GATEWAY, Fla. — If your student is going to Gateway High School this fall, they might need some new clothes.
The school is changing its dress code, banning shorts entirely. They mailed a letter to parents who have students attending the school. It stated that students must wear pants or skirts that are at knee length or below.
A spokesperson for the Lee County School District said, “Too many students were violating the school’s dress code last year requiring shorts must be at the knee and taking valuable time away from the classroom. The change is not unusual nor unprecedented as Fort Myers High School has not allowed shorts since the 1990’s.”
Parents of kids who go to Gateway High School said they disapprove of the new rules.
Nitza Morales’s son will be attending the school this year. She said she was shocked to receive the letter in the mail.
Morales said she immediately texted her son.
“He’s like, ‘mom there’s no way I’m gonna wear long pants’. And I’m like, ‘you have to’ and he’s like, ‘I can’t I not’. I’m like, ‘then you’re gonna have to go to a different school’!” Morales said.
She said she feels like the rule is wrong so she created a petition.
“I was nervous about doing it but I think it needs to be addressed because kids should be allowed to wear shorts to school. If girls can wear skirts then why can’t boys wear their shorts?” Morales said. “There’s kids that have autism and sensory issues and stuff so that’s all they wear is shorts so to do this to them…I don’t think it’s fair.”
She hopes the school will reconsider its new dress code policy.
Oak Newbury said it’s way too hot for his son to wear shorts in the Florida heat. He gave his son permission to wear a skirt to school this fall since shorts aren’t allowed.
“I gave him permission to wear a skirt, I don’t know if he will or not but that’s up to him,” Newbury said.
He said he thinks it’s crazy that girls can wear skirts to school but boys aren’t allowed to wear shorts.
“I chose the school because of the dress code that gives the students more individuality. It’s just ridiculous and the hypocrisy and the sexism is just strong with it,” Newbury said.
Tim Schultz is also worried about his child and others. He said wearing pants in this Florida heat could cause problems.
“Being down here from Florida, students who are either walking to school to riding the bus have long walks to the bus stop — it can be unbearable for a lot of them. Perspiration is a real thing and it can cause rashes so students who are wearing pants consistently, especially in the heat…that can cause some problems,” he said.
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