Tight Jeans, Leggings OK, But Don't Show Your Underwear

Yoga pants and tight-fitting jeans are OK, but leggings are a no-no, Kenilworth Junior High School clarified on Monday.

Last Thursday, the school held an assembly for female students where administrators said that no tight pants--yoga pants, leggings and tight jeans would be allowed.

That prompted outrage among some parents and (presumably) a phone call to local press complaining that the decision was sending young women the wrong message by telling them their clothing was a distraction for the boys.

But on Monday, Kenilworth Principal Emily Dunnagan said that only leggings have been banned, although students may still wear them with shorts or paired with a skirt or dress.

“It’s junior high and some of the kids test the boundaries,” Dunnagan told Petaluma Patch, adding that the school decided to ban leggings only because of their “see-through quality.”

“The concern is we don’t want undergarments showing,” she said. “The goal is to teach kids to respect themselves and dress appropriately.”

The same rule applies to boys wearing baggy pants that expose their underwear.

The school will give boys a rope belt to pull up their jeans and will send girls to the office to change into sport pants or shorts if wearing see-through leggings. In lieu of inappropriate shirts, the school will give students yellow T-shirts that say “School Is Cool,” for the remainder of the day, to avoid having to send students home.

“Students need to wear clothing that’s appropriate for the school environment,” Dunnagan said, adding that uniforms are not being considered.

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