dress code policies. And should create a district wide policy requiring
all schools in the district to do so. Which should include senior portrait
policies and graduation policies that require female students to wear a skirt or
dress.
I thank you for allowing me to share with you my opinion and
taking the time to read this message. I look forward to receiving your
personal response.
Respectfully,
R. Zeke Fread
W. San Rafael
Tampa, Florida 33629-6022
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