The father named Tony Alarcon was surprised when he checked his phone and saw that his daughter’s school was trying to contact him. The man was told that he needed to get his child to her school. At first, Tony thought that there was some misunderstanding between him and the school personnel. The father was troubled about what happened. Tony knew that he needed to do something for his daughter.
A Normal Day
Like other worried parents, Tony Alarcon had decided to drop his daughter named Demetra, at her school. It was a hot morning, that the temperature outside was almost 90 degrees. The father let her daughter wear an article of clothing that would make her child feel comfy even under this terrible heat.
A Normal Day
No School Uniform
Demetra was studying at Raymond J. Fisher Middle School. The school that she was attending did not have a strict rule about the uniform. Students wore their preferred or comfortable clothing while they had a lesson. However, The students needed to follow some dress code to make them look decent inside the premises.
No School Uniform
Protective Dad
Real estate agent and a famous investment banker were Tony’s job. The father was an expert when it was about communicating with people. He would try to convince individuals of his beliefs or what was right for him. Tony was also a protective father. The man was always worried about Demetra, his daughter.
Protective Dad
Embarrassed
At the time Demetra studied at her school, her teacher asked her to stand in front where everyone could see her. Demetra did not experience this in her entire life. The girl was upset at that moment. Demetra desired to return to her seat and looked down because of embarrassment. Tony’s daughter was in disbelief about what her teacher did to her.
Embarrassed
Inappropriate Outfit
Demetra could not think of any reason what was improper in her outfit. The girl chose to wear clothing that was comfortable in an awful temperature. However, Demetra did not consider her blue romper was an inappropriate outfit. Tony even allowed her daughter to wear that kind of clothing. The father did not think that there was something wrong with his daughter’s clothes.
Inappropriate Outfit
A Huge Clash
Demetra did not want to wear something that would not follow their dress code. The girl only desired to have comfy clothes that would prevent her from sweating and overheating. However, Demetra did not expect that her father and the school were quarreling because of her clothes.
A Huge Clash
Such A Fuss
Later, everybody inside the school knew that the teacher had called Demetra because of the improper outfit. However, it was not only the people inside the school who knew what happened to the girl. Local news outlet started to produce an article and news about the incident. At that time, everyone wanted to know what Demetra wore in their class that became a big commotion.
Such A Fuss
Unforeseen Outcome
Demetra did not expect a problem because she wore her romper when she went to school. The girl only wore that kind of clothing because of the heat in Los Gatos, California. Demetra was shocked when it became known by everybody around her. It was even featured in the news.
Unforeseen Outcome
Unnecessary Humiliation
Demetra thought that it would be an everyday life during the dreadful heat. However, the girl was called out at her first calls early in the morning. The teacher tried to embarrass Demetra in front of the class because of her clothes. The teacher said that Demetra’s clothing was not proper inside the school’s premises.
Unnecessary Humiliation
Principal Gets Involved
After being embarrassed by the teacher, Demetra was sent to the principal’s office to be checked. After they had seen the clothes that Demetra was wearing, they decided to contact her father. The school personnel had said to Tony that they wanted him to come over to his daughter’s school. However, the teacher had made a mistake by calling Demetra’s father.
Principal Gets Involved
A Choice To Be Made
The principal of the school told Tony that the clothes his child was wearing were improper. The father was given two choices. First, Tony could get other clothing that would follow the dress code. The second was to fetch his daughter. The man could not accept what the principal had said.
A Choice To Be Made
Playing Along
Tony had calmed down and said to the principal that he would get other clothes for his daughter to wear. The father started looking for an item of proper clothing that would follow the school dress code. The man took a denim short and tank top and put it inside the car. After that, Tony immediately drove towards his daughter’s school.
Playing Along
The Battle Is On
Demetra got the clothing that her father brought. The girl walked towards the private room and did change her attire. The father and principal were waiting for Demetra to come into the office. After the girl returned into the office, the principal told them that they could not accept what Demetra was wearing. The girl was wearing clothes that were covering her body. It was the time that Tony became furious.
The Battle Is On
The Problem
Tony was enraged at that moment. The father asked the principal what was wrong with his daughter’s attire. Tony thought that he brought an article of proper clothing because his daughter’s body that needed to be concealed was covered. Tony felt that they followed the dress code. Being a parent, Tony knew if that kind of clothing were improper to wear inside the school. The man wanted to get the answer from the principal.
The Problem
Protecting His Daughter
There might be a problem that Tony did not recognize. However, the father did not know what was inappropriate to his daughter’s clothing. Tony wanted to see the answer that came directly to the principal. The man did not give up until he knew that truth. Tony had a hunch why Demetra was being embarrassed by the teacher, but he thought that this school was fair to its students.
Protecting His Daughter
He Wasn’t Satisfied
The principal said to Tony that everything was proper when it was about covering the parts that needed to be covered. The only problem was her attire was too short to wear inside a class. The principal added that it did not pass “the fingertip test.” it was the reason why his daughter could not wear that kind of outfit. Tony could not accept what the principal had told him.
He Wasn’t Satisfied
Even Angrier
After perceived what the principal had said, Tony became upset. The father thought that the principal was only telling some excuses. Before Tony arrived at the principal’s office, the man saw girl students who had the same attire as his daughter. Tony knew that there was a reason behind why his child was treated that way.
Even Angrier
The Fingertip Test
If you did not know about the “fingertip test,” it was about to see if the clothes for girls had the appropriate length. The student would position their hands straight at their side. If their arms were longer, those clothing were not acceptable inside the school premises. Demetra’s hands were longer than her pants. Tony could not believe it, and the father could not accept their reason.
The Fingertip Test
The Truth
After the principal and the father were having a debate about Demetra’s clothing, the principal suddenly told the truth. The reason why his daughter caught the attention of the teacher was because of the boys in her classroom. After the father heard what the principal had said, Tony was in disbelief. The man did not expect the real reason why they wanted his daughter to change her clothing.
The Truth
Regret
After the principal realized Tony’s response, the principal knew he had made a mistake. This time, Tony could not accept the reason why his daughter was being treated that way. The principal knew that he made a terrible mistake. At that time, Tony learned the reason his daughter was being called and sent to the principal’s office.
Regret
Disbelief
Tony sat in front of the principal while he was talking to him, but the father was in disbelief. The man did not expect that was the reason why his daughter could not wear that kind of attire. The boys were bothered by what her daughter wore, and she was humiliated because of that. Both the principal and her teacher had punished her. Tony was prepared to defend his daughter.
Disbelief3
Using Resources
After looking at his daughter, that was keeping her tears from falling. Tony knew that he needed to do something about the circumstance. The father knew that what the principal said had offended his child. This time Tony would not let it slide because they did something terrible to his daughter.
Using Resources
Last Choice
After the argument, the principal gave another two choices. First was to put sweatpants to hide his daughter’s leg, or Demetra would not be allowed to go back to her class. After the man knew the reason why his child was being treated that way, Tony knew that it was not fair. The man was thinking about how he would handle the situation.
Last Choice
Unfair Discrimination
Demetra began to tell her side about the circumstance. The girl tried to know about the discrimination in the dress code. Those rules were only strictly applied to the students who were girls. Inside the premises, where no hat policy was used, but those boys who wore a hat did not get punished or warned. The school only scolded girls.
Unfair Discrimination
Many Others
Tony tried to remain calm. However, after he thought the circumstance, the more he became furious. The father said to the principal that several students wore similar clothing. Tony did not know why his child was the only punished because of their dress code. Those girls who he saw earlier did not even get a warning.
Many Others
Unrealistic Rules
It was impractical that the girls would wear sweat or long pants in this terrible heat. Only because the boys would look at those girls who had that kind of outfit would not stop them from wearing one. In this dreadful heat, lighter and shorter would be more comfortable than those long and clothing. If the young boys were bothered by this kind of attire, girls should not be blamed.
Unrealistic Rules
Students Agreed
After the conversation with the principal, Tony tried to question Demetra’s friends. The father wanted to know about their opinion on the dress code of their school. His daughter’s friend approved that there was discrimination in the dress code. They agreed that they should not wear uneasy clothing because the boys were distracted. This circumstance was not fair.
Students Agreed
Involving The Media
After questioning Demetra’s friend, the next thing that Tony did was to call the media. The father was furious for several different reasons. The man spread the news that this kind of dress code made his daughter weep. It also made Demetra’s friend suffer. The man tried to communicate with Today and other local news.
Involving The Media
Parents’ Decision
After the media communicated with Tony, they wanted to ask his opinion about the dress code. The father honestly told them the answer in his mind. Every parent had the same idea as him. For Tony, the school did not have the right to decide if the clothes of their child were the right one to wear. If the parents approved of what their child wore, then it was acceptable.
Parents’ Decision
Proposal
Tony had returned to the school with an offer. The father desired some alteration in the dress code of their school. According to Tony, the school should consider that the underwear should not be visible. Their tummy should be concealed and should not wear shirts and spaghetti straps. It was not the only problem with his current situation.
Proposal
Bigger Issue
Almost all of the parents agreed to his proposal, but others disapproved. It was confirmed that the girls were strictly observed by the school personnel to follow the dress code. Some of those people believed that having the freedom to choose anything they could wear would end up into chaos.
Bigger Issue
The Accusations
After Tony told his plan to the personnel of the school, they explained to him that the dress code was a guide to be followed by the students. The school wanted to have a “reasonable decorum” with their students. It might not be the first time that the school encountered this problem, but we expect that this would last time it would happen.
The Accusations
More Cases
Demetra was not the only teen who had faced this kind of problem. Another girl named Clare had encountered a problem with her dress code. The girl was 17 years old. The girl had experienced the issue when she would go to the prom. The teenager was called out in the group of many people because of her attire. Claire was also told what the school thought about her dress.
More Cases
The Perfect Dress
Clare, together with her boyfriend, expected fun and excellent prom night. Everything was ready about the prom. They had bought their tickets early and had found the ideal dress for Clare to wear that night. The dress was silver and sparkling. The girl thought that no one could destroy her night.
The Perfect Dress
The Dreaded Fingertip Test
After Clare had seen the perfect dress for her prom, the girls checked the price. Clare was thrilled when she had the budget to buy the dress. However, the student knew that this kind of clothing would undergo the fingertip test. The girl tried to position her arm beside her and hoped that it had a proper length to be worn.
The Dreaded Fingertip Test
Prom Dress Code
Clare knew the importance of the fingertip length that would be observed in the prom night, and as she tried that, she recognized that it had the appropriate size. It was the best thing that happened to her on that day. Clare had bought the dress that she wanted. However, the girl did not expect it would give her a problem.
Prom Dress Code
It Was Time
It was the time that they attended the prom. Clare could not hide her joy wearing her desired dress. However, that night she had tried to do the fingertip test again. However, Clare had recognized that her dress was now shorter that leads to failing the fingertip test. Clare was prepared to attend the prom, but the girl did not know what she would do about her dress.
It Was Time
Being Cautious
Clare tried to wear her heels and attire to see how she would look, but the girl did not expect that her dress only reached at the end of her fingertips. Clare was worried that her dress would go up when she was dancing. The girl might get the attention of his teacher.
Being Cautious
Confronted
After Clare came into the Methodist church, the location of their the prom, a person had approached her and told that her dress was not appropriate in the event. Clare tried to fingertips test it before she went inside, but a person still stopped her and dragged her at the side. That person asked Clare to say what was the rule in the prom.
Confronted
Looks Can Be Deceiving
Ann Duncan, the organizer, said to Clare that she needed to obey the rules that were implemented. The organizer also told the girl that she needed to follow the fingertip rule. Clare tried to reason out with the organizer that her dress was longer than her fingertip and her long were longer. It was the reason why her dress appeared to have a shorter perception of the people around her.
Looks Can Be Deceiving
Wouldn’t Budge
After Clare explained, Ann still said that her dress was still short to be worn appropriately in the prom. However, after Clare let the organizer see her dress was longer than her dress when she did another fingertip test. The organizer did not have any choice, but let her in. However, it was not over for Clare.
Wouldn’t Budge
Inconsistent Rules
After Clare got inside where the prom was taking place, The girl realized that there were girls who had worn a short dress. Some of those dresses were shorter than her. Clare could not do anything but to laugh it off. The girl had got an unfair treatment that night. Clare tried to enjoy her night despite what happened, but later she realized something above.
Inconsistent Rules
Inappropriate Staring
Clare, together with her friends, recognized at that night that there were more chaperones. Last year, there were only a few chaperones who attended. However, on that night, most of the chaperons were the fathers of students. Those chaperones were staring down at them while the girls were walking inside the room. It was the moment that the girls were uncomfortable.
Inappropriate Staring
Uneasy Feeling
It was noticeable that the girls were not conscious about the surrounding and several parents watched and observed their child throughout the night. Those students knew why their parents were at the prom night. Those parents tried to ensure that the dress code was applied correctly. Those parents tried to check the dresses that the girls wore.
Uneasy Feeling
Getting Called Again
After Clare joined in the dance, Ann approached her again. The organizer grabbed Clare’s arm and pulled her off the dance floor. Ann said to Claire that her dress was too improper for most of the fathers inside the prom night. Those dads thought that after their son danced with her, those boys would think dirty things.
Getting Called Again
Unacceptable
It was unacceptable for a girl to tell them about the outfit and their dancing that boys would have dirty thoughts. Clare had felt furious and uneasy about the circumstance. The girl knew that her dress and action would not be the reason why their son would think dirty things.
Unacceptable
Enough Is Enough
Clare began to talk back to Ann and told her that she was not yet dancing. Her friends also supported what she had done. Again, Clare showed the organizer that her dress was longer than her fingertips. The girl wanted to tell Ann that she had met the appropriate dress code. However, Ann did not stop there until Clare’s boyfriend had intervened.
Enough Is Enough
A United Front
Clare’s boyfriend disagreed with the organizer. He said to Ann that if she wanted to make Clare leave the place, Clare’s friend would also follow her. The boyfriend also added that, if those girls left the prom night, they would request for a refund.
A United Front
Not Enough
Clare was troubled and ashamed after she had refunded the ticket that she had bought. Clare would not forget this terrible night. The girl knew to herself that she did not make any mistake. Clare’s boyfriend, James, tried to talk to the person who was in charge of the prom. Ms. Duncan became furious because of what James did. That moment, Ms. Duncan called for an additional chaperone.
Not Enough
Escorted Out
Clare was excited to attend the prom before it happened. However, that night only left her a terrible memory that happened to her teenage years. Clare and her friends were guided to go to the place. The reason why Clare was kicked out was because she wore the dress that would make her look beautiful among the crowd.
Escorted Out