Students disciplined for out-of-code shoes

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Ashley Taylor, is a junior at Chaney High School and was told her shoes, which have red stitching and partially red soles, don't meet the Youngstown city school's dress code. She faces a three-day in-school suspension for the infraction.

By Harold Gwin

A total of 165 high school students were found to be in violation of the dress code.

YOUNGSTOWN — The superintendent of the Youngstown City Schools believes “you dress for the work that you have to do.”

That applies in real life where people must wear uniforms or special clothing in their jobs, and it also applies in school, where a child’s “work” is getting an education, said Wendy Webb.

The city schools have had a dress code in effect for a decade, and on Monday, school administrators cracked down on students at Chaney and East high schools who weren’t adhering to that code.

The offenders — 95 at East and 70 at Chaney — were told their shoes failed to meet the required standards of being solid black or brown dress or athletic shoes with only a slight amount of white or silver trim allowed.

Webb said parents were called and told their child could remain in school if the parent brought the appropriate footwear to the building, and about half of them did. Those whose parents couldn’t be reached were removed from their regular classes and placed in study halls so their education would continue, she said.

Everyone had been warned last week, including parents, that Monday was “D Day” for the shoe issue, Webb said, yet some chose to violate the policy.

Those who came back to school Tuesday with the same unacceptable shoes were placed on three-day in-school suspension, Webb said, noting the number totaled about 35 for the two high schools.

If they wear the same shoes to suspensions, they will be sent home, she said.

Ashley Taylor, a junior at Chaney, was one of those affected by the crackdown. She was wearing black athletic shoes with red stitching and partial red soles.

She wore the same shoes back to school Tuesday and got an in-school suspension, she said, adding she has no shoes to meet the requirement.

The shoes she wore last year were the same style and had even more red on them but were never challenged, Taylor said.

Webb acknowledged the enforcement of the shoe issue may have been a bit lax last year, but she said the dress code will be fully enforced this year.

“People will push it as far as they can push it,” she said, noting some students wore shoes of red and blue.

“The bottom line is we’ve got to push this back,” she said, adding if the shoe issue isn’t enforced, next it will be the pants and tops.

Webb said the dress code was initially enacted as a safety factor.

Some children were wearing designer shoes and designer coats to school but weren’t always in possession of those articles of clothing when they got home, she said. Putting everyone in the same “uniform” eliminated the likelihood of someone being a victim of theft or robbery, she said.

It also lessens the distractions and eliminates the debate over who has nicer clothing, she said.

The superintendent said she is aware Youngstown has an 85 percent poverty rate and not everyone can afford a second pair of shoes.

The district stands ready to assist those who are receiving government assistance, she said, explaining the schools will provide new shoes, shirts and pants to those who can’t afford them.

One of her goals is to develop a school store for that purpose, she said.

School prepares children for adulthood, and pupils need to learn that sometimes you must adhere to a dress code, she said. That’s just a part of growing up.

“The intent of this code is to emphasize a unity of purpose and to better focus on the value of education,” Webb wrote in a letter to parents.

The superintendent said she is aware that some parents are upset and frustrated.

Some of those parents plan to attend next Tuesday’s school board meeting at Paul C. Bunn Elementary at 6:30 p.m. to voice their concerns.

gwin@vindy.com