The Legal and Policy Challenges of Student Dress and Grooming Codes: Balancing Rights and Responsibilities

by Todd A. DeMitchell

Overview

Since the 1960s, school rules and regulations concerning apparel and hair have been the subject of litigation in the federal courts. Most of this litigation involves students’ assertions that their clothing and hairstyle choices are forms of expression that are protected by the First Amendment. In some cases, students have argued that school dress and grooming codes discriminate against them based on their gender or their racial or ethnic identity. I Got Dress Coded explores court cases, policies, and research on student appearance and dress codes. The impact of Constitutional protections of student speech on sexual orientation, politics, weapons, drugs, and alcohol are explored as well as restrictions targeting female students and prohibitions on student appearance that reflects a student’s racial and ethnic heritage.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781475874426
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	04/16/2024
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	5.95(w) x 8.96(h) x 0.89(d)

About the Author

Todd A. DeMitchell served as a teacher, principal, and superintendent for 18 years in the public schools before joining the faculty at the University of New Hampshire where he is currently Professor Emeritus of Education Law & Labor. He was the John & H. Irene Peters Endowed Professor of Education, the Lamberton Endowed Professor of Justice Studies, and was named Distinguished University Professor.

Table of Contents

K-12 Education Announcement

Preface: An Update on Student Rights and School Responsibilities

Acknowledgement

Chapter 1: What to Wear to School? Student Choice and School Restrictions: The Controversy

Chapter 2: The First Amendment: Student Appearance and Expressive Conduct

Chapter 3: The Clothes are the Message

Chapter 4: Symbols: The Confederate Battle Flag in the Public Schools

Chapter 5: Targeted Messages on Students’ Clothing: Drugs, Firearms, and Politics

Chapter 6: Clothing Messages About Sex, Abortion, and Sexual Orientation

Chapter 7: Gendered Dress Codes: “Your Skirt is too Short: It is a Distraction.”

Chapter 8: Braids, Locs, and Hairstyles: Grooming Codes

Chapter 9: School Uniforms: The Mandated Appearance

Chapter 10: Policy Implications of Student Dress and Grooming Codes: Balancing Rights and Responsibilities

Appendix A Example Dress Code

Appendix B Example of Gender Neutral Dress Code

About the Author

Editorial Reviews

Dr. Todd DeMitchell has made a timely and welcome addition to the field of educational law with The Legal and Policy Challenges of Student Dress and Grooming Codes. In this volume, Dr. DeMitchell explains the important cases surrounding student dress codes and provides insightful guidance in the development of these policies. I especially commend Dr. DeMitchell for his focus on developing educationally sound student dress codes. Far too often, legal scholars focus on “what the law is” without considering the educational implications. Dr. DeMitchell does not make this mistake. Therefore, I advise practitioners, attorneys, and educational law scholars to buy this book.

Preston Green

Students express themselves in various ways through their clothing. The messages they convey may be political, religious, or personal. The Legal and Policy Challenges of Student Dress and Grooming Codes: Balancing Rights and Responsibilities provides school administrators with the tools they need to navigate the slippery slope of enforcing dress codes. Every situation is unique. Administrators who have a good understanding of the law are in a much better position to respond to those situations in a manner that is likely to be upheld if challenged. This book provides that information. It should be on every school administrator’s bookshelf.

Allan 'sborne

The Legal and Policy Challenges of Student Dress and GroomingCodes gives a riveting deep dive into a timely and complex education law issue such as student dress and grooming codes, by offering both a historical grounding and contemporary analysis. In advocating for an even-handed approach to balancing the rights of students with school responsibilities, the book demonstrates how multifaceted dress code and grooming issues are and how wide they can reach in their scope. This is a must-read for anyone interested in law and education policy.

Raquel Muñiz

Students express themselves in various ways through their clothing. The messages they convey may be political, religious, or personal. The Legal and Policy Challenges of Student Dress and Grooming Codes: Balancing Rights and Responsibilities provides school administrators with the tools they need to navigate the slippery slope of enforcing dress codes. Every situation is unique. Administrators who have a good understanding of the law are in a much better position to respond to those situations in a manner that is likely to be upheld if challenged. This book provides that information. It should be on every school administrator’s bookshelf.

Allan Osborne