Newark students balk at stricter dress code enforcement

• High School students are speaking out online about Newark’s dress code enforcement.

NEWARK – Newark High School students are pushing back online and on social media, voicing complaints about what they view as “changes” to the high school’s dress code.

School officials said Friday that the rules have remained the same, but administrators might be more firmly enforcing some aspects of the code.

The Newark High School dress code requires students to wear “khaki or black pants, shorts or skirts and a white, black, crimson or gray three-button or full-button collared shirt,” according to the school’s student handbook.

Students are allowed to wear crew-neck sweaters, sweatshirts or cardigans that are of the solid crimson, black, white or gray over their polos or full-button shirts, according to the handbook.

Community Outreach Coordinator Seth Roy said none of those rules have changed.

“It’s the same as its always been,” he said. “It’s being enforced the way it’s written.”

The only policy that’s different this year is the school’s Spirit Day policy, Roy said.

In years past, students could wear T-shirts that were solid white, maroon, black or gray, or T-shirts that had a logo for a Newark school, group or sports team.

This year, students can only wear Newark shirts, not solid colored T-shirts, Roy said.

They still have to wear black or khaki pants.

“Since it’s Spirit Day, they should wear a Newark shirt or Wildcats shirt,” Roy said.

An announcement about the change was made during school Thursday, he said. It was a decision made by the entire high school administration, he said.

Students posted their thoughts on Twitter on Thursday, writing that what they are learning in the classroom should be more important than what they wear to school.

A Change.org petition stating that students think “a plain or patterned ‘Newark colored’ piece of clothing is appropriate for school” was circulated Friday afternoon on Twitter.

High school students who spoke with The Advocate expressed concern that they already bought back-to-school clothes before knowing they couldn’t wear solid shirts on Fridays.

Others said that in years past, sweaters with polka dots, stripes and lace were allowed to be worn over their polo shirts. But on Thursday, they said they were told those would no longer be permitted.

Many told The Advocate that as high school students, they feel they should get some leeway about their clothing choices and have some opportunity to express themselves.

Another concern voiced was that student organizations would no longer be able to organize “jean days,” when groups such as student council collect donations from students who want to wear jeans to school during those special days.

The concept has been used to raise money for school dances and causes, such as students in need, the student said.

Roy said “jean days” are not likely to go away, but there might be more of a process to ensure consistency.

He also said students will no longer be able to “dress down” wearing any clothes they want, including pajama pants, during the schools’ final exam weeks.

The administration has not finalized the decision about what students can wear during those times.

ajeffries@newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8544

Twitter: @amsjeffries