With summer on the horizon, the scrutiny of school dress codes—particularly those targeting young girls—has intensified. However, one mother is taking a stand. After her daughter faced consequences for wearing shorts deemed inappropriate, she penned a creative letter to the school principal, suggesting they go shopping together instead.
Jessica Thompson’s 13-year-old daughter, who stands at 5’7″, received a note from her middle school for two consecutive days regarding her shorts, which were labeled inappropriate because they fell just above her fingertips. “Finding fashionable shorts that meet the dress code is nearly impossible,” Jessica expressed in her Instagram post, accompanied by photos of the shorts in question. “She’s tall, and one more dress code violation might land her in detention.”
As a licensed therapist and author, Jessica took to her website to share her open letter to the principal, which she also posted on the community blog at Make a Mom. The letter outlines the challenges of shopping for a tall girl and humorously extends an invitation to the principal to join her daughter on a shopping trip.
“Thank you for sending home yet another note indicating that my daughter’s outfit was inappropriate,” Jessica wrote. “I also appreciate your concern for her well-being, as evidenced by the large mesh shorts she was required to wear, which I can only imagine have seen better days.”
The mom then humorously challenged the principal, detailing her daughter’s unique specifications. “Good luck finding something that fits her!” she quipped. Jessica described her daughter as having long legs and arms and noted her specific style preferences: no logos, and a fondness for superhero shirts.
She also pointed out the awkwardness of the ubiquitous fingertip test, which seems to make finding suitable shorts nearly impossible. “Her long fingers complicate the search,” she noted, adding that the principal should be prepared for an extensive shopping endeavor.
Jessica concluded her letter with a reasonable request for budget-friendly options, reminding the principal that her daughter is still growing. However, the most impactful part of her letter came in the postscript. “Thanks for reinforcing the notion that my daughter’s body is a distraction,” she wrote sarcastically. “I appreciate your efforts in making sure she understands that.”
Despite the situation, Jessica reassured that her daughter was handling the reprimands well but was struggling with daily outfit choices and avoiding the principal. She encourages other parents to advocate for their children against outdated and sexist dress codes. “Girls aren’t objects. Their bodies shouldn’t be distractions.”
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In summary, Jessica Thompson’s bold letter highlights the absurdities of school dress codes while advocating for her daughter’s right to express herself through fashion. By inviting the principal to join in the shopping experience, she cleverly underscores the difficulties tall girls face in finding appropriate attire.