SAN ANTONIO – A photo of a controversial sign directed towards Judson High School’s dress code policy is sparking outrage among other students and has gone viral since being shared on Twitter.
The sign reads, “When you interupt (sic) a girl’s school day to force her to change clothes, or send her home because her shorts are too short or her bra straps are visible, you are telling her that making sure boys have a ‘DISTRACTION FREE’ learning enivornment (sic) is more inportant (sic) than her education.”
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“Instead of shaming girls for their body teach boys that girls are not sexual objects,” the last line in the sign reads.
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The picture was shared on Twitter on Wednesday and has now received more than 3,000 retweets and collected over 5,000 likes in less than 48 hours.
The caption read, “This was hung in the bathroom at Judson.”
Judson ISD spokesman Steve Linscomb said administrators found two or three copies of the sign shown in the photo both outside and inside boys and girls bathrooms.
Some students have responded to the tweet by saying, “So proud of my (Judson) high school and how the posterity is shaping it.” Another said, “This needs to be hung everywhere around the school.”
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Linscomb said students and parents are aware of the dress code policy and even sign the document at the beginning of each school year.
“We have a standard here and needs to be a some reasonableness,” Linscomb said. “(Students) are there for academics and they are there to learn.”
The district’s dress code policy for grades nine through 12 reads in part, “The following items are prohibited: Sagging (no visible undergarments), Halter tops, exposed midriffs, strapless and/or low cut tops that expose breasts or cleavage, exposed backs, spaghetti straps and see-through clothing are not permitted (undergarments shall not be visible or exposed), and revealing or excessively tight garments (tops, stretch pants, leggings, jeggings and yoga pants) are prohibited.”
The dress code policy also states, “Clothing that promotes violence or reflects gang activity are prohibited. Clothing that is considered offensive, inflammatory or disruptive to the learning environment is prohibited. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to, inappropriate advertising or statements that are offensive or inflammatory, alcoholic beverages, profanity, sex, tobacco, drugs, gangs, guns and other weapons, excessively violent or gory imagery, and the promotion of violence and death.”
Linscomb said the school is looking into the situation and that the administration is wondering why the student decided it was appropriate to air out the issue on social media instead of talking it out with one of them.
“Whenever we have this kind of issues, people should take the time to work it out with the principal or administration and talk it over one-on-one instead of airing out the issue on social media,” Linscomb said. “Social media is great in so many ways but it can sometimes be misunderstood.”
Linscomb said he understands the frustration that is voiced in the sign by the students, but this is not just a girl issue. Rather it is a battle they have had with teenagers for decades, he said.
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“There are other ways to address the situation and this is not just a girls issue. We are just as hard on the boys with them sagging and wearing shirts with inappropriate language,” Linscomb said.
“When you come to school, you have to ask yourself, ‘What’s the reason why I’m here? Am I here to cause attention to myself or further my future through academics?’” Linscomb asked.
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Linscomb added even though they’re trying to find the student responsible for the sign, the situation is not something that will come with huge consequence.
Liscomb said Judson principal Jesus Hernandez III wants to start a conversation with the student or students involved and find other ways to talk about the school’s dress code policy, instead of having the mindset that social media is the only outlet to address an issue.
