KALAMAZOO MI March 22 2008-- A crackdown on 'hoodies' has ruffled some Kalamazoo middle school students and parents who question what the big deal is about wearing baggy sweatshirts.
While stopping short of formalizing it in a dress code, first-year Principal Craig McCane has asked the student body of 600 at Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts not to wear loose-fitting hoodies and other baggy clothing.
"We're trying to improve classroom performance ... and improve how our kids look," McCane said. And, "It's safety," he continued.
"I don't want contrabands getting carried into the building ... and classrooms."
Schools in some places around the country have recently started prohibiting hooded sweatshirts for various reasons. Boston public schools, for example, banned them because officials said the hoods make it easy for students to obscure their identities on security cameras while entering or leaving school, the Boston Globe reported.
Michael Reed, father of a seventh-grade girl who attends Maple Street, said his daughter was in band class recently when security guards came in and asked anyone who was wearing a hooded garment to go to the restroom and remove it.
"I don't want my daughter to be told to leave band class ... when she didn't know she was doing something wrong," Reed said. He said he knows of about eight to 10 parents who have voiced concerns, at Parent-Teacher Organization meetings or by e-mail to McCane, about the policy.
"I'm not going to go out and buy a new wardrobe," said Michele Richards, mother of a Maple Street student. "It's what the kids are wearing these days," she said of hoodies.A seventh-grader interviewed for this story also questioned the need for the dress restrictions.
"They say it's because they can bring weapons in and stuff," the student said. "But, I don't know how they can carry stuff in the small pockets."
Others Maple Street students, however, say they consider the dress expectations to be acceptable.
"I think they (students) shouldn't be allowed to wear hoodies," another seventh-grade student said. "There have been kids known to bring in drugs and stuff ... and if they have hoodies, that's where they hide stuff."
McCane said recently that there had not been security breaches at the school involving hooded sweatshirts, but that the potential exists for students to hide banned items in baggy clothing.
The principal said he doesn't want students wearing triple-XL sweatshirts or other baggy clothing that goes down to their knees. If a hoodie is knit, form-fitting or goes with an outfit, that's fine, he said.
McCane said the school attempted to provide more clarity in a newsletter to parents several weeks ago that said: "All outerwear, book bags and electronic devices must be secured in assigned lockers. Specifically, outerwear includes hoodies, coats, jackets and hats," it said.
McCane said he expects that this spring the school will further clarify dress policies so parents will know what to buy their kids for the 2008/09 school year. The principal added that he's pleased, overall, with the appearance of the school's 600 students.
In the meantime, Reed said parents have talked about creating an online forum to discuss student dress requirements and other middle school issues. Reed said that while he thinks the school is well-run, some 40 parents and teachers involved in the discussion hope on online forum can help get parents and staff better connected about what is happening in the school.
Clothing requirements at Maple Street don't apply to other buildings in the Kalamazoo Public Schools, which gives principals leeway in setting expectations for student dress, officials say.
At least for now, Maple Street appears to be exception rather than the rule among schools around southwestern Michigan with its policies on hoodies.
Mendon Junior/Senior High School doesn't allow students to wear hoods, but they can wear hooded sweatshirts, Principal Jay Peterson said. "We've not had any situation where we felt it was a security issue," said Peterson.
Officials at Kalamazoo's Milwood Middle School as well as at Portage Central Middle School, and Paw Paw Middle School say they have not moved to regulate hoodies.
Paw Paw Middle School Principal Donald Barnhouse said he understands the arguments for banning them, however, and that school safety officers have recommended changing the dress code to ban all baggy clothing.
"I'm not ready to go there," Barnhouse said. "It seems the more restrictions you have, the more problems you have ... but you have to have guidelines.
While stopping short of formalizing it in a dress code, first-year Principal Craig McCane has asked the student body of 600 at Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts not to wear loose-fitting hoodies and other baggy clothing.
"We're trying to improve classroom performance ... and improve how our kids look," McCane said. And, "It's safety," he continued.
"I don't want contrabands getting carried into the building ... and classrooms."
Schools in some places around the country have recently started prohibiting hooded sweatshirts for various reasons. Boston public schools, for example, banned them because officials said the hoods make it easy for students to obscure their identities on security cameras while entering or leaving school, the Boston Globe reported.
Michael Reed, father of a seventh-grade girl who attends Maple Street, said his daughter was in band class recently when security guards came in and asked anyone who was wearing a hooded garment to go to the restroom and remove it.
"I don't want my daughter to be told to leave band class ... when she didn't know she was doing something wrong," Reed said. He said he knows of about eight to 10 parents who have voiced concerns, at Parent-Teacher Organization meetings or by e-mail to McCane, about the policy.
"I'm not going to go out and buy a new wardrobe," said Michele Richards, mother of a Maple Street student. "It's what the kids are wearing these days," she said of hoodies.A seventh-grader interviewed for this story also questioned the need for the dress restrictions.
"They say it's because they can bring weapons in and stuff," the student said. "But, I don't know how they can carry stuff in the small pockets."
Others Maple Street students, however, say they consider the dress expectations to be acceptable.
"I think they (students) shouldn't be allowed to wear hoodies," another seventh-grade student said. "There have been kids known to bring in drugs and stuff ... and if they have hoodies, that's where they hide stuff."
McCane said recently that there had not been security breaches at the school involving hooded sweatshirts, but that the potential exists for students to hide banned items in baggy clothing.
The principal said he doesn't want students wearing triple-XL sweatshirts or other baggy clothing that goes down to their knees. If a hoodie is knit, form-fitting or goes with an outfit, that's fine, he said.
McCane said the school attempted to provide more clarity in a newsletter to parents several weeks ago that said: "All outerwear, book bags and electronic devices must be secured in assigned lockers. Specifically, outerwear includes hoodies, coats, jackets and hats," it said.
McCane said he expects that this spring the school will further clarify dress policies so parents will know what to buy their kids for the 2008/09 school year. The principal added that he's pleased, overall, with the appearance of the school's 600 students.
In the meantime, Reed said parents have talked about creating an online forum to discuss student dress requirements and other middle school issues. Reed said that while he thinks the school is well-run, some 40 parents and teachers involved in the discussion hope on online forum can help get parents and staff better connected about what is happening in the school.
Clothing requirements at Maple Street don't apply to other buildings in the Kalamazoo Public Schools, which gives principals leeway in setting expectations for student dress, officials say.
At least for now, Maple Street appears to be exception rather than the rule among schools around southwestern Michigan with its policies on hoodies.
Mendon Junior/Senior High School doesn't allow students to wear hoods, but they can wear hooded sweatshirts, Principal Jay Peterson said. "We've not had any situation where we felt it was a security issue," said Peterson.
Officials at Kalamazoo's Milwood Middle School as well as at Portage Central Middle School, and Paw Paw Middle School say they have not moved to regulate hoodies.
Paw Paw Middle School Principal Donald Barnhouse said he understands the arguments for banning them, however, and that school safety officers have recommended changing the dress code to ban all baggy clothing.
"I'm not ready to go there," Barnhouse said. "It seems the more restrictions you have, the more problems you have ... but you have to have guidelines.
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JOIN OUR NEW SOCIAL NETWORK…….www.privateofficer.com
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PROTECT YOURSELF!-Tasers, Pepper Spray, Stun Guns
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GET PAID TO SHOP!~ MAKE MONEY FROM HOME!~~~REALLY! CHECK IT OUT!
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