Cheerleading outfits too vulgar for class

[summer]

First, I'm half ashamed to be posting this because the fact that a local news affiliate thought this was a 2 1/2 minute story makes me sad but that aside, I had to post because I'm feeling very get-off-my-lawn about these skirts.  When did they get so tight and stripper-like???  I'm old.  That and the number of times she said "like" in her interview drove me insane.

ABC news-Clearwater



School spirit is taking a back seat to fashion propriety in Florida, where a school district is banning its own cheerleaders from wearing their uniforms during the school day.

As first reported by the Tampa Bay Times, the Pinellas School District is refusing to allow cheerleaders at a number of its schools from wearing their uniforms during the school day. According to upset parents, it was decided that the uniforms were against the district's dress code because the sleeveless tops and short skirts that are universally identified with school cheerleaders are deemed "too vulgar."

According to Clearwater (Fl.) Countryside High Principal Gary Schlereth, allowing the cheerleaders to wear their uniforms maintains a double standard for other students who might then feel it was acceptable to wear shorter skirts than they are allowed.

"A parent looks at their son or daughter getting 'dress coded' for wearing something short," Schlereth told the Times. "Then they look at the cheerleading uniform and they say, 'What about that?'"

While there is legitimate logic behind the ban, the decision to keep area cheerleaders from wearing their uniforms on game days is a sudden departure from past tradition.

The policy shift isn't just taking place at Countryside. In fact, schools across the Tampa-St. Petersburg region are following suit, with the likes of Clearwater (Fl.) Gibbs High, St. Petersburg (Fl.) High and St. Petersburg (Fl.) Northeast High all joining in on the new game-day uniform ban, at least until an acceptable solution to both lengthen skirts during the day and provide arm cover is agreed upon.

In the meantime, the parents of cheerleaders who looked forward to the tradition of wearing uniforms on game days are distraught that their children are being cheated out of a practice they feel is an integral part of the cheerleading experience.

[overture]

I think "vulgar" was the wrong choice of word.

But I agree that if it's against dress code, they shouldn't wear it. And if that's against "past tradition," well...go back to the old uniform.

[MarmeeNoir]

Our cheerleaders wore track suits on game days.

[thejackpot]

No one gets dress coded at my school. Those uniforms are better than some of the dresses/outfits I see on any given day.

I do understand the ban. They can wear some other spirit gear.

[mmp]

The parents are distraught. Lololololol. Shocking.

[Deleted]

IF they don't pass dress code you shouldn't be able to wear them. I doubt those skirts go pass their fingertips

[penguingrrl]

Our cheerleaders wore their uniforms on game day. The uniforms met the fairly strict dress code and it was no problem. I feel like they shouldn't be the uniform if they're not okay for school.

[laurenpetro]

Aug 29, 2013 6:32:59 GMT -5 @letshike said:

Am I crazy to think that if they go against the dress code then they shouldn't be the uniforms? I don't think those skirts are vulgar and to be honest, i really dont care what cheerleader uniforms look like. But if they are against the schools dress code, why are they outfits that represent the school during school activities?

QFT

[laurenpetro]

Aug 29, 2013 6:42:35 GMT -5 @letshike said:

Aug 29, 2013 6:39:14 GMT -5 laurenpetro said:

QFT

I don't know what QFT means. 

You're good. It's Quoted for Truth.

[josieposy]

If the uniforms are so klassy then why the hell did the school approve them in the first place? Would it have been a crazy idea to find a "classroom friendly" uniform?

[Deleted]

Aug 29, 2013 6:32:59 GMT -5 @letshike said:

Am I crazy to think that if they go against the dress code then they shouldn't be the uniforms? I don't think those skirts are vulgar and to be honest, i really dont care what cheerleader uniforms look like. But if they are against the schools dress code, why are they outfits that represent the school during school activities?

Because cheerleading squads do a lot more tumbling these days than they have in the past, and I'd wager those skirts and tighter fits aid in that movement.

I don't want to bring up whether it's a sport or not as I'm not in the mood for that trainwreck of a post again, but a lot of schools do more than just cheer on the sidelines these days. I've seen lots of tumbling and stunts at HS football games these days (they even lay special protective padding on the track or grass in case of accidents).

So yeah, if they're not school-code length, they shouldn't be worn. The track suits sound like a good compromise (Around here, I've seen where the girls will wear the top of their uniform paired with matching track pants).

[darthnbjenni]

Aug 29, 2013 2:35:07 GMT -5 MarmeeNoir said:

Our cheerleaders wore track suits on game days.

We have a staunch no athletic wear rule. Our athletes wear dress clothes on game days.

[Deleted]

Our middle school banned our ch leading uniforms at school. They did not fit the dress code.

the outrage baffles me. If they aren't appropriate they aren't appropriate.

[Deleted]

That was not what I was expecting from the title of this thread, lol. I think those outfits are cute. Yes the skirt is a little short but I would hardly call it "vulgar." I've seen way worse when it comes to cheer leading uniforms (and regular dress, lol).

[Deleted]

they aren't vulgar like this



but if they aren't appropriate to be worn at school why are the appropriate to be worn at a school sponsored/sanctioned event? 

[cattledogkisses]

Lots of team uniforms probably don't meet the dress code. I know our track uniforms didn't in high school, but no one questioned their appropriateness for meets.

Have the athletes wear something else during the school day. At my school when we had athletic events we had to dress up during the day.

[Deleted]

They are more modest than I was expecting from the title.

Why don't they wear leggings underneath to class? I would guess the tops are okay unless they don't allow sleeveless tops? But I though most schools were okay with that.

[rugbywife]

I can GUARANTEE you that the shorts our volleyball players wear are not appropriate (grades 6-8) but they can't wear them during class - I feel weird with them wearing them period but a lot of the girls play on competitive teams and on those teams they all wear them so they often just wear them to our practices and games as well. They don't leave much to the imagination.

[laurenpetro]

Aug 29, 2013 6:48:36 GMT -5 @letshike said:

Aug 29, 2013 6:44:05 GMT -5 laurenpetro said:

You're good. It's Quoted for Truth.

Thanks. I googled it, haha, and that was an option. So was quit fucking talking :-)

Lol! Sorry about that.

Are you new here? If so, welcome!

[Michelle]

Aug 29, 2013 2:35:07 GMT -5 MarmeeNoir said:

Our cheerleaders wore track suits on game days.

Or their warm up outfit - that seems appropriate.  Our cheerleaders (c/o 1994) wore something similar to the picture, but the skirt was pleated at the bottom instead of just straight.  However, it came an inch below the butt cheeks so the girls with rounder bums showed a little of the shorts-covered cheeks if they bent over even half an inch. 

That always used to bother me.  If everyone else's skirts had to come to the tip of their fingertips or no more than 3 inches above the knee, why could the cheerleaders flaunt around like that?  And talk about tempting the teachers.  I can't count how many times a male teacher blinked really hard as if to wipe away unclean/unprofessional thoughts when a cheerleader came in the room.  Most of these were very good men you'd never think would hook up with a student (most of them... there were suspicions about a couple of them).  So I was uncomfortable with the attention the outfits drew to the girls, and I always thought, "there's a dress code for a reason - we're not here to walk around being sexy; we're here to learn!"

But they had an exception to the dress code rule because it encouraged school spirit on game days.  insert eye roll.

Ahhh looking back on this it is no wonder I was so very much like Kat in 10 Things I Hate About You.

[demandypants]

As a leggy girl, I was always being spoken too about my shorts cause they never looked long enough...(3 inch inseam on a 35inch leg isn't a lot but I followed the rules) and yet our cheerleaders did wear their uniforms on game days to school. It had always annoyed me that they had different rules. So yea, I don't think their uniforms are very classroom appropriate. And they should follow the dress code too.

[pixy0stix]

I don't understand how they move in those skirts.

As someone said upthread, why were they allowed to purchase those uniforms in the first place. Did it not go through some sort of vetting process?

If the school doesn't like them, they should pay to have the skirts replaced.

This is way too much drama for something that could be fixed easily.

[summer]

Football, softball and volleyball players wore their jerseys to school on game days, not their whole outfit. We didn't run around in cleats and knee pads and helmets all day. Where the shirt and something appropriate on the bottom.

[karinothing]

Aug 29, 2013 7:42:12 GMT -5 summer said:

Football, softball and volleyball players wore their jerseys to school on game days, not their whole outfit. We didn't run around in cleats and knee pads and helmets all day. Where the shirt and something appropriate on the bottom.

The male players at my school wore slacks with a shirt and tie. I want to say the girls wore something similar (slacks and a blouse) but I honestly can't remember. I know the cheerleaders wore their uniforms, but theres were not as skanky. Their skirts were baggier and just a little above the knee.

I am just confused as to why the uniforms at this school would violate dress code. That is strange. I am pretty sure ours had to conform with school dress code.

[AJL]

Our football players wore slacks, shirt, and tie on game days, too. The cheerleaders wore their uniforms for the pep rally only then they changed into spirit t-shirts and pants or skirts that met the dress code.

I don't have a problem with the uniform itself, but I think it's inappropriate to wear outside of participation in their activity (i.e. performing at the pep rally or cheering at the game.)

[ringstrue]

I always felt bad for the cheerleaders since they had to wear their whole outfit complete with hairdo all day long while all the other athletes could just wear their warmup outfits. I would think doing the same for the cheerleaders would actually be progress. I don't see why these athletes have to meet dress codes and not anyone else.

[wawa]

Aug 29, 2013 7:31:15 GMT -5 Michelle said:

Aug 29, 2013 2:35:07 GMT -5 MarmeeNoir said:

Our cheerleaders wore track suits on game days.

Or their warm up outfit - that seems appropriate.  Our cheerleaders (c/o 1994) wore something similar to the picture, but the skirt was pleated at the bottom instead of just straight.  However, it came an inch below the butt cheeks so the girls with rounder bums showed a little of the shorts-covered cheeks if they bent over even half an inch. 

That always used to bother me.  If everyone else's skirts had to come to the tip of their fingertips or no more than 3 inches above the knee, why could the cheerleaders flaunt around like that?  And talk about tempting the teachers.  I can't count how many times a male teacher blinked really hard as if to wipe away unclean/unprofessional thoughts when a cheerleader came in the room.  Most of these were very good men you'd never think would hook up with a student (most of them... there were suspicions about a couple of them).  So I was uncomfortable with the attention the outfits drew to the girls, and I always thought, "there's a dress code for a reason - we're not here to walk around being sexy; we're here to learn!"

But they had an exception to the dress code rule because it encouraged school spirit on game days.  insert eye roll.

Ahhh looking back on this it is no wonder I was so very much like Kat in 10 Things I Hate About You.

Ummm.   really?  dress codes are to help prevent those poor male teachers from being aroused by the sight of a short skirt on a student?  I've not heard that before.

[Miss Phryne Fisher]

LOL that is my old district (where I graduated and where I started teaching). I totally agree with this. When I was in HS (in that district, though not at Countryside High School) the cheerleaders had to wear their uniforms WITH sweat pants or long leggings under them. When they were wearing the sleeveless uniforms, they also had to wear a sleeved undershirt since tank tops are out of dress code as well. This was in the 90's, the skirts were just as short.

[cattledogkisses]

Aug 29, 2013 8:17:15 GMT -5 wawa said:

Aug 29, 2013 7:31:15 GMT -5 Michelle said:

Or their warm up outfit - that seems appropriate.  Our cheerleaders (c/o 1994) wore something similar to the picture, but the skirt was pleated at the bottom instead of just straight.  However, it came an inch below the butt cheeks so the girls with rounder bums showed a little of the shorts-covered cheeks if they bent over even half an inch. 

That always used to bother me.  If everyone else's skirts had to come to the tip of their fingertips or no more than 3 inches above the knee, why could the cheerleaders flaunt around like that?  And talk about tempting the teachers.  I can't count how many times a male teacher blinked really hard as if to wipe away unclean/unprofessional thoughts when a cheerleader came in the room.  Most of these were very good men you'd never think would hook up with a student (most of them... there were suspicions about a couple of them).  So I was uncomfortable with the attention the outfits drew to the girls, and I always thought, "there's a dress code for a reason - we're not here to walk around being sexy; we're here to learn!"

But they had an exception to the dress code rule because it encouraged school spirit on game days.  insert eye roll.

Ahhh looking back on this it is no wonder I was so very much like Kat in 10 Things I Hate About You.

Ummm.   really?  dress codes are to help prevent those poor male teachers from being aroused by the sight of a short skirt on a student?  I've not heard that before.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who went ^o) at that. 

[ringstrue]

Yes I remember ours wore leggings and long sleeves under them and if I also recall, the cheerleaders where glad for it since most of the season was NOT during warm temperatures and our school was not wonderfully heated.