Eastbayri.com

PORTSMOUTH — From now on, Portsmouth students’ dresses skirts and shorts must pass the “fingertip rule” — “Come to at least mid-thigh and/or hems much reach the finger tips when arms are at the student’s side.”

That is according to a revised dress code passed Jan. 24 by the School Committee a year after 100 students were sent home from a school dance, many of them for wearing skirts deemed too short.

“A student's dress and grooming must not disrupt the educational process, interfere with the maintenance of a positive teaching/learning climate, or compromise reasonable standards of health, safety, modesty and decency,” begins the code which was first written in 1996. The policy leaves it to the school principal or designee to enforce.

The policy also mentions (in part):

• Clothing must cover the student’s torso. Underwear must be covered. Bare midriffs are not permitted. Prohibited shirts include, but are not limited to, backless, one shoulder, strapless, or thin-strapped shirts or blouses. Also prohibited is clothing with revealing holes or low-cut necklines.

• Nothing depicting alcohol, tobacco products or other drugs, and no spiked or dangerous jewelry (such as handcuffs, chains, etc.) will be worn.

• Clothing or hair style which constitutes a health or safety hazard will not be worn. This includes loose or highly flammable clothing or unrestrained hair styles in laboratories, around machinery, or in areas where a fire safety hazard may exist.

• Metal, plastic, or rubber cleats or other shoes that may damage floors may not be worn.

• Nothing depicting weapons or which is derogatory, inflammatory, sexual, or discriminatory, will be worn at school if it is in violation of the district’s policies regarding harassment and bullying, unless the restriction “would infringe upon any right to exercise free expression or the free exercise of religion or religiously based views protected under the First Amendment.”

• Clothing that causes a disruption of classroom routine will not be worn.

• Hats, head-coverings, jackets, coats and gloves will not be worn in class unless part of a school function, health/medical reasons, or in cold conditions as determined by the teacher/administrator. Students must remove head-coverings in the building (religious head-coverings are exempt).

• Appropriate seasonable footwear must be worn.

• No sunglasses indoors unless needed for medical reasons.

• Attire for school physical education classes may not be worn in the classroom.

Students in violation of the dress code will be required to immediately make changes. If they can’t, they will be sent home to correct the situation.