School says boy can't dress like girl

EliseB0323

What do you think of this?

(Oct. 7) - When it comes to picking out an outfit to wear to school, there's a fine line between self-expression and unnecessary distraction.

One Georgia high school has decided that one of its 16-year-old male students crossed that line, and has asked him to start dressing in a more "manly" fashion, The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.

Jonathan Escobar had recently transferred to North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Ga. and immediately caused quite a stir among students and staff with his penchant for wearing wigs, makeup, skinny jeans, vintage tops and women's flats.

 

Groups of kids gathered around him in the cafeteria, and the school's assistant principal even blamed a fight on Escobar's flamboyant attire.

 

On his third day at the school, during which Escobar was wearing pink wig, he approached by a school official and told that his choice was to either stop dressing in such a feminine manner or consider home-schooling.

Citing a school dress code that prohibits students from wearing clothing that may "contribute to a disruption of school functions," the school stands by its decision to confront Escobar on his outfits, The Atlanta Journal Constitution says.

 

Meanwhile, a student group on Facebook called "Support Jonathan" has grown to over 1,000 members. Organizers have printed bright pink T-shirts emblazoned with those words which many students plan to wear to school to show their displeasure, the paper said.

 

As for Escobar, he sees the school's edict as a an infringement on his creative expression.

 

"If I can't express myself, I won't go to school," he told the Atlanta Journal Constitution, "I want to get the message out there that because this is who I am, I can't get an education."

Rebekah1021

I think this is why dress codes are a good thing. I think this kid is just doing it for attention and that is a distraction to the other students.

eclaires

Well I think if his antics are distracting other students, then he should not be allowed to wear whatever he wants.  Like the wigs.  The apparel doesn't seem like as big of a deal to me, as long as there are no offensive slogans on his clothes or if they are revealing due to ill fit.  Makeup, eh.  If they let female students wear makeup, I don't have a problem with him wearing it, but if it is more theatrical in nature [like closer to a mask/character than just makeup], I could see it being distracting.  Just guyliner?  not a big deal.

But I'm a former Catholic school girl who thinks uniforms are the best thing ever, so I'm sure I'm biased.  I think schools should be able to control what their students wear for the most part - but it should be equal across the board.

EliseB0323

Rebekah1021:

I think this is why dress codes are a good thing. I think this kid is just doing it for attention and that is a distraction to the other students.

I agree with this, but I'm not sure it's necessary to tell the kid to dress "more manly." 

eclaires

EliseB0323:

Rebekah1021:

I think this is why dress codes are a good thing. I think this kid is just doing it for attention and that is a distraction to the other students.

I agree with this, but I'm not sure it's necessary to tell the kid to dress "more manly." 

I think this is bizarre, and out of line.  I do think schools should be able to control what students wear, but "more manly" is just really off.

AnnapolisLari

He's just doing it for the attention.

Wearing a wig if you've had chemo-- fine. Wearing a wig to disrupt school-- not fine.

Amen to the uniform thing. I wish the schools that I taught in had uniforms.

LestaMarie

EliseB0323:

Rebekah1021:

I think this is why dress codes are a good thing. I think this kid is just doing it for attention and that is a distraction to the other students.

I agree with this, but I'm not sure it's necessary to tell the kid to dress "more manly." 

Maybe not, but it gets the point across - quit wearing the wigs, the women's shoes, the vintage girly tops, etc.  It's an attention-seeking thing.  I wonder what his parents think when he leaves the house looking like that?

hikerbeth

I understand if it's causing distraction. . . but asking him to dress more "manly" is out of line.

My brother and a group of his friends wore dresses to the prom and were kicked out.  A woman wore a tux to the same prom and got her picture in the yearbook for her "cool fashion statement."

pincushions

With eclaires on this one.

We didn't have uniforms in school but we had a dress code that was fully enforced.

 

Sarah&JoeinSC

I never had to wear one, but I think uniforms are a great idea.  Lots of kids wear "distractive" clothing whether they're trying to be unique or trying to fit in.  ie: saggy pants, gang colors, way too skimpy or revealing girls clothing, t-shirts with lewd or controversial messages, etc.

kittycarr

What a f*cking moron.  If that was Ty, I'd kick his stupid ass down the stairs and tell him he better have some decency and respect for those who are contributing to his future.

Creative expression is an excuse to be a tool...

breezee_bean

this is why I am in full support of uniforms in schools.  It holds everyone accountable and provides clear definiton of what's acceptable and what's not.  Alot of times school dress codes are very double standard. 

 

CleoKitty

If he is violating a written dress code then it's one thing to ask him to adhere to the code. But to tell him to dress "more manly" is effing ridiculous, IMO. That's totally stepping over the line on the school's part. Even if the kid is just seeking attention, so what? The school just managed to up the ante and drew even more attention to him.

suzymarie

Do you guys really think he was doing it just to be a distraction? 

The first thing that crossed my mind was that he was gay/transexual/cross dressing. 

I can see not allowing wigs, perhaps, without a Dr.'s note.  But if girls are allowed to wear flats, skinny jeans, etc, than why can't he?  Legally, I can't imagine the school would have much of a leg to stand on.

Rebekah1021

suzymarie:

Do you guys really think he was doing it just to be a distraction? 

yep - I really do. I agree that the school shouldn't have said to dress more manly, but I think if they had a stricter dress code, this wouldn't be in the news either.

amiamish

"wearing wigs, makeup, skinny jeans, vintage tops and women's flats"

I agree with the pp, the pink wigs are a bit much and "guyliner" would be fine-but if he's doing more of a mask-like-makeup then that's overstepping. I would apply this to boys AND girls. And who cares about skinny jeans and vintage shirts?! Seriously? As long as he's dressed and there's nothing obscene on them.

I also agree that he's doing it for the attention.

CleoKitty

suzymarie:

Do you guys really think he was doing it just to be a distraction? 

The first thing that crossed my mind was that he was gay/transexual/cross dressing. 

I can see not allowing wigs, perhaps, without a Dr.'s note.  But if girls are allowed to wear flats, skinny jeans, etc, than why can't he?  Legally, I can't imagine the school would have much of a leg to stand on.

My thoughts exactly. Does anyone here watch Glee? My first thought was of the gay kid in that show, LOL. 

And besides, like I said before, even if it is just attention seeking- who cares? Isn't that what teenagers do?  He's not hurting anyone. There are many more worse ways (and dangerous!) ways that he could be seeking attention. Dressing like a freak? Harmless.

eclaires

I don't care if he's seeking attention [doesn't everyone?] - I only care if it's a distraction, which I can see pink wigs and theatrical makeup being. 

Like if he was wearing a long haired brunette wig - ok.  But a bright pink wig?  No.

The rest of it seems non-distracting though.  And the makeup is only distracting if he's doing something very theatrical.

Zenya

CleoKitty:

My thoughts exactly. Does anyone here watch Glee? My first thought was of the gay kid in that show, LOL. 

And besides, like I said before, even if it is just attention seeking- who cares? Isn't that what teenagers do?  He's not hurting anyone. There are many more worse ways (and dangerous!) ways that he could be seeking attention. Dressing like a freak? Harmless.

agree. 

Punk*Mommy

Personally, I think it's ridiculous that the schools make such a big deal over crap like this! Ok, maybe ditch the wig, but the rest of the outfit??? Big deal. He has the right to wear what he wants as long as it's within dress code.

RieTea

I'd like to see a picture of his choice of clothing.

soyaddict

Punk*Mommy:

Personally, I think it's ridiculous that the schools make such a big deal over crap like this! Ok, maybe ditch the wig, but the rest of the outfit??? Big deal. He has the right to wear what he wants as long as it's within dress code.

I agree. 

kittycarr

Zenya:

CleoKitty:

My thoughts exactly. Does anyone here watch Glee? My first thought was of the gay kid in that show, LOL. 

And besides, like I said before, even if it is just attention seeking- who cares? Isn't that what teenagers do?  He's not hurting anyone. There are many more worse ways (and dangerous!) ways that he could be seeking attention. Dressing like a freak? Harmless.

agree. 

I totally disagree.  No he's not hurting, yes that is what teenagers do BUT there is a time and a place for it and school is not the place.  Plus, there has to be a line over what is acceptable and what is not and dressing like a clown, for lack of a better term, just because you can or just because you can probably get away with it where legality is concerned is the most ludicrous thing I"ve heard lately.

If it came to be a legal issue and I were on the school board, I'd be pushing super ultra fast for a school uniform policy. 

RieTea

there is a school around here that has no dress code at all. If a kid wants to wear a costume to school they can. It is only like that at one school in the district though. They are very relaxed...kids can go to the RR whenever they want (I believe without asking), they can have water bottles at their desk, etc. This is at the elementary school. They are trying to promote independence and responsible decision making. I find it fascinating, particularly the part about wearing a costume if you want.

 

mommyof4boys

suzymarie:

Do you guys really think he was doing it just to be a distraction? 

The first thing that crossed my mind was that he was gay/transexual/cross dressing. 

I can see not allowing wigs, perhaps, without a Dr.'s note.  But if girls are allowed to wear flats, skinny jeans, etc, than why can't he?  Legally, I can't imagine the school would have much of a leg to stand on.

This is discrimination!

Angela814

CleoKitty:

suzymarie:

Do you guys really think he was doing it just to be a distraction? 

The first thing that crossed my mind was that he was gay/transexual/cross dressing. 

I can see not allowing wigs, perhaps, without a Dr.'s note.  But if girls are allowed to wear flats, skinny jeans, etc, than why can't he?  Legally, I can't imagine the school would have much of a leg to stand on.

My thoughts exactly. Does anyone here watch Glee? My first thought was of the gay kid in that show, LOL. 

And besides, like I said before, even if it is just attention seeking- who cares? Isn't that what teenagers do?  He's not hurting anyone. There are many more worse ways (and dangerous!) ways that he could be seeking attention. Dressing like a freak? Harmless.

Ha! My first thought was the Glee kid too. I agree with both of you. Maybe the wigs are a bit much, but the rest of his outfit is not a big deal, unless it would be a big deal for a girl to wear.