JerryBellune@yahoo.com

Parents, when your kids go to school next week, please dress them appropriately.

Nationally, some progressive districts’ new dress codes allow halter tops, leggings, ripped jeans, short shorts, tube tops, pajamas, hats, hoodies and attire showing cleavage.

Not in Lexington County.

The dress code in some county districts such as Lexington 1 in Gilbert, Lexington and Pelion leave a lot to parents’ common sense.

The code posted on the district’s web site reads simply: “Parents/Legal guardians have the right to determine how the student will dress providing that such attire is not destructive to school property, complies with requirements for health and safety and does not interfere with or disrupt the educational process.”

The District 5 code in Ballentine, Chapin and Irmo is more specific. It reads:

“Clothing and/or hair should not be so extreme or inappropriate to the school as to disrupt the educational process. Therefore, clothing deemed distracting, revealing, overly suggestive or otherwise disruptive will not be permitted. This includes bare midriffs, halter/tank tops, see-through shirts, tops or blouses and bike shorts.

“No vulgar, obscene or otherwise inappropriate symbols, language or wording will be permitted on clothing or accessories.

“Clothing or accessories

(i.e. bookbags, jewelry, hats, etc.) that display alcohol, tobacco or other drug symbols are not permitted.

“Gang attire, gang colors or gang symbols are also not permitted to be worn or displayed on accessories.

“Hats, head stockings or kerchiefs may only be worn during the school day for special occasions when approved by the principal.

“Proper shoes must be worn at all times. Special dress or costume may be worn during the school day for special occasions when approved by the principal.

“Wearing accessories or clothing that could pose a safety threat to one’s self or others is not allowed. This includes heavy chains, not made as jewelry; fishhooks, multiple-finger rings, studded bracelets or collars; nose/lip to ear chains, etc. Unusual body piercing that is disruptive to the order of the school or is a distraction to the learning environment will not be allowed. Pants must be worn at the natural waistline and undergarments are not to be visible.”

The policy also states that individual schools may have more restrictive dress codes.

Northside Christian Academy in Lexington requires its students to attend classes in school uniforms.

Other private schools have not responded to questions about dress codes.

For answers to questions about what may or may not be appropriate for your child, please check with your district or school office.