Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 1, 1995 TAG: 9508010058
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
On Monday, Johnson, 13 - a student in summer school in Roanoke - wore three rings in one ear and four in the other. She had a ring in her lip, her hair was dyed a punk-style red and several strands of hair dangled over her right eye.
She wore a neck chain, two necklaces and several rings on her fingers. And she wore combat boots with a blouse and skirt.
"I just like them. It is my choice," she said. "At least, I'm not wearing a halter top or short shorts."
Johnson and other summer school students say the school system should not try to restrict jewelry and hairstyles or impose more severe restrictions on student dress.
"It should be the student's decision on what they wear," said Erin Craighead, Johnson's friend and a freshman at Patrick Henry High School. Craighead also wore several earrings, and said she planned to dye her hair red and orange.
The city School Board is studying the possibility of a tighter dress code for students. Some parents think that Mohawk haircuts, hair dyed such colors as purple and green, nose rings and outlandish dress are out of place in the classroom, said Marsha Ellison, a board member.
Ellison said some parents think the unusual appearance and dress of some students can distract others. She said it's not fair to students who want to learn.
But students in the combined summer school for Patrick Henry and William Fleming high schools said the jewelry, hairstyles and clothes of their classmates aren't a distraction.
"It doesn't bother me. I would wear some wild things, too, but my mom won't let me," said Laura Fazar, a freshman at William Fleming.
Johnson said she doesn't think that her jewelry and hairstyle disrupt the learning environment. They haven't interfered with her own studies. She made all A's in the seventh grade at James Madison Middle School last year. She might skip the eighth grade to enroll as a freshman at Patrick Henry High this fall.
"This is a public school. As long as you don't come in a bikini or tank top or show up in the raw, you ought to be able to come to school as you want," said Tyna Phan, a senior at Patrick Henry.
"Some people use words to express themselves. Some of us express ourselves with our hair, jewelry and clothes," said Shelley Miller, a junior at Patrick Henry. Her hair is naturally blond, but she has dyed it red.
Alice Doughty, a senior at Patrick Henry, used to dye her hair green, but it is red now.
"People pick on us because of our dress and hairstyle, but we should be allowed to be appear as we want to," she said. "We're into the punk style."
Jimar Hubbard's hair is dyed blond, reminiscent of Dennis Rodman, the professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs who changes the color of his hair frequently.
Hubbard, a junior at Patrick Henry, said he dyed his hair for a hair show recently and he decided to keep the new look.
"You should be allowed to put whatever color you want to on your hair," he said.
Roanoke has no restrictions on hairstyles and no regulations on jewelry unless it can cause injury to others. Students are prohibited from wearing clothing that is revealing or garments imprinted with obscene or suggestive language.
Students are required to wear shoes and are prohibited from wearing caps or hats in class. But some students said their teachers don't object to caps.
Andy McClung, co-principal of the summer school, said most students comply with the dress restrictions but there are occasional violations. He caught a girl getting off the bus Monday with an exposed midriff. The girl's blouse was rolled up. He allowed her to go to class after she rolled it down.
McClung said student dress and hairstyles have changed drastically since he was in high school three decades ago.
"I remember that during the 1960s, you were sent home if you had long hair," he said.
Doris Ennis, the other principal, said students sometimes come to school officials and check to see if they are complying with the dress code. How students look does not necessarily reflect on their character or academic performance, she said.
"You can't judge a book by its cover. Some students who dress or appear differently are well-mannered and good students," Ennis said.
David O'Connor, a senior at William Fleming, said the dyed hair doesn't bother him, but he wouldn't color his hair.
"I think we've got enough restrictions on what we can wear and how we can look," O'Connor said.
Rhiana Roper believes that students should be permitted to wear whatever jewelry and hairstyle they wish.
"It's their bodies. They can do what they want," said Roper, a freshman at William Fleming.
But Christy Williams said students shouldn't be allowed to wear rings in their noses and lips. "That can be nasty," said Williams, a freshman at William Fleming.
Superintendent Wayne Harris said the school system has to be cautious about infringing on students' rights.
"We can't enforce a dress code for a dress code's sake," he said. "We have to be careful about what we do."
by CNB