FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas – A Fort Bend County administrator's comments about a high school dress code have angered students and parents.
The school administrator made the controversial comments during a recent assembly in a Clements High School auditorium filled with upperclassmen.
“Ladies, I know you've been working on your abs since the Olympics, right? But your shirts can't be up here. It's gotta cover the whole gut. Ladies, I blame you all for boys' low grades because of tight clothing,” the administrator said, according to audio from theodysseyonline.com.
Fort Bend ISD called it a failed attempt at humor. Many male and female students weren’t laughing. Some were outraged and offended by his statements.
“Like we should be able to wear leggings without feeling like it’s a problem because guys will be staring at us and that's just how we felt,” Quean Foster said.
“We get the humor he was trying to do, but at the same time I feel like it was inappropriate as he was talking down to students," said Sahil Swapenesh.
Gwynn Barber has two grandsons at the school, and while she understands the administrator was trying to be funny, she is not amused.
“The girls are not at fault. Now, I agree that they don't need their shirts showing their little bellies. I don't approve of that either. They need to be appropriately dressed,” Barber said.
“I guess you know he's trying to address a real problem, the kids grades and what they are doing in school, but I think it's more of an issue of lack of parenting,” Brad Pitre said.
A Fort Bend ISD spokesperson offered a statement:
“These comments should not have been made, and do not represent the beliefs of Fort Bend ISD or the Clements administrative team or faculty. We have high expectations for both students and staff. Our goal is to provide a safe, positive learning environment where all students feel supported and valued.”
