Principal John Brucato: Why our school uses a dress code

John Brucato

John Brucato is the principal of Milford High School in Milford, Massachusetts, where a dress code is enforced for 1200 students in grades 9-12. He is a visiting lecturer and an educational consultant, and has been published in "Eye on Education."

CNN: Good afternoon John Brucato. Welcome to CNN.com Newsroom.

BRUCATO: Hello! It's a pleasure to be with you, and I'm happy to field the questions you have for me.

CNN: What type of dress code is in place at Milford High School where you are principal?

BRUCATO: We have a dress code which we feel has a conscience, as it is both related to furthering the educational process, as well as keeping students safe. The specifics of the dress code involve keeping within our educational purposes and mission. We ask our students to dress and groom themselves as individuals with a sense of responsibility and self-respect. So, it's not a matter of what you must wear, it's more of a matter of what we don't feel is appropriate. Specifically: if it becomes disruptive, offensive, threatening, or provocative to others, is vulgar, displays tobacco or alcohol advertising, profanity, racial slurs, has disruptive images or gang-related symbols.

The specifics of clothing as it pertains to coverage -- for example, we ask that the clothing cover the entire abdominal region, front and back, that pants, trousers and blouses should fit so as not to reveal undergarments. Shirts should be buttoned to cover the chest and stomach, from the base of the neck, the top edge of the shoulders. Sheer, see-through fabrics are not permitted, [nor are] shorts or skirts above the midthigh, tube tops, halter tops, backless shirts and dresses. And specifically for safety purposes, some of the adornments that modern fashion has like chains, studded or spiked rings and necklaces, sweat bands, bandannas, do-rags, sunglasses, hats, visors [are not permitted]. These are the basics. We found that we had to become very specific with a number of articles of clothing, simply because there are a number of students that will push the envelope.

CHAT PARTICIPANT: Do you have any proof that the dress code in your school actually helps students to learn more?

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BRUCATO: We do have proof that students learn best when they're comfortable within their environment. See, the issue isn't dress as much as it is promoting a climate in which all students feel comfortable, feel well-received, that there's mutual respect among themselves, other students, faculty and staff. This is what we want to cultivate. Dress is directly related. We're teaching responsible behavior, and teaching them how to represent themselves in a decent manner.

I daresay that you can look at all the studies and surveys you want, and they can be skewed any way anyone wants. No two educational environments are alike. But I will say this. If you identify a school where the students feel comfortable within the structures and policies, understanding that they work well for everyone, then you're taking away the disruptions that will lead to interference in the learning process.

CHAT PARTICIPANT: Do you punish students if your dress code is violated? And, if so, what is your punishment?

BRUCATO: First of all, I'm not a proponent of any kind of a punishment. I'm not saying this to be "cute," but the way I see any type of disciplinary sanctions and their effectiveness, it's directly related to what the student understands in terms of their expectations. So, I wouldn't talk about punishment. The hierarchy of disciplinary sanctions, whereby dress code violations are concerned involve a warning on the first offense, and the student will be sent home to change their clothing. On a second offense, they'll be given a Saturday school, and will change the clothing. On a third or subsequent offense, we would ask for a parental conference in order to resolve whatever it is that the student finds as a need to continue to cause problems for themselves, and I do see it as that, causing problems for themselves. They're not being singled out as individuals, they're simply being asked to adhere to policy that is good for the total school population.

CHAT PARTICIPANT: Mr. Brucato, would you agree with Nadine Strossen that "with so many disciplinary measures in schools, enforcement of dress codes fall disproportionately on minority students"? She feels dress codes are racist.

BRUCATO: I totally disagree. I find that in being that we're a fairly diverse group, the fewest number of violations occur within our school population that you would consider to be minority. That certainly doesn't hold true here. The abundance of violations are directly related to females and provocative clothing.

CHAT PARTICIPANT: Were the parents involved in the initial decision to go to a dress code? What about staff?

BRUCATO: Yes. As a matter of fact, in our student-parent handbook, there was always a dress code. If you go back to my statement about what is considered to be proper attire, and students should dress and groom themselves with responsibility and respect. That was the code since the beginning of Milford High School. But as this became more of an issue culturally within our society, it was necessary to spell out more clearly what that dress was that didn't show a sense of responsibility and self-respect. The other part of the question is this. We have a school council, as all schools by law in the state of Massachussetts has, which is a body of parents, students in the school, citizens, and faculty. They are a body which endorses all school policy.

The handbook is revised yearly, so the dress code is an example of something that is revised yearly, by need. I had a committee of teachers sit down and write the dress code policy, and then it was brought to the school council for their endorsement and approval. Then the handbook goes to the school board, the elected board of officials that votes on all matters. They have to vote on the school handbook, including the dress code. Then the handbook has to be sent on to the state department of education. So, there's a lot of collaboration between a lot of people. In terms of our dress code, there's a lot of support in our community for it.

CHAT PARTICIPANT: What effects has the dress code had? BRUCATO: I think what it does is it raises a lot of issues for young people, in terms of how they want to represent themselves. So, it will stimulate that kind of dialogue among students, staff and faculty. It will cause students to become more introspective as to how they present themselves. I've had discussions with students and have heard from other faculty members when discussion came up regarding dress that many have never considered the impact it has on other individuals.

A specific... if you look at today's fashion, especially for females, and the way it's cut, and the expense at which it's sold. In a diverse public school, you have a lot of young ladies that, number one, can't afford that clothing, and number two, can't wear it because they don't have the figure for it. The adolescent period, we all agree, is a time where self-esteem is most challenged and developing, and there's a lot of pressure placed on the so-called have-nots, because they have to face this every day. That's just one example. We've had other discussions with students who didn't know they were making faculty members uncomfortable with the way they were exposing themselves with exposed bellies and cleavage, and I can go on and on with examples, but I think that answers the question.

CHAT PARTICIPANT: How comfortable can a student be in their learning environment if they feel radically constrained as to what they can wear?

BRUCATO: First of all, I don't see how it is a matter of radical constraint. My second response to that is, do these same people feel radically constrained in all other settings that they visit? All around the community, the country, the world, wherever they travel, when there's a certain proscribed way to dress. First, I don't see the constraint. And second, why is the school a forum whereby everybody should have carte blanche, where whatever they want, and it doesn't matter how others are affected by that? I don't understand the question, I guess, because I don't see any constraint. I don't see it as an issue. I daresay we're preparing young people for their futures. Is this the tact they'll take with an employer who wants them to present themselves in a certain way? Will they attend, say, a religious service in swimwear? I don't understand where the issue of constraint is, or the infringement upon civil rights, etc.

CNN: Do you have any final thoughts for us today?

BRUCATO: This has become such a big issue nationally, because there's a contest sponsored by clothing manufacturers to see who can best entice young people to expose themselves. This type of self-expression goes against our educational mission, and it's our responsibility as educators to teach young people that we do in fact dress differently on different occasions, and in different settings out of respect for one another. And finally, in the National Association of Secondary School Principals legal memorandum that just came out, they speak clearly that most schools are considered limited open forums, partially open for expressive speech. Meaning that the school may restrict behavior which contradicts its educational mission. And in general, wearing clothing is not considered symbolic speech or expressive conduct, therefore allowing schools to have the ability to regulate student appearance.

CNN: Thank you for joining us today, John Brucato.

BRUCATO: It was a pleasure, and I respect everybody's point of view. I want you to understand I do what's in the best interest of our school and community, and you have to believe that there are a lot of people involved in our reform process. These things are well-thought through, and in the best interest of all. We're proud of our diversity, and proud that we're looking out for the best interest of all of our 1200 students. Thank you.

John Brucato joined CNN.com Newsroom via telephone from Massachusetts. CNN provided a typist for him. The above is an edited transcript of the interview on Tuesday, August 28, 2001.