Local high schools have a dress code students are required to follow while on campus. Last week my child was made to sit out of class until his violation could be corrected.

He had a hole in the knee of his jeans. Granted, it was a decent-sized hole, but it did not extend up to his groin area or show even a part of his thigh or underclothes. He missed an entire class period until I could take off work, go home and take him another pair of pants.

While I waited in the main hallway for him to change and give me the “violation” pair, I witnessed other obvious clothing violations including at least two male students who literally had to hold their pants up with one hand in order not to have them around their ankles as they walked. Another three students did not have their shirts tucked in and yet another four students had their pants hanging around the bottom of their behinds. Now, even though these last four students had their shirts tucked in, it was obvious that their shirts were the only thing covering their underclothes. So, since they were walking the halls, I’m under the understanding that they were not being held out of class for any code violations, and I want to know why.

If the hole in the knee broke the code, OK fine. But what about the others? Was he being singled out for a reason? Or are the others not being reprimanded for a reason? Is there only one person who determines if a code is broken? If so, why does he or she choose only to see certain violations?

I am personally offended to see other people’s underclothes, especially in a school setting. When we as parents are trying desperately to stop underage pregnancies and promote respect from our children, to see students with their pants around the bottom of their hips in the hallways of our schools is disturbing and obscene.

Michele Willis

Vicksburg