At the Catasauqua Area School Board meeting Aug. 14, Justina Beck, the mother of a third- and fifth-grader, raised concerns about the dress code at Catasauqua Middle School.

According to Beck, many of the parents were displeased with the inconsistencies and double standards they perceived in the dress code. She raised a plea for a common-sense dress code at the middle school.

“As parents and guardians, we will not stand by as girls are pulled out of instructional time as they may possibly distract a boy or a teacher. We want a common-sense dress code and to stop public shaming,” Beck announced to the board.

She offered an alternative dress code that she and other parents put together. This was given to the board and CMS Principal Melissa Inselmann.

These parents felt the young girls were being told they are a distraction for boys in class and say this is the wrong way to approach a dress code.

She said it’s time to empower girls and to teach boys restraint.

“Allow boys to exercise restraint and learn that girls are no longer objects to ogle,” Beck said.

“We need to teach the boys to be respectful and not to be distracted. We shouldn’t take the girls away because the boys can’t focus,” said Karen DeLabar, the mother of two girls and one boy.

The parents felt their daughters were being shamed. They did not like having their children called out and sent to the office simply because of their choice of clothing.

“It seems OK to send a girl to the principal’s office and tell her that her body is something to hide and be ashamed of,” Beck said.

“My kid is there to learn. Her shoulders aren’t going to distract from learning,” said DeLabar.

Amy Ahart, the mother of a seventh-grader, stood up to read a statement her daughter and a friend prepared for the board. These girls described how unfair it felt that they were held to different standards and rules than the boys.

“It makes boys and girls feel insecure about themselves,” said Ahart, reading from the statement from the girls.

One of the examples given involved a boy being complimented on his tank top and a girl being scolded for wearing a similar shirt.

“I don’t want my son to see a girl being taken out of class because her shoulders are showing. That is telling him that he has the right to shame someone for what they’re wearing,” DeLabar explained.

DeLabar mentioned first she had a lot of trouble finding the dress code on the website, and then the inconsistencies she found made back-to-school shopping difficult for her.

The parents said they wanted more clarification about some of the points. One example was the dress code mentioned students cannot wear tight-fitted clothing, but skinny jeans are acceptable.

DeLabar also mentioned one teacher may send the student to the office and another may find the outfit appropriate.

A parent said she even noticed many of the teachers wearing more revealing clothing, adding they should consider that more of a distraction for the boys.

Another parent mentioned her daughter asked not to go to CMS because of problems with the dress code.

Beck mentioned there are additional financial stresses put on parents when they have to buy completely new wardrobes.

The parents made it clear they understand the need for a dress code and why there are rules.

“There has to be a way we can work together,” DeLabar said.

Board President Carol Cunningham and Superintendent Robert Spengler thanked the parents for bringing their concerns to the attention of the board.

Cunningham stressed while the board needed to approve the school’s handbook, that does not mean that it cannot be adjusted and changed. It was suggested this matter be addressed at a Parent Teacher Forum (PTF) at the school with Inselmann.

“Of course, we can do a review. There’s nothing that says we can’t do a review,” Inselmann said.

Spengler also brought up the question as to whether the issue of uniforms should be readdressed.

DeLabar mentioned that uniforms, while a valid option and something to look into, may not completely solve the problem. According to her, the problem stems more from perception than from the articles of clothing themselves. She mentioned many of the same problems will still exist with uniforms, and it’s more a fundamental change in thought that needs to occur.

“Oh, he’s distracted? Take the girl away. That’s the issue. The problem isn’t the clothing in particular. It’s how we address it, how these girls are being made to feel and what these boys are getting away with,” DeLabar said.

The parents agreed to meet at the PTF meeting to discuss this matter more fully.