A Texas middle school has banned head-to-toe black clothing as students are poised to return to the classroom in the coming days.
Leaders at the El Paso school claim they made the decision because dressing in all black is associated with depression and mental health.
However, parents are already pushing back and claiming the school is misdirected.
The new dress code at Charles Middle School was unveiled to parents, in a letter informing them of the guidelines effective on Monday, the first day of school.
‘We are also eliminating a look that has taken over on campus with students wearing black tops with black bottoms, which has become more associated with depression and mental health issues and/or criminality than with happy and healthy kids ready to learn,’ Principal Nicholas DeSantis announced, according to the local Fox station.
He added that the decision had been made by parents, teachers and community stakeholders.
Norma De La Rosa, the president of El Paso Teachers Association explained black garments would still be allowed, so long as the student didn’t wore other colors as well.
‘What they are not allowing for students to wear clothing that is black from top to bottom,’ De La Rosa told the local station.
‘They can wear black shorts to go to PE. And they can wear it on free dress day, but they just cannot wear it from top to bottom.’
It’s unclear whether the school was targeting a specific type of group, such as emo kids, who are known to dress in all black and even sport black make-up or following the lead of many school nationwide who have banned all-black due to its affiliation with school shooters.
Columbine Shooters Eric Harris, Left, And Dylan Klebold Appear On A Surveillance Tape In The Cafeteria At Columbine High Schoolin 1999
Charles Middle School banned head-to-toe black clothing in its new dress code
After the 1999 Columbine mass shooting in Colorado, lead by two students who were known to dress in black and wear trench coats every day, schools across the country banned all-black dressing, according to the Atlantic.
The school also prohibited sweatshirts with hoods and pockets in order to eliminate ‘opportunities for students to hide, use, and distribute items that they should not have in school.’
However, criticism for the dress code was harsh.
‘Wow, this middle school cured depression in adolescents. Cheers to them,’ quipped @pjcastellanos on a local social media Instagram account.
‘You can be depressed in a pink of rainbow outfit,’ added @arelyhepburn.
Another told of how dressing in all-black in his youth actually helped him.
‘As an elder emo I wore black to make me feel comfortable and it helped me with mental illness,’ @notyourbaaby shared.
Rosas responded to the backlash by acknowledging banning a color wasn’t going to cure mental illness, but encouraged parents to familiarize themselves with the new dress code.
