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| Congress bans sagging pants on students |
By MARY ELLEN KLAS
Herald Tallahassee Bureau
TALLAHASSEE --This will teach a lesson to those kids with droopy drawers:
A bill to punish students who wear sagging pants that expose their rear ends or sexual organs passed the Senate Thursday 28-11 after the two sponsors said it was needed to send kids a signal that they need to dress for success.
"I believe we must send a clear message that there are rules in this society that dictate that if you intended to get a job in a professional environment, you will not get that job with your underwear hanging over your trousers," said Sen. Larcenia Bullard, a Miami Democrat and co-sponsor of the measure.
The bill requires that schools enforce the following penalties: First offense, a verbal warning from the principal; second offense, three-days in-school suspension; third, 10 days in-school suspension; fourth, 10 days out-of-school suspension.
The tone of the Senate debate was more serious than it was on Wednesday, when jeering and jokes provoked talk about the bill "opening the door just a little a crack" and senators' comments being "brief."
But sponsor Sen. Gary Siplin, an Orlando Democrat, called it a "pro-family, pro-education, pro-employment bill." He said the fad began in prisons among inmates and kids should not be repeating it.
Opponents said they didn't like the bill because they think parents should be their children's clothes police, not schools.
Bullard responded: "Many times, parents aren't even aware that their children are wearing their clothing in this way."
An identical proposal has been passed by a House committee. It is sponsored by Bullard's husband, Rep. Ed Bullard, also a Miami Democrat.
Local dress code
Manatee County schools' dress code says, in part:
• Pants/jeans.
• Skirts and shorts that are a reasonable, appropriate length (defined as two-thirds of the length from waist to middle of the knee) and fastened at the waist.
• Tank tops with at least 2-inch straps. Material must cover the entire front and back, and be long enough to tuck inside. Must cover all undergarments.
• Spandex-type skirts, shorts and pants must have an over garment that extends down to your fingertips as your hands are extended to your side.
Boys may wear:
• Pants, jeans and shorts that are reasonable, appropriate length (defined as two-thirds of the length from waist to middle of the knee) and fastened at the waist.
Students are NOT allowed to wear:
• Cutoff pants, shorts or skirts.
• Clothing that exposes the midriff.
• Unbuckled belts.
• Ill-fitting sweat pants or warm-ups.
• Suspenders hanging down, including overalls.
• Jeans with frays, holes, cuts, or slits above the knee.
• Gym shorts or soccer shorts that are not proper length.
To view the entire dress code online, go to: www.manatee.k12.fl.us/parents/dress_code.html
2008 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
http://www.bradenton.com/local/story/466179.html
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