We agree completely with the Richmond County school board's taking on the problem of saggy pants at school events.
We just disagree with how they're going about it.
The proposed policy, agreed to by a board committee Tuesday, would say, "Provocative clothing and baggy pants that do not fit properly are prohibited."
Moreover, the committee talked about only enforcing the policy on students, not on other spectators at sporting events.
We understand the timidity of trying to enforce a dress code on non-students. But while it's dicier, it can be done: As a guest of the school district, you are expected to abide by certain rules. This should be one of them.
That all-inclusive tack, for instance, would include gang members and other ne'er-do-wells, which we think is absolutely essential.
In addition, board members noted the difficulty of sorting out students from non-students. Thankfully the policy at this point pertains to all visitors at school events, as it should.
As for the wording, we disagree with both the terms "provocative clothing" and "baggy pants."
Golfers used to wear baggy pants, and nowhere is decorum more observed than on a golf course.
The most apt word is probably "saggy" or "sagging."
It does help that the proposed policy refers specifically to pants being fitted at the waist and not exposing underwear -- which is specific language directed at the crux of the problem the district is tackling.
We wonder, though, if the word "provocative" is overly vague as to be unconstitutional. A lot of free speech is provocative, for instance.
And who defines what is provocative? By many people's definitions, the cheerleaders' and drill teams' uniforms could be considered provocative.
Legal language needs to be more exact than that. Rather than using vague and subjective terms such as "provocative," the district needs to spell it out: Are we talking about plunging necklines, profanity on shirts, short shorts or skirts?
To be enforceable, and constitutional, the policy cannot be vague and subjective. It must be specific and easily understood.
But if that can be ironed out, we're all for a little more decorum.
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I believe that unless a uniform is specified, any language will fall short of enforcement. And one other thing, there are a lot of grown men walking around with low rider baggy pants and a lot of mothers in skin tight lycra pants and blouses. These are hardly gang bangers so how are they to be handled? I don't care for the style by any means, but aren't we tired of paying legal fees in this town? If it is a problem, close down the stadiums. They are mainly cesspools of trouble anyway and they contribute little is any to education.
No shirt, no shoes, no service is a standing rule/law in every place that sells food. Except for political correctness, there should be no problem enforcing the dress code at school and school events. If you can't dress right, no admittance, if you can't stay dressed right once you're in, you must leave with no refund.
Enforcing the school dress code for everyone at sporting events. That's a good one. "Excessively large belt buckles are prohibiited' No clothing that "promotes or advertises the use of narcotics, alcoholic beverages, tobacco.." Sorry Bubba, that rodeo belt buckle is too big, and you can't come in with that Budweiser cap and Skoal t-shirt. Hey you're wearing cut off jeans too. That'll go over big. Of couse they don't really mean enforcing ALL the policies on EVERYONE.
I get seriously offended seeing grown white men wear expensive penny loafers with shorts and no socks. Makes me almost vomit. They should add that to the ban as well.
Lycra running shorts can either be a dream or a nightmare, depending on the girl wearing them. How about we just start banning fat people from restaurants, I don't like to think if I order desert I'll end up like them. No hairy people allowed to sell razors. Tall people aren't allowed near ladders. Oooh, only lazy chubbers can sell recliners cause if it's comfy why the heck would I go running? Seriously, I don't like baggy pants but that's my preference. I'm sure someone out there doesn't like my pirate hat, mesh t-shirt, tuxedo pants and flip flops but that doesn't mean there should be a ruling against it.
With that said, the school has the right to set it's own rules so long as they are fairly applied. There just needs to be better and more precise wording attached to the rule.
Now why do you suppose there are so many "adults" that feel young men should be allowed to wear their pants below their buttocks in public?
Lobosolo & C-atbest: This is not about personal tastes...its about guys letting their behinds hang out! You can not compare the two.
It is true that the BOE needs to be more specific in their wording. If you are not specific with young people they will find a way around it.
From Dirty Dancing: "Look, spaghetti arms. This is my dance space. This is your dance space. I don't go into yours, you don't go into mine."
as long as we have to look at breast cleavage and camel toes -- most of which is NOT young, firm, and pretty, who cares about seeing boxer shorts sticking out of low riding jeans? if some little twerp wants to walk around with the crotch of his jeans hanging down to his ankles, that's his prob, not mine. too bad for him if he has to run for his life or something and trips over his own bugle boys. and for those who claim that wearing the jeans low and exposing boxer shorts is a way for gangs to 'flash' their colors (love it!) then i say, let them, cause at least you know who the gangbangers are then and who to keep your eye on. what's that saying? keep your enemy close, something like that? in any case, if they're gonna pick on the guys, they need to tell the girls to straighten up their act as well. personally, i'm sick to death of belly buttons and tramp stamps.
sign "warning, all male humans showing underwear or crack of a$$, not allowed - all female humans when bending forward exposing the mammary glands to the "point" and the color of their underwear, not allowed! period! post it and enforce it.
Displayed in large bold upper case.
Signs to be posted at places of business also or any gathering.
Natural fiber only (synthetic 10 percent or greater not admitted) and positively no white belts on men.
Please do not put cigarette butts in urinal. (Makes them difficult to light.)
No saggy pants? Augusta is becoming the new Footloose town! I don't need the government legislating fashion. As long as you don't see butt crack... there is really nothing "indecent" about saggy pants.
Much ado about nothing.
I am reminded of when bikinis became acceptable beachwear in New England; of course the powers that be were outraged; ordinances were passed that prohibited 'any garment that reveals the natal cleft (buttcrack to us English speakers)." This went on quite well, until some young woman (one hopes not unattractive) appeared in a thong- a garment that DOES cover the 'natal cleft' -- and little else. Writing these laws is pretty much an exercise in futility. Remember, there were arrests on the Jersey Shore as late as the 1920's using as a pretext a ban on topless bathing . . . for men.
U_N_I_F_O_R_M_S_>>>>>>>>>hellooooo????
Bettyboop - I agree, uniforms would be the answer but with the mindset of our children, how would that be excepted when the grownups of our society set the example.
School uniforms 1) stifle creative expression (clothing is one way to express oneself, and while I support certain common sense prohibitions, others are simply matters of taste) and 2) hurt the economy (do you know what teenagers spend on clothing??? Why would you want to squelch free enterprise?).
I'm still thinking about the woman in the thong Dstewartsr wrote about.
hotfoot....are you serious?? these "little darlings" have no creative imagination..they are sheeple of the hip-hop culture......U_N_I_F_O_R_M_S !!
Good grownup like you, Cobalt? What kind of example do you set? What kind of uniform do you wear? Inferring from your posts, could I ask is it white with a pointy top with two holes cut for eyes? How about those little Hitler youth uniforms? Was yours like that in school? Geez, you people worry about such trite stuff. I think you and bettyboop ought to wear yours out in public all the time, so we'll know to stay away from you. Petty, petty, petty.
Lobosolo - "Geez, you people worry about such trite stuff." That little statement says it all about you. Your way of thinking and people like you are the ones that just don't give a DA. how the children of today act or dress. If the dress code was such a trite stuff, why are so many citizens concerned and why are we even having a debating on it. Your attitude maybe implies that you drive around just hoping that some young girl bends over, but again you might get a charge out some males showing his crack. Good luck in you way of life
You mean if I go to a high school football game with my family, we have to pick up a uniform at the gate before we go in? Why bother. Think of what this new rule will do to the plumbing profession.
I think in order to enforce this code, it will have to be very specific. What is provocative to me may or may not be provocative to the next person. Uniforms may or may not be the answer - those pants can also be worn loosely and hang down below the backside but it would be a start.
uniforms. 'nuf said.
Amen................
Just enforce the dress code. The uniforms end up being hard to find and since it is supply and demand, they cost a lot. When you only can afford one or two sets of uniforms per child, they can get worn out pretty quick.