Johnny Cash would land himself in detention at this school.
A Texas middle school has banned students from wearing all-black outfits to class because officials claimed the threads are “associated with depression and mental health issues.”
Nick DeSantis, the principal of H.E. Charles Middle School in El Paso, sent an email to students’ parents this week explaining that their kids will not be permitted to dress head-to-toe in black as part of a new dress code, according to KFOX14.
“We are … eliminating a look that has taken over on campus with students wearing black tops with black bottoms, which has become more associated with depression and mental health issues and/or criminality than with happy and healthy kids ready to learn,” the letter read.
The El Paso Independent School District, which created the policy, said the decision was made “to enhance students’ well-being and sense of pride.”
The dress code was approved by the district’s Campus Improvement Team, which is composed of parents, faculty, staff and other members of the community. School officials said the changes were a response to concerns made by those on the committee.
”Keep in mind that students’ safety is our number one priority, and so anytime, there are concerns that are brought forward about student safety it’s important for us to take those seriously,” Sarah Venegas, El Paso Independent School District executive principal, told KVIA7.
Norma De La Rosa, the president of El Paso Teachers Association, told CBSTexas that students “can wear black shorts to go to PE. And they can wear it on free dress day, but they just cannot wear it from top to bottom.”
Black pants, which were permitted last year, have been barred — however blue jeans and khakis are allowed.
Students can face disciplinary action from all schools in the district for infractions “but that is up to every administrator,” Venegas said.
The move has sparked pushback from some parents in the community.
“I don’t think we should be grouping, and red flagging kids that just like to wear black,” El Paso mother Stephanie Rascon told KVIA7.
The dress code has also hit a nerve online.
“The color of clothing has nothing to do with your ability to do anything or feel any emotion,” Alex Lucero commented on a poll from local media about the rule.
“Wearing black is not a mental health issue, it’s the way of life,” Peter Benecke Jr. commented
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