CHAMBERSBURG, PA - Parents say their kids have been sent home left and right for too baggy, or too short since school started.
At an open forum Wednesday night, Chambersburg Area School District (CASD) officials addressed the Dress Code Policy that many parents view as unrealistic.
Dr. Joseph Padasak, Superintendent of the CASD, says, "We're not here to gouge the parents. We're not here to inconvenience them in anyway. We just want them to dress for success and prepare them for the soft skills that they need when they leave our institution and go onto the real world of work."
Steve Jones has a son in the sixth grade and says, "My child didn't pop out of a cookie cutter. He is an individual and he shouldn't be lumped into a gray mass with no color. What kind of a world is that?"
If passed, tops must have collars and stripes, logos and designs aren't permitted. Other schools with dress codes say their children are better behaved and disciplinary referrals have declined.
Another parent, Kelly Kline, says her daughter is now a junior in high school and has been sent home four times.
She says, "So far this whole dress code has been an educational distraction, and I think the way this has been handled and the way it seems to be going to be handled, it'll continue to be a distraction for everybody."
School officials believe it's a step in the right direction, but it appears they'll have to win more support from the community before any policy is enforced.
Click Here to go to the school district's online survey about the proposed dress code.
At an open forum Wednesday night, Chambersburg Area School District (CASD) officials addressed the Dress Code Policy that many parents view as unrealistic.
Dr. Joseph Padasak, Superintendent of the CASD, says, "We're not here to gouge the parents. We're not here to inconvenience them in anyway. We just want them to dress for success and prepare them for the soft skills that they need when they leave our institution and go onto the real world of work."
Steve Jones has a son in the sixth grade and says, "My child didn't pop out of a cookie cutter. He is an individual and he shouldn't be lumped into a gray mass with no color. What kind of a world is that?"
If passed, tops must have collars and stripes, logos and designs aren't permitted. Other schools with dress codes say their children are better behaved and disciplinary referrals have declined.
Another parent, Kelly Kline, says her daughter is now a junior in high school and has been sent home four times.
She says, "So far this whole dress code has been an educational distraction, and I think the way this has been handled and the way it seems to be going to be handled, it'll continue to be a distraction for everybody."
School officials believe it's a step in the right direction, but it appears they'll have to win more support from the community before any policy is enforced.
Click Here to go to the school district's online survey about the proposed dress code.
Comments
My point is this, we are not the first public school to start looking at stricter dress codes, or to dress more "uniform". There have been many before us who will vouch that this sort of thing has had a positive impact all around. I too teach my children to stand up for what they believe in. That being said, the things I believe are worth fighting for are far deeper than a dress code. At times it seems this world has it's priorities all wrong, believing that we should set some grand example to our kids by gnashing our teeth and stomping and yelling about rules. Rules are rules, some we despise more than others, but they are rules none the less. I have told my children, who are NOT very happy about this, that if this is the worse thing that happens to you during your high school years, count yourselves lucky. I have encouraged them to write to the school officials to be able to say their "piece" in a respectful manner. After that, what will be will be. I have much larger concerns and quite frankly so should they.
Rita R.
September 30, 2012 at 9:22 am
Russell the fact is I'm fired up because I am involved in this. This is not something that I am reading about that is happening to someone else. I was at the board meeting last month. I was there will Pasadak whipped out a 3x5 index card and held it to his neck and said "The dress code has not changed. I tell all the kids, if you want to know if what you're wearing is too low or too short, get out an index card. Hold it to your Adam's Apple. If the top touches it your good." My reply to him was then of the 5 times she has been sent home she was in compliance every single time! The VERY next day, Buddy Chapel has an all school meeting to "clear up confusion over the dress code issue". By the way Buddy was at the meeting the previous night. He then proceeds to demonstrate using the index card for the students. Only in his demonstration the card is now turned sideways not length wise. The dress code is Buddy's whim not what is written. So this is what we are dealing with and why 500 people show up at a board meeting. I detest bully's and hypocrites and I teach my children to stand up for what they believe in. I also think that our children derserve better than the likes of Buddy Chapel. As for Rita's reply reagarding Collared Shirts and Kahkis I stand by my previous statement. You "save" nothing because no one is forcing you to buy denim over kahki now. I know the dress code.
John J.
September 27, 2012 at 2:35 pm
John, you certainly are getting fired up over something so trivial. And calling Rita a liar is rather over the top. Get a hold of yourself, take a deep breath, focus on that military training, and ask yourself if this is something truly worthwhile getting so upset over? You're coming off as a redneck-hothead namecaller. So your kid has a dresscode. So it's 7 pages. Sort it out, and make sure your kid doesn't violate the dress code. My goodness. I'd hate to see you trying to wrestle with big questions like global warming, or particle physics. Calm down and stop humiliating yourself.
russell b.
September 27, 2012 at 1:37 pm
Sir, I apologize for confusing non-jean material pants and polo shirts as a "uniform". I have indeed done the math, and it will indeed save me money. Buying khakis and collard shirts will be much cheaper than buying street clothes.
Rita R.
September 27, 2012 at 1:24 pm
Let me put this as plainly as I possibly can....Rita R. you are a liar. You did no math that will "save you money" because there is no UNIFORM to buy. It is a 7 page document of what you can't wear. The only thing specifically listed "buy" would be "School Spirit Wear" which certainly will not "save" you money. It means that you cannot send your kid in a T Shirt you bought from any place but the School. Unless you are shopping at Nordstrom's you are not saving money. What you'd be doing is circumventing the "dress code" which states all T Shirts or Sweatshirts are unacceptable attire. That is unless it has our logo on it and we (the school) get our cut of the proceeds.
John J.
September 27, 2012 at 12:49 pm
Once again, more comments from people with no dog in the fight who don't know the facts. There is no "uniform". There is no proposed "uniform". It is a seven page document listing what you can or cannot wear. I work for a company with a dress code. It is not 7 pages long. I was in the military. The code there was not 7 pages long. For those who make the "this is not a fashion show" comment, lets see what you wear from this list so that you can cease putting on a "fashion show" when you leave the house, work in the yard, etc.
ANYTHING you have that is denim - fashion show!
Any shirt that you have that has a stripe on it. - Fashion Show
Do you own a solid color shirt with a loge sewn on it of any kind? - fashion show
Do you wear a flannel shirt when it gets cooler that may be plaid. Say maybe a LL Bean or Woolrich Shirt - fashion show!
A floral dress? - fashion show.
Paisley anything? - fashion show!. LEARN THE FACTS! Five hundred people showed up. FIVE HUNDRED!!! When was the last time 500 showed for your local board meeting? Ever?? You think all 500 people who showed are nitwits? And lastly, for the "you have to pay to dress your kids not matter what they wear", suppose it truly was a uniform. Or suppose you wear a uniform to work. Do you or would you wear that uniform out? No, you'd buy other clothes like 100% of the population would. So it IS an addtional expense. This is a PUBLIC School. We PAY for it. We PAY the salries of the administrators. THEY serve at OUR PLEASURE. WE dictate what our dollars go toward not Joe Pasadak. There are plenty of gun activist around here who scream murder over any type of gun control claiming their rights. This is OUR right.
John J.
September 27, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Amen, Russell b.! All this bawlin around is pretty near pathetic. I always denied the fact that Franklin Co. was behind the times, but my thinking has changed! Schools have been going to uniforms since the mid- '90s. The so called "concern" for people who may not be able to afford them is a cop-out! I am clothing 4 children in the Chambersburg School District, I've done the math, and this will save me a good bit of money. What example are we setting to our children when we put up such a fight over meaningless things. If you want a fight, find a just cause to fight for. The parents who acted like juveniles at that meeting last night should be ashamed of themselves. I expect this kind of behavior out of children, but adults?! You claim to be so concerned about education, then shut up, stop whining, and lets get back to education......
Rita R.
September 27, 2012 at 12:33 pm
Folks... You have to pay to dress your kids no matter what they wear... be it a uniform or casual clothes. School is for learning. It's not a fashion show. Buy the uniforms, put the kids in them, and send them off to LEARN. Wasting everyones time fighting a dress-code policy is counter-productive. And this silly "individualism" argument is just that...silly. If your only form of self-expression is what clothes you are wearing, then you need to be digging a little bit deeper into the the world of self-discovery and find a better way to illustrate your individuality.
russell b.
September 27, 2012 at 12:13 pm
I am a mom of 3, I may not be PA. I say if they want to do dress a dress code then they need to provide it. Not all people can afford to buy the uniforms. In today's economy it is hard on everyone. An as talking about cell phones, you pass these law no hand held device's yet the cop just past them buy. In my Option. If parents are so worried about what there children are wearing then they need to pay more attention to what they buy there kids. Or at least be more involved. You have parents that both work, and sometime it is hard to know everything. An the reason kids dress the way they do is so they can so there individualism. You take that away and then you have everyone the same. An what kind of world would we live in then
Christina K.
September 27, 2012 at 11:47 am
People as ignorant as "Bob Y." who clearly has no idea what is going on in the Chambersburg School District in regards to this issue, should keep their moronic comments to themselves. The "Bob Y.'s" of this community read these stories and they think that every child sent home is wearing pants down to their knees. Girls showing underwear or flashing their cleavage. They get a visual image in their head that all of these kids sent home are dressed like street walkers or gang bangers when nothing could be further from the truth. Yes their are kids who show up in pajamas. That is a VERY small percentage and they should be sent home. I have 4 children in the district. One in high school the other in middle. The high schooler was sent home 5 times. The middle schoolers have NEVER been sent home. We've been in the district for years. How many times combined do you think my 4 children were sent in home in all the years they have attended prior to this year? ZERO! Do you think I have enough common sense to dress the 3 youngest but not the oldest?
What has changed at the High School this year? Is it the dress code? No the dress code is the same. Is it the Principal? Yes. Google Buddy Chapel. See what you find. What you will see is a former Allentown Principal from 2004 - 2010. You will see that when he took over the school the Test Scores met the State Standard. Then in 06 the dropped below and continues to drop until 2010 when he was removed for his performance. He was in the bottom 19% of Prinicipals in the District.
Then he went to SC where first he shows his individuality by turning his office into a Taxidermy Shop. Then by implementing his own version of the dress code banning things like blue jeans.
Now he is in CBurg because apparently this is the best Joe Pasadak can find or all that the taxpayers and children deserve. This is the person the board approves by a 9 - 0 vote.
So before you make further comments "Bob Y." hoiw about making sure you know what you are talking about?
John J.
September 27, 2012 at 8:49 am
People as ignorant as "Bob Y." who clearly has no idea what is going on in the Chambersburg School District in regards to this issue, should keep their moronic comments to themselves. The "Bob Y.'s" of this community read these stories and they think that every child sent home is wearing pants down to their knees. Girls showing underwear or flashing their cleavage. They get a visual image in their head that all of these kids sent home are dressed like street walkers or gang bangers when nothing could be further from the truth. Yes their are kids who show up in pajamas. That is a VERY small percentage and they should be sent home. I have 4 children in the district. One in high school the other in middle. The high schooler was sent home 5 times. The middle schoolers have NEVER been sent home. We've been in the district for years. How many times combined do you think my 4 children were sent in home in all the years they have attended prior to this year? ZERO! Do you think I have enough common sense to dress the 3 youngest but not the oldest?
What has changed at the High School this year? Is it the dress code? No the dress code is the same. Is it the Principal? Yes. Google Buddy Chapel. See what you find. What you will see is a former Allentown Principal from 2004 - 2010. You will see that when he took over the school the Test Scores met the State Standard. Then in 06 the dropped below and continues to drop until 2010 when he was removed for his performance. He was in the bottom 19% of Prinicipals in the District.
Then he went to SC where first he shows his individuality by turning his office into a Taxidermy Shop. Then by implementing his own version of the dress code banning things like blue jeans.
Now he is in CBurg because apparently this is the best Joe Pasadak can find or all that the taxpayers and children deserve. This is the person the board approves by a 9 - 0 vote.
So before you make further comments "Bob Y." hoiw about making sure you know what you are talking about?
John J.
September 27, 2012 at 8:47 am
School uniforms. Enough said. As for the Mother whose daughter was sent home four times ... stop complaining and make sure your daught adhere's to the dress code and it would not be an issue. Parents are ultimately responsible for their children and how they behave. I think the code allows for less OTHER distractions and more focus on learning. Stop the whining.
Bob Y.
September 27, 2012 at 7:06 am
