Photos
Lakewood High School students are mobilizing, looking to end the school district’s ban on hooded sweatshirts, commonly referred to as “hoodies.”
“We feel that these rules are unjust, and unfair,” students penned in a letter to school officials.
“Most of us don't have jackets, or winter coats without hoods, and although winter jackets are allowed, hoodies are a cheaper solution to the expensive winter coat, and get the job done well.”
More than 400 people have already signed an online petition.
Kevin Bright, the district’s assistant superintendent, couldn’t immediately be reached for comment, but he told Fox 8 that the hooded sweatshirts were outlawed to prevent students from “concealing things.”
District spokeswoman Christine Gordillo said that a committee tasked with examining the dress code implemented the policy several years ago.
Safety, she said, was “a major concern.”
The decision to reverse the policy would be left up to the board of education, she said.
In the meantime, the number of signatures on the petition continues to climb each day.
“Why are we so strict against dress code?” the letter to district officials asks. “In a classroom, when a student gets told to remove his/her hoodie, it is more distracting than the student actually wearing the hoodie (itself).”
Should the district end its policy banning hooded sweatshirts? Take our poll and tell us in the comments.
Breakneck Gallery
12:35 pm on Thursday, December 13, 2012
Yes they should end the ban.
KRMS
2:20 pm on Thursday, December 13, 2012
Wear it to and from school. Not in the classroom. Students are not there to make a fashion statement.
Shyanne
11:14 pm on Tuesday, April 30, 2013
dude, it does not have to stand as a fashion statement. they were made to keep people warm and to advertise and that sort. not to say that im cooler than you or anything like that. KRMS, you r thinking bout this the completely rong way.
Sandy
7:01 pm on Thursday, December 13, 2012
I would be inclined to agree with you KRMS, if students attended a school at which they were in one building all day. Lakewood High is a bit unique in that students must go outside and cross Franklin, sometimes several times a day, in order to attend classes in the modular unit.
will
12:48 pm on Friday, December 14, 2012
My children, as have many others, have gotten sick from the weather (like all do). However, how many of those illnesses and potentially lost child in school days could be avoided by allowing hoodies, Okay, the child cannot wear the hoodie indoors, they can wear the jacket and then put the hoodie on as they are leaving to go outside.
Or, the district can spend the money and finish the construction not currently expected to be finished until lat least 2015 and make it where the mods are not needed.
Busy Mom in Lkwd
1:34 pm on Friday, December 14, 2012
I think they should be able to wear the hoodies but change the rule to say no hoodies on your head in school. What can they really conceal in a hoodie that they can't conceal in a jacket?
Barb Mattis
12:15 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
Exactly! Duh and what about backpacks...concealing items - that was not a well thought out reason...
1
5:19 pm on Monday, December 17, 2012
So if you don't have any religion, your rights to cover your head ( with clothing that has been around for as long as I can remember) are gone?
Knives and guns can easily be carried under a pant leg, so what's next no pants?
Pip Citrus
8:32 pm on Wednesday, December 19, 2012
I feel like this is somewhat classist. As the students said, hoodies ARE cheaper and it's somewhat discriminatory to students who come from low income families and cannot afford a nice winter coat. If someone is a problem child, taking away their hoodie isn't going to stop that. I mean, listen to that sentence, it's a really silly, ridiculous rule.
Pip Citrus
8:36 pm on Wednesday, December 19, 2012
I also just googled the school- it seems like it's located in southern California. I grew up in southern California. You need a nice sweater here during the winter, NOT a coat. You'll be sweating like crazy in a coat. You want all the students to walk around in hoodless sweaters?? So the parents now have to go out and BUY hoodless sweaters, since most teenagers have hoodies?? Silly, silly, silly.
will
2:15 am on Thursday, December 20, 2012
The school district in question is in Lakewood, ohio, Not Lakewood, California. There are several Lakewoods in the country.
Barb Mattis
12:13 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
I have 2 teenage girls in Lakewood schools. I am very frustrated with the over the top dress code at Lakewood. The hoodie thing is only one part of the problem with Lakewood dress code. It is very hard to shop for clothes that "fit" the dress code. My girls and I agree either relax with the dress codes or just go to uniforms.
Dylan Glover
4:55 am on Monday, December 24, 2012
The negatives far outweigh the positives with the ban. I was a student at LHS when this rule was implemented, and for something that seems so trivial, it seriously causes an UPROAR. Just let them wear hoodies.
Shyanne
7:44 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
I just think flat-out that not allowing kids to wear hoodies is ridiculous! I mean, my school gets really cold, and they banned hoodies as well. The ban is stupid and should be dropped. Many of my classmates made petitions for others to sign, but it didn't work. There was over half of the votes in the school and it didn't work. The ban is really dumb! Who is with me on this?!