A Marysville mother who was asked to leave her daughter's school because of her tank top says she will continue to defy a parental dress code that she says goes overboard.
Jessica Allen, 27, said she supports the need for student dress codes, but was shocked when Pinewood Elementary School principal Breeze Williams questioned her outfit on Wednesday.
Allen wore jeans, sandals and a white cotton tank top when she arrived at the school office to pick up her second-grade daughter. The tank top was open in the back and had string ties.
"If I had thought what I was wearing was inappropriate, I never would have worn it," Allen said. "That's embarrassing to (my daughter)."
The top didn't conform to the student dress code, which also applies to staff and parents, said Gail Miller, assistant superintendent for the Marysville School District.
Parents and staff at the school several years ago decided to extend the dress code to adults, Miller said. Pinewood is the only school in the district that has a dress code for parents, she said.
"It was all in the spirit of ... 'Do as I do and not as I say,' that old adage," Miller said.
The dress code states: "Bare midriffs, halter tops, spaghetti straps and tank tops are not allowed."
Allen said she wears tank tops just about every day she is not working, and questioned the principal's priorities.
"She shouldn't be worried about what parents are wearing, she should be worried about the students," Allen said.
"The school is trying to tell a parent how to dress, and that's out of line," said Shannon Knight, a friend of Allen who was in the office at the time.
Williams said the policy has been in place for seven or eight years , but this is the first year she has had to mention it to a parent.
At the time the policy was adopted, several schools in the district were considering requiring school uniforms. None did, but parents from Pinewood felt their school should have a strong dress code, said Williams, who was Pinewood's principal at the time.
"Everybody would draw a line somewhere," Williams said. "This is where that group of people decided to draw the line."
Here is a picture of her.
Sporting events are family events. If you can't watch your language for 3 hours then stay home.
She does look kind of slutty. It's stupid she got kicked off the school grounds. An adult shouldn't be told what is and isn't appropriate as everyone has different levels on that. It's done for the kids to avoid distraction, but it shouldn't be done with parents.
I do think that it is inappropriate for wearing on school grounds. She's picking up her daughter not picking up her one night stand, I hope. All she would have to do is throw on a t-shirt for a few minutes. She lives just down the street from the school. I would never pick up my son in a tank top, unless it was an emergency.
I would like to hear from some of us that have kids this age, what do you think?
Sporting events are family events. If you can't watch your language for 3 hours then stay home.
SeaWolf wrote:I do think that it is inappropriate for wearing on school grounds. She's picking up her daughter not picking up her one night stand, I hope. All she would have to do is throw on a t-shirt for a few minutes. She lives just down the street from the school. I would never pick up my son in a tank top, unless it was an emergency.
I would like to hear from some of us that have kids this age, what do you think?
I don't have kids, but I agree with you there. I do not really have a problem with tank tops, but that there is NOT a tanktop. I don't even know what to call that, but it's definitely not your standard tanktop.
It would take no extra effort to throw on a tshirt or jacket over top the 'tanktop' before leaving to get the kid.
My son is only 10 weeks old, but I agree she should clean up a bit before picking up her daughter. Along with the hat, scarf as a belt, and visible tatoo, she is putting forth a certain image.
I have teenagers and young adults coming into my store asking for applications with 3-4 friends and they are all wearing ripped jeans and stupid teeshirts with sandels or sneakers. Don't these kids know they should dress 'as if' they are going to be interviewed on the spot? Dress as if your going to church or a wedding, don't bring along friends, and your ahead of 70% of all the other schmucks!
Dress for success! Its always sad younger people don't learn this lesson until its far too late...
Granted you can't judge someone by the outside, but she does look like a dirtbag from just what I can see from the picture, especially with the tattoo hanging out on her back. I disagree with the school kicking her off the property, you can't tell an adult how to dress no matter what... maybe a few dirty looks or comments, but she shouldn't have been kicked out.
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by SeaWolf » Tue May 10, 2005 1:57 pm 
All she would have to do is throw on a t-shirt for a few minutes. She lives just down the street from the school. I would never pick up my son in a tank top, unless it was an emergency.
