Schools

Lakewood Schools: Ban on 'Hoodies' to Remain

More than 400 students and their parents have already signed an online petition looking to reverse the policy.

Despite an online petition to end the ban on hooded sweatshirts in the Lakewood City Schools, the district’s dress code policy will likely remain in place.

Kevin Bright, the district’s assistant superintendent, said that the board of education commissioned a study in 2004 to examine the issue, and OK'd the dress code shortly afterward.

"Some of the students who were misbehaving were attempting to conceal their identities by raising the hoods on their sweatshirts," he said. 

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"These students ran the gamut of leaving school and skipping class, getting into fights, and stealing the property of others. Additionally, students used the hoodies to conceal things they didn’t want the teachers or administrators to see."

He said the board has no plans to revisit the issue.

Find out what's happening in Lakewoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

More than 400 students and their parents have already signed an online petition looking to reverse the policy.

Bright pointed out that students are allowed to wear coats with hoods to school, but once they arrive, they must remove the hood.

He said there are about three to four reports of students breaking the rule each school day.

"If they wear them, they will be disciplined, because we will uphold the Board policy in place," he said, noting that hoodies make up about half of the dress code violations in the district.

Students at Lakewood High School wrote a letter to Bright and other school officials asking that the policy be reversed.

“We feel that these rules are unjust, and unfair,” students penned in the letter.

“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.”

Should the district end its policy banning hooded sweatshirts? Take our poll.


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