It's not what you're thinking, mothers of tween and teen girls.
I'm talking about the t-shirts with sayings on them. The ones that proclaim, "Cute how you think I'm listening" or "Don't give me any attitude; I have plenty of my own!" Think seriously about the kids wearing these fashion "statements."
The child with major attitude problems, the one who misbehaves more often than not, does not need to wear "I have issues" or "Be glad you're not my parents" plastered across his chest. The poster child for the IEP box that says Behavior impedes child's learning or that of others should not arrive at school sporting "Selective Listener" on his sweatshirt.
Be logical. Imagine walking into a meeting with your boss and flashing a designer tee that says, "I see your lips moving but all I hear is blah, blah, blah, blah, blah." Just how would that be perceived?
When I taught the fashionistas of 6th grade, the dress code technique called for turning offensive shirts inside out. If the student wore the same shirt again, s/he would have to call parents for an alternative or wear a "spare" from the office stock. This applied to shirts with alcohol or drug references, offensive language, or other obvious idiocies. The clueless sayings, however, are a gray area. Maybe they're funny when an honor student wears them; maybe not. In my classes, I see them more often on the kids who exhibit the very problems silkscreened on their wardrobes. When I'm issuing a detention to a kid for disrespect, I don't want to look at her and see the little rabbit quoting "Lalalalalala I can't hear you!"
After a certain point, our teens and 20-somethings choose and buy their own clothes. Until then, we are parents; hear us roar! Hear our wallets and our logic and sensibilities. Don't make your kids stand out for the wrong reason. If they're under your roof, living on your budget, you still have some semblance of control. Use it.
Daisy, I couldn't agree with you more! And I've said no to any pants/shorts/sweats with anything written on the butt. So far I'm winning that one....we'll see how it goes.
Posted by: Rowan | January 22, 2009 at 08:44 AM
hear hear!!!!!
Posted by: the planet of janet | January 22, 2009 at 09:47 AM
I don't know how many times I've seen those shirts and asked myself, "what were the parents thinking?" Yes, indeed it is the parents fault. Kids don't have the money for wardrobe choices, parents do.
Right up until my daughter went to college, we still had to meet in some kind of middle ground on certain clothing options. It says alot about how you raise your kids, when you allow that kind of degradation on their shirts. (Hugs)Indigo
Posted by: Indigo | January 22, 2009 at 10:04 AM
And a hearty AMEN from the peanut gallery!
Posted by: Katy | January 22, 2009 at 10:24 AM
Thanks for the encouragement! You'll talk to the parents of my students now, right? :)
Posted by: Daisy | January 22, 2009 at 07:56 PM
I heartily agree. Why on earth would we encourage, even tacitly, the very attitudes and behaviours that drive us mad?
However, while it may be true that kids don't have money to buy their own clothes, it is not so often true of teens, who are quite likely to have a part-time job. In that case, a parent often sees a child wearing something they had no hand in choosing at all. I've used that "job application" scenario to explain why certain slogans are just not appropriate.
My daughters (more socially aware) get it better than my son (an honour student who only sees the humour and not the disrespect). Thankfully, he's outgrown this particular fashion. No more slogans on his chest!
Thank goodness.
Posted by: Ilona | January 23, 2009 at 06:42 AM