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Coco Warner ReportingThe battle over dress is an on-going issue at many Utah schools. But at one Salt Lake City high school a new principal has decided to make the punishment less punitive, and in the process created his own kind of fashion statement.
Walk through any Utah high school-- the fashion choices may surprise you, or not. For guys it's still the baggy pants look, and for girls, the occasional midriff. But whatever the choice, administrators at Highland High School want to see it fall under some guidelines.
Paul Schulte, Principal Highland H.S.: "Cover your tummies, cover your shoulders no underwear, bra straps those types of things being worn, no sagging so your underwear can't show for the kids with the slacks and those types of things. But generally speaking it's really just being modest."
So when told that dress code compliance was an issue, Principal Schutle brought an idea that worked at his previous school in Kansas. If students don't meet dress standards they get to wear a green shirt or green sweat pants with a special message: "I love my administrator."
Danielle Carter, 12th grade: "I think they're kind of funny actually, like I've had people ask me can you get me a pair of those sweat pants."
Now the front of this t-shirt takes a light-hearted approach, but the back drives the important message home -- “this shirt complies with highland high's dress code.”
Patrick Nelson, 11th grade: "I think they're pretty cool looking. I like the green."
Sandra Marcial, 11th grade: "I look good in it."
And the green garb gets a green light from the community, with people seeing a real difference in the way students dress.
Danielle Carter, 12th grade: "It always bothered me to see boys pants hanging all the way down past their butt so I've really enjoyed having a more like, modest."
Modest with a sense of humor-- now that's fashion forward.
Highland administrators say preparing and educating the students and parents about the dress code before school started is the biggest reason they're enjoying success with their program.
