This is a series. See the archive and submit your own letter at www.mysaline.com/letters.
Parent calls for Benton School Board to focus on behavior, if not equality regarding dress code:
Dear Benton School Board,
Since you sent out parent “surveys” today and I’m absolutely certain my comments at the end of that “survey” will be all but dismissed just like they have been at past school board meetings, I am leaving my thoughts here as an outlet for my feelings on the outdated and gender biased dress code of students attending Benton Public Schools.
This has NOTHING to do with which side of the political fence you fall on. This has to do with fairness and equality for ALL students. My child has never been dress coded but, a large amount of her friends have been, over extremely minor infractions that shouldn’t have happened.
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I would like to express my deep concern and frustration over the current student dress code policies, which remain largely unchanged from when I attended Benton Public Schools in the 1980s and 1990s. These policies continue to disproportionately target female students and restrict self-expression in ways that are outdated, and counterproductive to student development.
Rules such as the restriction on tights or yoga pants are particularly troubling. They place the burden on girls to modify their clothing choices under the assumption that their appearance might “distract others.” This not only reinforces harmful gender stereotypes but also fails to teach all students the critical values of respect, personal responsibility, and consent. Instead of regulating girls’ bodies, we should be teaching students to maintain appropriate behavior and mutual respect.
Another concerning policy is the restriction on unnatural hair colors. Other surrounding districts, such as Bryant, have eliminated these outdated rules and report no negative impact on student behavior or bullying. In fact, allowing students to express themselves through style and appearance can promote confidence, creativity, and individuality. These are formative years in a child’s life. We should be encouraging safe, age-appropriate self-expression, not stifling it.
Furthermore, the enforcement of these rules is clearly unequal. While there are a few rules that appear to apply to boys, they are rarely enforced with the same scrutiny as the girls. This double standard sends a damaging message to students about fairness and gender equality.
It’s time for Benton Public Schools to modernize its dress code to reflect today’s values: inclusivity, equality, and respect. Students should not be punished for expressing who they are or for others’ inability to act appropriately. I urge the district to involve students and families in a transparent review process to create a more balanced and equitable dress code.
-by Melissa Ausburn-Ramos
This is a series. See the archive of Letters to the Editor, and submit your own letter at www.mysaline.com/letters.