Texas school bans all-black clothing, cites mental health concerns

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) - An El Paso middle school is banning students from wearing all-black clothing due to it being associated with mental health issues.

A letter sent to parents by Charles Middle School principal Nick DeSantis stated that the clothing is "associated with depression and mental health issues."

"What they are not allowing for students to wear clothing that is black from top to bottom," explained Norma De La Rosa, the president of El Paso Teachers Association. “They can wear black shorts to go to PE. And they can wear it on free dress day, but they just cannot wear it from top to bottom."

According to De La Rosa, the reason for the policy is that teachers see a sudden change in students going from dressing with color to all black, when they are depressed or stressed.

However, parents have taken to comment online stating that they disagree with the new policy, and that color doesn't define a person's mental state.

Alex Lucero commented on a poll about this dress code stating, “The color of clothing has nothing to do with your ability to do anything or feel any emotion."

Another comment by Peter Benecke Jr. says, “Wearing black is not a mental health issue, it’s the way of life.”

Alexis Contreras commented, “...making students wear a different color isn’t going to magically make them a completely different person.”

KFOX14 asked the El Paso Independent School District, which created the new policy, and it issued a statement saying:

Charles Middle School is updating its uniform policy to enhance students' well-being and sense of pride. This decision, carefully considered and approved by the Campus Improvement Team—comprising parents, faculty, staff, and community stakeholders—aims to foster a positive self-image among students and more effectively showcase the school’s colors and pride. The dress code changes were a response to concerns and recommendations brought forward by the stakeholders of Charles Middle School. The school appreciates the community's feedback and collaboration in making these changes.

Schools in EPISD are allowed to create their dress code. EPISD began its school year on Monday.

DeSantis composed a full letter and clarified dress code policy:

We have put a great deal of time and effort into adjusting our dress code policies based on feedback from families, faculty, staff, and community stakeholders. Our goal with dress code, as well as everything else we do, is to provide a safe environment that inspires and empowers all Chargers to thrive. As such, we are removing opportunities for students to hide, use, and distribute items that they should not have in school by eliminating sweatshirts with hoods and pockets. We are also eliminating a look that has taken over on campus with students wearing black tops with black bottoms, which has become more associated with depression and mental health issues and/or criminality than with happy and healthy kids ready to learn. Simultaneously, we also attempted to design a dress code that would be as economical as possible for families. Therefore, we are excited to introduce the dress code for the upcoming school year:

Shoes: Must be athletic or uniform style with a closed toe. No sandals, crocs, slippers, slides or flip-flops.

Socks: Solid color in white, grey, or black.

Bottoms: Khakis or blue jeans. No rips, tears, distressing, cargo pockets, extra pockets, or hidden pockets. Bottoms must be worn at the waist and length must be at the fingertips or beyond when the arm is fully extended.

Tops: Hunter green or black polo with a collar in a plain style or with a Charles logo.

Sweaters: Hunter green or black crew neck sweatshirts in a plain style or with a Charles logo. No pockets. No hoods.

Winter Coats: Any color/design, but must be taken off and put away while inside the building. If worn while outside during the school day, must be free of profanity, images of or promoting illegal drugs/paraphernalia, or explicit images or content.

Physical Education: Plain, solid-colored t-shirts (no collar) in grey, gold, or black. Plain, solid-colored shorts, leggings, joggers, or sweatpants in grey, gold, or black worn at the waist and with a length at the fingertips or beyond when the arm is fully extended. Students change into PE clothes during PE, but MUST change back into uniform after class.

No hats, beanies, or sunglasses in the buildings.

Hoodies, or other forms of winter coats, must be off while in the buildings.

No body piercings except ears. No gauges.

No tanks, spaghetti straps, crop-tops, midriff, ripped tops, or any tops that leave portions of the torso exposed.

All clothing must be free from profanity, illegal drugs/paraphernalia, or explicit images or content.

No sandals, crocs, slippers, slides, flip-flops, or open-toed footwear.

No bottoms with rips, tears, distressing, cargo pockets, extra pockets, or hidden pockets. Bottoms must be worn at the waist and length must be at the fingertips or beyond when the arm is fully extended.

No electronic devices of any kind are to be worn or used in the buildings.

Free Dress: Clothing of any color, style, or type that is not expressly prohibited in the “Never Acceptable Items” section.