Exemption Request

July, 1998

These are some of the reasons I gave for requesting an exemption to the campus guidelines:

1.     It is my belief that requiring my child to adhere to this policy will violate my child’s First Amendment Rights and as a parent, it is my obligation to ensure that this does not occur. This debate is hardly settled. Even the literature provided in the Principal’s Packet states, "A large number of court decisions have ruled in favor of the student’s rights as protected under the first Amendment, but as long as this is interpreted by different judges there will be a debate about whether or not school uniforms are constitutionally permissible." Carso, Peter, "Individuality vs. Conformity: The Issue Behind School Uniforms," Bulletin/September 1996, pg. 86. And the Administration’s arguments, at a Level III hearing with the Board of Trustees for Cy-Fair ISD on July 9, 1998, that this policy is not unconstitutional, because it has an opt-out provision and "no student is forced to participate" can only be substantiated by allowing my requested exemption.

2.    It is my belief that this policy promotes group-think and lessens individuality. My child must first learn to stand as an individual, to form his own beliefs, to make his own choices and to understand that he, and he alone, is responsible for his actions.

3.     It is my belief that it is my right and responsibility as a parent to teach my child what is appropriate and what is not. I will not allow anyone to teach my child that stripes, plaids, prints and non-offensive designs are inappropriate attire for school or anywhere. Nor will I allow anyone to punish my child for wanting to wear such attire.

4.     It is my belief that in requiring a child to dress a certain way and in taking away their choice, you are not guiding them towards the realization that certain things or actions are inappropriate, but instead, you are fostering the horrendous belief that it is unacceptable to dress, look or think any other way then as dictated by certain people in society.

5.     It is my belief, and the belief that I am teaching my child, that we are defined by who we are on the inside and what we accomplish, not by what we look like or dress like. And I will not sacrifice this concept because of someone’s notion that a modicum of control will be gained.

6.     It is my belief that we must teach our children tolerance of individual differences. I will not foster any concept that says it is unacceptable to be different. If we have children who look down on others, I can guarantee you that it is a behavior they have learned, whether it be from their parents, society, television or some other influence in their lives. This is not an innate behavior that a child is born with. And until we teach them it is wrong, they will continue with that behavior and thus will pass it on to their kids. You cannot change this behavior by making everyone look the same. What about individual differences we cannot change, like race, sex, physical appearance, etc.? We have had to establish laws to protect people from this non-acceptance. And thankfully society's notions are gradually changing and we as members of the human race are beginning to understand that it is outrageous to even consider such things. But still we see discrimination. And we have to do everything we can to fight any form of it. We cannot make everyone fit into someone’s notion of what is right. And by saying you can only dress this way, we are erroneously teaching our children, by example, that it is okay to exclude something that is different from what we say, simply because we are adults and we are in power. We are not teaching our children acceptance, but instead we are teaching them that as long as they are in a position of power or have the upper hand, that they can exclude and control anything or anyone.

7.     It is my belief that this policy is an unnecessary limitation placed on my child, which will restrict his development both in school and later in life.

8.     It is my belief that insufficient justification has been provided to substantiate the need for this policy and that the justifications that were provided are not even addressed with the current dress code. These beliefs are philosophical in nature. 

Respectfully,

Vickie Crager