Cross Dressing in High School

[Aristes]

I know I'll probably regret posting this, but I'm just kind of confused as to how I feel about this story. On one hand, I think the school has a point in that it's probably disruptive. On the other hand, my sense of personal freedom inclines me to think that the boy should be allowed to dress as he desires as long as he conforms to basic and common sense guidelines, such as not running around the school nude etc.

 

http://news.aol.com/article/georgia-school...scobar%2F707800

[213374U]

Schooling can't substitute parenting.

[Moose]

Most schools and work placed are allowed to execute a dress policy. It's in the fine print.

[jaguars4ever]

Schooling can't substitute parenting.

Parenting can't substitute military schooling.

[Gorgon]

The one deciding factor about drag queens and shemales and such is whether they can pull it off. There is an element of show business and character there. He just can't hack it as a woman, he should be forced out of that dress for his own good.

[Guard Dog]

The one deciding factor about drag queens and shemales and such is whether they can pull it off. There is an element of show business and character there. He just can't hack it as a woman, he should be forced out of that dress for his own good.

 

[Guard Dog]

There is no bigger advocate on this board for individual liberty than me, but the school is right here. A certain level of decorum is required in the workplace/school and it is certainly incumbent on the party responsible to ensure that it exists. If that means uniforms or dess codes then thats what it means. Once you get out of that enviorment you can dress however you please. If you find that unreasonable there are usually alternatives up to and including dropping out.

[Walsingham]

I'd be inclined to permit cross-dressing where the standard of dress was consistent with that stipulated for females. It's really a very minor thing compared with the myriad other threats a school faces.

[Amentep]

I'd be inclined to permit cross-dressing where the standard of dress was consistent with that stipulated for females. It's really a very minor thing compared with the myriad other threats a school faces.

 

This is what I'm thinking.

[Killian Kalthorne]

I'd be inclined to permit cross-dressing where the standard of dress was consistent with that stipulated for females. It's really a very minor thing compared with the myriad other threats a school faces.

 

Agreed.

[Gfted1]

I'd be inclined to permit cross-dressing where the standard of dress was consistent with that stipulated for females. It's really a very minor thing compared with the myriad other threats a school faces.

 

 

This is what I'm thinking.

 

 

Agreed.

 

 

But it is a source of "threat":

 

Groups of kids gathered around him in the cafeteria, and the school's assistant principal even blamed a fight on Escobar's flamboyant attire.

 

which directly plays into:

 

Citing a school dress code that prohibits students from wearing clothing that may "contribute to a disruption of school functions"...

[Amentep]

Yes, but the key here is "flamboyant" attire. Based on the video from the local ABC(US) affiliate he was dressed rather conservatively, but they do try to argue that he wasn't on the last day he attended.

 

And having that said, there have been other examples in the local news about crossdressers being allowed to go to school with no problem, so...

 

One must note that Escobar attended the school a grand total of 3 days; was there significantly more attention drawn to him than any other notable transfer? I'm not sure. Would the fervor have died down given time? I think so.

 

There's also no clear evidence in either the AJC article, the AOL article or the ABC footage as to why a conclusion was drawn that he was responsible for fights occurring those days.

[theslug]

I have to agree with GD. I've actually been in a school where someone cross dressed or at least tried to becuase I think he ended up leaving. It definitely creates an uproar and unneeded madness in the student body. You should follow the rules, which include social norms.

 

I've actually read quite a bit of these stories coming out of the UK but it was mostly how dumb the faculty were in that they wouldn't tell the students anything so when Chris suddenly vanishes without a trace and Christina shows up in his seat the next year, both of whom have a striking resemblance, the kids figure it out and then the kid is tormented. I mean the kid would still get tormented either way but if you at least let them get the first word out instead of kids gossiping and making stuff up, then perhaps there would be an ounce of sympathy, though maybe that's a little unrealistic.

 

Either way its not natural and its not right in school. Do whatever you want on the weekends.

[Deadly_Nightshade]

Groups of kids gathered around him in the cafeteria, and the school's assistant principal even blamed a fight on Escobar's flamboyant attire.

 

That is because of bigotry and hatred, not the dress itself. Unless they are saying that all dresses are evil and cause violence... But, if that's true, then they've got other issues...

[Killian Kalthorne]

The fight started because those children wanted to fight. They were just looking for an excuse to do it. If it wasn't for that kid they would have found some other poor kid to pick on. That is how bullies work.

Edited October 8, 2009 by Killian Kalthorne

[Purkake]

You're not Lord of Flies!

 

Total disappointment.

[Aristes]

I guess one of my problems with it is that girls don't suffer harrassment for dressing like boys. In fact, I seriously doubt there is any such distinction as a girl dressing like a "boy" in school. The other thing is, where do we draw the line? Is wearing pink okay for a boy but wearing a pink blouse is not? A brief case but not a purse?

 

Yeah, I think the kid is probably acting out, although maybe he does enjoy dressing like a "girl" for its own sake. That still doesn't seem to indicate to me that he should not be allowed to do it.

 

Of course, Moose's point about the fine print makes sense. I don't really think the school is bad inasmuchas they're simply trying to do what they think is best for the student body.

[Hurlshort]

"If I can't express myself, I won't go to school," he told the Atlanta Journal Constitution, "I want to get the message out there that because this is who I am, I can't get an education."

 

This is the part that I take issue. I'm a big fan of personal freedom and I really have an issue with the other students not being more accepting, but this student needs to understand that school is about getting an education, not making personal statements. He is very young and will have plenty of years ahead of himself to express himself when he becomes an adult.

[Killian Kalthorne]

Maybe they should adopt school uniforms in which all boys and all girls dress exactly alike. That would make everyone equal. At least in clothing.

[Volourn]

The school is in the wrong. School shouldn't just be teaching math but about teaching tolerance, acceptance, and respecting otehrs' choices.

 

The kiddies who fought over this should be the ones punished not the cross dresser. I won't pretend to understand the need to dress like a girl; but it's not a big deal because someone cross dressing does not hurt me. Period.

[Killian Kalthorne]

That's not the school's job, Volourn. That is the job of parents.

[Volourn]

Nope. It's the job of the school. And, it's been proven in courts hence why schools are now required to not segregate students.

[Killian Kalthorne]

It is not the school's job to raise kids.

[Calax]

I donno, I'm divided on this. If they had strict dress codes mandating what is and isn't ok for each gender to wear I'd probably side with the school, but I also have to look at it from another perspective, what if boys were forced to wear skirts to school?

[Amentep]

"If I can't express myself, I won't go to school," he told the Atlanta Journal Constitution, "I want to get the message out there that because this is who I am, I can't get an education."

 

This is the part that I take issue. I'm a big fan of personal freedom and I really have an issue with the other students not being more accepting, but this student needs to understand that school is about getting an education, not making personal statements. He is very young and will have plenty of years ahead of himself to express himself when he becomes an adult.

 

Yeah, the outlay of his options are pretty...one sided, but not that far from general teenage thought in my experience.

 

I donno, I'm divided on this. If they had strict dress codes mandating what is and isn't ok for each gender to wear I'd probably side with the school, but I also have to look at it from another perspective, what if boys were forced to wear skirts to school?

 

There have been some schools that wouldn't let boys wear kilts. Not that that's what you're talking about, its just your mention of skirts made me think of it.