Story Archive

Inappropriate Attire for School

On her third day of classes at a new school, Miranda Larkin, 15, was ordered to change into a neon T-shirt emblazoned “Dress Code Violation” and red sweat pants. The reason: her skirt didn’t reach all the way to her knees, as the rules at Oakleaf High School in Clay County, Fla., require. “The school has said, this is to embarrass you,” she said, although the school claims the outfit is designed that way to make sure it isn’t stolen. Her mother, Dianna Larkin, who actually advocates school uniforms, is outraged. “This is not about punishing kids,” she said. “This is about humiliation,” describing the outfit as a “shame suit.” She said she’d file a complaint under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which requires student records be kept private. School board candidate Ashley Gilhousen said school rules exist to protect kids. (AC/WJXT Jacksonville, Washington Post) ...Including from skirts not much shorter than the one Gilhousen wore in her TV interview about the case — and about the same length as the WJXT reporter’s.