By Sara Strong
As shoppers amass back-to-school receipts, parents and students should be aware that some clothing ensembles may be considered contraband.
In Luverne, the official school dress code is vague, saying, "students are expected to observe standards of dress and grooming which emphasize neatness and appropriateness. Students must avoid dress and grooming styles that create a disruption of the learning process..."
Katie Jauert, now a freshman at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, last year clarified some of the vague points in that code.
Jauert was a junior when teachers suggested a strictly-defined dress code to eliminate some obvious problems in the classroom.
As a senior and Student Council president, Jauert spearheaded what's now a compromise between puritanical dress and indecent exposure.
She said, "I think it's a happy medium. I can see where there were concerns, but also, some of the first days of school are hot, and I just like wearing tank tops."
Fashion police
Some of the guidelines are in response to current fashion trends that donÕt fit in with the Luverne school's idea of studious attire:
With low-waisted or hip-hugger pants, underwear can't be seen. Shirts should meet the waistline even when seated to keep underwear and extra skin from showing. Mid-drifts must be covered at all times.
With extra baggy pants worn low, the same rule applies. Underwear can't be showing above the waistline of the pants.
For shirts, tank tops can be worn if the straps are at least 2-inches wide, and cover bra straps. No tube tops, halter tops, one-sleeved tank tops or spaghetti straps are allowed.
The usual rule of no hats still applies, and inappropriate t-shirts could result in Saturday detention.
In Hills-Beaver Creek, the dress code is similar and makes special mention of clothing that may contain written messages or symbols.