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by pltm
(PLTM) - The dress code for the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) is being strictly enforced this year at both the junior and senior sections of the main high school on Tortola.
Principal Vanessa Garraway announced the enforcement at both the orientation sessions that were held prior to the school’s reopening and the general assembly that marked the start of the new school year.
During both sessions, Garraway noted that in addition to the dress code, the school is also implementing an electronics ban now that sessions have resumed normal hours.
In announcing the enforcement of the new electronics ban and dress code policy, the Principal in a media interview stated that these are initiative aimed at maintaining school culture.
As it relates to the uniform policy, the school is clamping down on brightly coloured hair, artistic eyebrows, and skirts that are above the knee. Students were required to undergo inspection to ensure that their uniform meets school code.
In explaining the push for dress code adherence, the Principal said, “We are enforcing our uniform policy because we think our uniform is a good uniform and it teaches our children discipline, and it allows them to understand the importance of obeying rules.”
Since the new dress code was implemented, parents have expressed their dissatisfaction, stating that they do not agree that female students should be sent home because their uniforms are a little above the knees, and that it is unfair that parents should have to purchase other uniforms to adhere to code.
When the fact that some parents were unhappy was mentioned to the Principal during the interview, she said, “If course, we are not inhumane, if we have a reasonable request we are going to be obligated to make sure that we are understanding and work with our parents.”
Electronics Ban
In relation to the electronics policy, she explained that there is no need for the students to bring certain electronics to school.
“Just after the hurricanes we allowed the students to bring their own phones and technology when we were short on resources. Since then, we have gotten most of our technology back in place and the phones were becoming a disturbance, as opposed to what we originally sought to have them bring them for,” the Principal explained.
Garraway said that the school administration felt it was necessary to have a ban on the electronics.
The Principal said, “We have decided that at this point in time as we are getting back into full day school, we’re going to import a band on these electronics for the time being right now. We will look at it later in the year when we have settled back into our normal routines, but for now we thought it best to leave the phones at home; so the only technology that they are allowed to walk with is their digital textbook in junior school and the chromebook in senior school.”
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