Richmond High School suspended about 50 more students Thursday while about 150 people marched, chanted and honked horns in front of the building in protest of Richmond Community Schools’ revised dress code.
Authorities from the Richmond Police Department and Wayne County Sheriff’s Department patrolled Hub Etchison Parkway as the people protested for about four hours, sometimes restricting traffic in and out of the campus. Intermittent rain did little to quell or quiet the crowd.
“This dress code is so extreme,” said parent Brian Thompson. “The dress code doesn’t say anything about students in violation if you can see their collarbone, but students are being suspended because of it.
“It’s just way over the top,” he said.
The school board approved revisions to the dress code in May, which prohibit students from wearing clothes with any distinguishing marks on them, including logos, stripes, plaid or floral prints. Low-cut tops and excessively tight and baggy clothing is also among the dress code’s no-nos.
But despite the protests and the suspensions — 169 were suspended at RHS on Wednesday — school went on as usual, Superintendent Allen Bourff said.
I cannot understand parents who are against dress codes. School isn't meant to be social hour, who cares what the students wear. It would be soooo much better if all the schools went to uniforms. Students have plenty of time in college or after school to make political statements through clothing.
Stripes, plaids, floral prints are political statements? Stripes = code for not hating referees? Plaids = being pro-Scottish? Floral prints = I don't hate flowers? I am ashamed of being from Indiana.