When senior Annie Deaver wore a sweatshirt with the acronym OFWGKTA on it earlier this year, the last thing she thought of was that she might be violating the dress code.
Deaver’s situation is an example of what some students and teachers see as inconsistencies in the enforcement and content of the dress code.
Deaver was asked to remove the Odd Future sweatshirt by assistant principal David Ewers because of offensive lyrics written by the band. She does not think the sweatshirt is against the dress code because it does not specify that there is a problem with band shirts.
“There’s nothing saying band shirts are bad, and they aren’t a distraction to the school day,” Deaver said. “I think they should be allowed as long as they are worn appropriately and the offensive lyrics are not on the shirt.”
Deaver thinks the dress code should be less ambiguous.
“If they were going to try to ban t-shirts then they should be more specific because there’s nothing wrong with my shirt that affects the dress code,” Deaver said. “If they feel the need to ban my shirt for offensive lyrics, they should ban all music shirts because in some way they are all offensive. They shouldn’t set certain standards for one shirt but not for another. There are plenty of rap shirts I see that have offensive lyrics, but they’re OK for students to wear.”
Ewers said questionable policies, such as ones involving supposedly offensive bands, are interpreted based on the individual situation.
“[It] can be a case-by-case basis, depending upon the severity,” Ewers said. “There’s a lot of parties involved with that, basically Mill Valley staff members. I think the existing code and the [way] that teachers are working to enforce it are sufficient.”
Social studies teacher Chris Dunback believes this may be caused by differing teacher opinions.
“[I’ve] never been in that situation,” Dunback said. “Never dealt out punishment. Honestly, some people get away with it because [the] teacher doesn’t care but others get deeply offended.”
Junior Mary Altman has been asked to change out of yoga pants by English teacher Eric Ammerman for violating the dress code, although no written policy currently exists that forbids yoga pants.
“I don’t think it’s fair because everybody else wears them and it’s not fair that I had to change when there are other people in my class who didn’t have to change,” Altman said.
Ammerman said he enforces policies based on the individual rule being violated, as well as the effect the clothing is having.
“I think it depends on the specific rule … is it creating some sort of distraction?” Ammerman said. “I think [the dress code] should be enforced as much as the rules allow us to. That’s why the rules are there. I think that’s true for every rule, not just the dress code.”
Dunback said that he focuses more on teaching than what students wear.
“I don’t notice what you’re wearing,” Dunback said. “I just keep teaching.”
Dunback also said that he and some other staff members are unsure of what to enforce.
“[I’m a] tad confused, as well as many other teachers,” Dunback said. “[They are] very good rules but they are vague. [They] give the administration flexibility depending on the time. [There is] no consistency on the whole issue. Some teachers don’t notice. If there is a difference it depends on who reports it.”
