Student Dress Codes and the First Amendment

Legal Challenges and Policy Issues

By (author) Richard Fossey, Todd A. DeMitchell

Publication date:

30 July 2014

Length of book:

128 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

ISBN-13: 9781475802030

Students’ early morning decisions about what to wear to school have led many school districts into legal issues and policy challenges. Confederate belt buckles, exposed bellies, sagging pants, political statements, and social commentary have all been banned from schools, and these bans have often resulted in litigation by students who claim their constitutional right to free speech has been violated.

Student Dress Codes and the First Amendment: Legal Challenges and Policy Issues explores the legal issues that arise when a school prohibits various types of student attire. Through an analysis of major Supreme and federal court cases, this volume examines conflicts that arise when administrators juggle a student’s right to free speech with the need to maintain an environment conducive to learning.

Preface
Chapter 1: What to Wear to School: The Controversy
Chapter 2: The Free Speech Rights of Students
Chapter 3: Dress Codes: Pants, Hats, and Gangs--The Clothes are the Message
Chapter 4: Drugs, Politics and the Confederate Flag: Targeted Messages on Students’ Clothing
Chapter 5: Clothing Messages About Sex, Abortion and Sexual Orientation
Chapter 6: Policy Implications of Dress Codes: Balancing Rights and Responsibilities
About the Authors

Fossey and DeMitchell effectively and conclusively enlighten professors, school administrators, educational scholars, researchers, and graduate students of school administration on the challenges, complexity, and controversy regarding student expression and their choice of clothing. The authors have created a resource guide book that carefully examines the problems that confront school administrators who are responsible for honoring the constitutional rights of students regarding dress while simultaneously ensuring a safe, orderly, positive, and constructive learning environment for all students. The legal authority for managing these challenges is discussed in extensive detail, as well as the implications for dress code policy and implementation. The balance among students’ First Amendment rights, school administrator responsibilities, and all students’ rights to learn are carefully discussed. This is a must read for anyone desiring detailed knowledge of matters pertaining to student dress, school law, First Amendment rights, and the rights of all students to learn in an orderly environment. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above.