Middle and High School Girls wearing shorts to school. What is too short?

[cabanafrau]

Ours is knee length or longer, MS & HS. My HS DD is annoyed that girls routinely get called out or forced to call home for clothes if their bra strap shows. I'm not talking about crazy, inappropriate shirts revealing too much. I'm talking girls w/ cami/tank or both . . . with a t-shirt! In some classes if your bra strap happens to slide in towards the neck & show, you're out of class.

DD isn't annoyed because it's happened to her, she's annoyed because the boys walk around w/ their pants below their butts and that's apparently just fine? Not according to the handbook, but no one bothers to enforce it. I've seen them doing the Morticia Adams walk leaving school. Seeing the bottom edge of the boxers isn't uncommon.

I've urged her to bring it up at Student Congress meetings, but she feels there's just no point.

 

[barkley]

Back in the day, I was the scandal of my (very conservative) school. My mother was of the opinion that little girls (that's under 18 as a translation) should wear the shortest skirts possible. She thought it made me look young and adorable.

up until i was in 2nd grade the public schools in the area i grew up in would'nt let girls wear pants. the moms were always complaining about this (it got cold in the winter months). i think the moms finaly won out when they rallied together and stopped for a short period of time from sending us younger ones in shorts underneath our skirts and dresses. after a few days of mass chaos among the boys on the playgrounds seeing all these little girls "flashing" their underpanties while they played on the jungle gym or hung upside down on the bars got the moms of the boys riled up enough to enter the fight, and shortly thereafter it was decreed that pants were acceptable for both sexes.

 

[cabanafrau]

up until i was in 2nd grade the public schools in the area i grew up in would'nt let girls wear pants. the moms were always complaining about this (it got cold in the winter months). i think the moms finaly won out when they rallied together and stopped for a short period of time from sending us younger ones in shorts underneath our skirts and dresses. after a few days of mass chaos among the boys on the playgrounds seeing all these little girls "flashing" their underpanties while they played on the jungle gym or hung upside down on the bars got the moms of the boys riled up enough to enter the fight, and shortly thereafter it was decreed that pants were acceptable for both sexes.

Wow, I thought my parochial school growing up was out of step! Until about 7th or 8th grade, girls could only wear skirts, dresses or "pant suits". Think Marcia Brady, pants & tops sold together as a suit. There was no question about the length or appropriateness of the clothing beyond that -- it just would never have happened.

 

[golfgal]

I wish ALL schools required uniforms. It would be cheaper on all parents, and maybe tone down the competition to have the latest $150 pair of jeans.

Well, the uniforms might be cheaper but you then have to buy a SECOND set of clothes to wear outside of school. My kids have NEVER asked for $150/jeans, nor do any of their friend wear $150/jeans.

DD and I had this 'discussion" this past weekend because she wanted shorts shorter than Bermuda shorts. I told her we would look and see what we could find. She had a HARD time finding some that didn't have a 1/2" inseam. She found a few pairs at Aeropostile that are just shy of fingertip length and I let her get those. The school has a "no underwear" showing rule so that covers boys with the low riding jeans and girls with bras and undies hanging out either end of shorts.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Well, the uniforms might be cheaper but you then have to buy a SECOND set of clothes to wear outside of school. My kids have NEVER asked for $150/jeans, nor do any of their friend wear $150/jeans.

DD and I had this 'discussion" this past weekend because she wanted shorts shorter than Bermuda shorts. I told her we would look and see what we could find. She had a HARD time finding some that didn't have a 1/2" inseam. She found a few pairs at Aeropostile that are just shy of fingertip length and I let her get those. The school has a "no underwear" showing rule so that covers boys with the low riding jeans and girls with bras and undies hanging out either end of shorts.

The problem with that rule is the way they can get around it is Some kids feel compelled to prove they can get past the rules ya know

 

[Mickey's Minion]

Now that the warmer weather is starting, I have noticed that many of my students are wearing shorts that are (in my opinion) WAY too short.

Seriously, why do parents let their daughters leave the house with their butts hanging out? And don't get me started on the cleavage.

How is it handled in your school? There is a teacher at my school catching a lot of grief from the parents for calling out a 7th grader (repeat offender) on the fact that her butt cheeks were hanging out.

You know you are getting old when you start complaining about the skin showing on our teens and preteens.

Our 60's parents were appalled at the mini skirts and go go boots. Only hookers wear short skirts and high boots.

70's parents at the midriffs and hip huggers (lots of skin showing between the bottom of the shirt tied at the bra-if they even wore a bra- and the top of those hip huggers), not to mention the hot pants and scoop neck peasant blouses that showed lots of cleavage.

Somewhere between the 70's and 80's was the tube top phenomenon.

The 80's parents were appalled at the string bikinis. Shirts with just leggings (OMG - they are walking around without pants, just their tights)

90's parents on pants riding down to kid's knees with underwear and cracks showing.

Now, in the 2000's we have come full circle and our kids are wearing the equivalent of hot pants and mini skirts

Our school also has the fingertip policy, although there is much discussion between teachers. The more lenient teachers are using the fist method - no shorter than a balled fist, while more conservative teachers are using the tip of the longest finger. This is a bit confusing for the kids.

The policy is that if your skirt or shorts are too short then you have to wear something out of counseling stash, turn your shorts/skirt into the office and can retrieve them when school is out. Parents are not allowed to bring a change of clothes as the policy states that waiting for a parent takes too much time from academics.

The school strictly enforces it. Couple of weeks ago we had our first really warm day. Kids were being sent down to the counseling office right and left. The counselors were complaining that they were running out of clothes.

Shirt straps have to be three adult fingers wide.

 

[MushyMushy]

The policy is that if your skirt or shorts are too short then you have to wear something out of counseling stash, turn your shorts/skirt into the office and can retrieve them when school is out. Parents are not allowed to bring a change of clothes as the policy states that waiting for a parent takes too much time from academics.

That's sensible. Our school would rather have our daughters sitting humiliated and crying in the front office until the parents arrive with clothing. Because nothing's more important than getting those tramps out of the classroom!

Yeah, I'm just a little bitter about this... and it's not just MY daughter! I went to get my hair done on Friday and the salon owner had to leave to take her daughter a pair of jeans because her skirt was too short. She said her daughter was bawling her eyes out because she was so embarrassed. I think the assistant principal is becoming downright obsessed with seeking out girls wearing clothing she feels is inappropriate. And there's no pointing out the handbook to her because she just says "too bad."

 

[HM]

At our schools, the length of the short must be beyond the tips of the fingers when standing. Same with skirts and dresses. Some teachers are sticklers and others aren't.

My DD had to call me to bring her a pair of pants in middle school. Her shorts were the right length (I'd checked) but the teacher that called her out, insisted she change.

Her HS english teacher and world history teacher are very vocal about the dress code this year. She wears appropriate clothing, but she's often pulled over in the hallway to check. She's very tall with long legs, so everything looks short on her, even when it's not.

For tops, the shoulder must be two fingertips wide.

 

[cristit14]

I am not sure about the high school yet (will find out next year ), but at the middle school they have a the fingertip test for the shorts, shirt straps have to be as wide as your three middle fingers together and they have some sort of cleavage test too, but I am not exactly sure what that is. If what they are wearing isn't appropriate they make the kids put on gym clothes. For the sagging pants that the guys like, they can't have those either. If they get caught with those, they are duct taped up. I love the principal at that school.

 

[Hedy]

You know you are getting old when you start complaining about the skin showing on our teens and preteens.

Our 60's parents were appalled at the mini skirts and go go boots. Only hookers wear short skirts and high boots.

70's parents at the midriffs and hip huggers (lots of skin showing between the bottom of the shirt tied at the bra-if they even wore a bra- and the top of those hip huggers), not to mention the hot pants and scoop neck peasant blouses that showed lots of cleavage.

Somewhere between the 70's and 80's was the tube top phenomenon.

The 80's parents were appalled at the string bikinis. Shirts with just leggings (OMG - they are walking around without pants, just their tights)

90's parents on pants riding down to kid's knees with underwear and cracks showing.

Now, in the 2000's we have come full circle and our kids are wearing the equivalent of hot pants and mini skirts

Our school also has the fingertip policy, although there is much discussion between teachers. The more lenient teachers are using the fist method - no shorter than a balled fist, while more conservative teachers are using the tip of the longest finger. This is a bit confusing for the kids.

The policy is that if your skirt or shorts are too short then you have to wear something out of counseling stash, turn your shorts/skirt into the office and can retrieve them when school is out. Parents are not allowed to bring a change of clothes as the policy states that waiting for a parent takes too much time from academics.

The school strictly enforces it. Couple of weeks ago we had our first really warm day. Kids were being sent down to the counseling office right and left. The counselors were complaining that they were running out of clothes.

Shirt straps have to be three adult fingers wide.

Who wears short shorts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcvjXAtzaMU 1957, ladies and gentlemen.

 

[2girlsmom]

My children's district has the same rules for all grades k-12. They also have the fingertip test for shorts and skirts, but with leggings under it doesn't have to meet it, the legging length counts. No tank tops of any kind, nothing that doesn't completely cover the shoulder cap is allowed, nothing see through, etc. So far my daughter has been pulled out of class twice saying her skirt (really skort) was too short, but when they tested it, it did meet the dress code, so they sent her back to class. The problem for her is that while she is tiny, she is almost all legs, so even though they meet the fingertip test, they LOOK shorter on her than they are because of all the leg visible below, KWIM? We had the most recent this week, she wore her black t shirt with Hi on the front and Bye on the back in hot pink with her hot pink and black plaid skort, it was a good 1/2 inch longer than her fingertips, but they still called her out to check.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I'm not for uniforms or overly strict dress codes - thank goodness our school has lenient codes (the finger tip rule) and they only enforce them for extremes. Kids are allowed to wear shorts any time of year, but they do talk to them about what is appropriate and making better decisions. The boys actually do so in the winter more so than the girls.

I agree that as long as they have leggings under - it shouldn't be an issue - that is just taking it too far.

my biggest complaint is it is very hard to find decent length shorts. It is hard enough to shop for DD - she has hips and a bum, but a tiny waist! Add to that, most shorts my DD likes the looks of - are too short!! Makes shopping impossible.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Mushy,

That outfit was COMPLETELY appropriate. I'm usually deferential toward school policy. But if the school refuses to follow its own policy, GAH! Running a school is not like playing a game on the elementary school playground. You can't just change the rules midstream!

I would be very tempted to get together with other parents whose daughters were harassed. I would take pictures of each outfit -- showing how it met the code as written -- and calculate the amount of educational time lost for the collective group and the cost to the parents for having to run to the school. I'd come to the next school board meeting and ask for them to do something about it. Lay off or change the dang policy.

Shorts or skirts should be longer than the knuckle/fist/fingertip -- take your pick. And schools shouldn't be so dang eager to measure each millimeter. If they want to be that picky, just institute a uniform and be done with it.

 

[aprilgail2]

In K-5 there are really no rules...kids wear shorts anytime Sept-June...some even wear them in the winter. I never have gotten anything home about length so not sure if there is a rule on that. My daughter will NOT wear anything that is over her knee (HER choice!)...last year all the shorts were long, this year I am having a heck of a time finding them long especially since she needs a 7 for the waist and really a 10 for length in pants so shorts in a 7 are SHORT on her....
Jr. High is run like boot camp- kids will be sent home for short shorts, tank tops on girls, boys are not allowed to wear wife beaters, can't have hair in mohawks or odd colors (my daughters hair was blue this year in grade school but next year it has to be "normal" color).
High school- all bets are off....the inmates run that asylum! They wear what they want- all hair colors and cuts are fine....
Only years they are a pain about anything is Jr. High years

 

[Mickey's Minion]

Who wears short shorts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcvjXAtzaMU 1957, ladies and gentlemen.

And who is old enough to remember, or wants to forget, this lovely men's style from the 80's.

The short corduroy OP shorts. I don't think many of them would have passed the fingertip test. Heck, they had a problem passing the 'man' test and keeping everything under wraps.

Or the equally short men's athletic shorts

 

[jrmasm]

For the sagging pants that the guys like, they can't have those either. If they get caught with those, they are duct taped up.

That awesome!!!

I can still remember a few horrifying incidents in hs. Those men's tennis shorts could be very, very scary!! I never could understand how they didn't feel a breeze.

 

[NotUrsula]

DS is in parochial school, and at this time of year there is always an issue with the girls' skirts, because they are fairly pricey (around $35/ea.) and every Mom I know is determined to get a full year out of them. The uniform fitters the final week of school always fit the girls with their skirts tapping the kneecap, even though the rule is 4" above it. However, by the time August rolls around most of them have grown at least an inch, and by the time Memorial Day arrives, at least 4 more inches beyond that, so by the end of the school year the skirt that was positively prudish when it was ordered is inching into tarty territory. (Interestingly enough, the girls are allowed to wear uniform walking shorts or uniform pants, but NONE of them will; they all wear skirts every single day of the year.)

Our rule about shorts (for both genders, though only the boys really care) is that they may be worn from start of school until Oct 1st, and again from Tax Day (~Apr. 15th) to year-end. They are supposed to hit no more than 4 inches above the top of the kneecap. I try to go for 2 seasons' wear, so I buy them below the knee in spring with an eye to making them last through September, but this year I'm sure it isn't going to work. DS has grown NINE inches just since January! (We won't even discuss how many shoes he's grown through this year )

Funny story: when my eldest sister was in school in the mid-50's, my Mom was always catching her making her skirts LONGER. Mom had wide hems on them for growth, and she hemmed them to the bottom of the knee, which was the rule at the time. However, this was the Bobby-soxer era, and longer skirts were in style, but Mom hated them for kids because they dragged the ground when you sat down, and got stained and worn. Every single day for months, my sister pulled out the stitching in the morning, and then re-tacked her hem after school before she got home. (Nowadays she probably would have gotten in major trouble for carrying around a sewing needle and a pr. of embroidery scissors!)

Oh, and about those 1950's short-shorts ... one wore them to play in the back yard, or wore them at the beach, but you did NOT wear them to school, or usually even to a public park for something like a picnic. You might have worn "tap shorts" or short bloomer jumpsuits in gym, but gym classes were very strictly segregated, and the boys didn't get to see you wearing them (thank GOD, because they were horribly unflattering.)

 

[Mickey's Minion]

DS is in parochial school, and at this time of year there is always an issue with the girls' skirts, because they are fairly pricey (around $35/ea.) and every Mom I know is determined to get a full year out of them. The uniform fitters the final week of school always fit the girls with their skirts tapping the kneecap, even though the rule is 4" above it. However, by the time August rolls around most of them have grown at least an inch, and by the time Memorial Day arrives, at least 4 more inches beyond that, so by the end of the school year the skirt that was positively prudish when it was ordered is inching into tarty territory. (Interestingly enough, the girls are allowed to wear uniform walking shorts or uniform pants, but NONE of them will; they all wear skirts every single day of the year.)

Our rule about shorts (for both genders, though only the boys really care) is that they may be worn from start of school until Oct 1st, and again from Tax Day (~Apr. 15th) to year-end. They are supposed to hit no more than 4 inches above the top of the kneecap. I try to go for 2 seasons' wear, so I buy them below the knee in spring with an eye to making them last through September, but this year I'm sure it isn't going to work. DS has grown NINE inches just since January! (We won't even discuss how many shoes he's grown through this year )

Funny story: when my eldest sister was in school in the mid-50's, my Mom was always catching her making her skirts LONGER. Mom had wide hems on them for growth, and she hemmed them to the bottom of the knee, which was the rule at the time. However, this was the Bobby-soxer era, and longer skirts were in style, but Mom hated them for kids because they dragged the ground when you sat down, and got stained and worn. Every single day for months, my sister pulled out the stitching in the morning, and then re-tacked her hem after school before she got home. (Nowadays she probably would have gotten in major trouble for carrying around a sewing needle and a pr. of embroidery scissors!)

Oh, and about those 1950's short-shorts ... one wore them to play in the back yard, or wore them at the beach, but you did NOT wear them to school, or usually even to a public park for something like a picnic. You might have worn "tap shorts" or short bloomer jumpsuits in gym, but gym classes were very strictly segregated, and the boys didn't get to see you wearing them (thank GOD, because they were horribly unflattering.)

My parents and their friends probably didn't get that memo.

Looking at old family pics, my parents and their friends had the short shorts on everywhere, although I don't know if they did at school. But most of the pictures were of gatherings in parks, so I do know the girls had them on there My dad considered himself something of a photographer and film guy, so plenty of pics and movies, complete with subtitles with dates, etc to see them romping through the neighborhood, to parks, stores, etc in their short shorts.

 

[Irin997]

As my DD gets older, I've found that the best thing to do for her is buy bermuda shorts only. And that is just about all she has. It allows me to stretch them for 2 summers. Granted, she is only 9 but she looks adorable in them too.

I see some girls at the mall or the grocery store and cannot believe their parents condone what they are wearing. Butt cheeks and bra straps everywhere. I really love it when girls are wearing a racerback tank top with a regular bra.

 

[cabanafrau]

As my DD gets older, I've found that the best thing to do for her is buy bermuda shorts only. And that is just about all she has. It allows me to stretch them for 2 summers. Granted, she is only 9 but she looks adorable in them too.

I see some girls at the mall or the grocery store and cannot believe their parents condone what they are wearing. Butt cheeks and bra straps everywhere. I really love it when girls are wearing a racerback tank top with a regular bra.

Wow, at least take them to Vicky's & get a convertible. Doesn't guarantee that the straps will be entirely covered, but I give good marks for effort.