Student Dress Codes and the First Amendment

Reviews / Votes

Fossey and DeMitchell effectively and conclusively enlighten professors, school administrators, educational scholars, researchers, and graduate students of school administration on the challenges, complexity, and controversy regarding student expression and their choice of clothing. The authors have created a resource guide book that carefully examines the problems that confront school administrators who are responsible for honoring the constitutional rights of students regarding dress while simultaneously ensuring a safe, orderly, positive, and constructive learning environment for all students. The legal authority for managing these challenges is discussed in extensive detail, as well as the implications for dress code policy and implementation. The balance among students' First Amendment rights, school administrator responsibilities, and all students' rights to learn are carefully discussed. This is a must read for anyone desiring detailed knowledge of matters pertaining to student dress, school law, First Amendment rights, and the rights of all students to learn in an orderly environment. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. * Choice Reviews * This book provides an invaluable resource for all practicing school administrators and students of educational leadership and the law. The role of freedom of expression in the rights of students has reached a new level of complexity. It requires a complete and thorough analysis which has been provided by the authors with expert precision. While it is legally accurate, it is completely usable to anyone interested in the field of students' rights. -- Lawrence F. Rossow, professor emeritus of law and education, the University of Oklahoma This book is a complete guide to understanding student dress and the First Amendment. Educational leaders and legal scholars will agree that the thorough legal analysis and thoughtful dialogue by Fossey and DeMitchell provides readers with a deep understanding of this comprehensive societal issue. Student Dress Codes and the First Amendment: Legal Challenges and Policy Issues will prove invaluable to assisting educational leaders develop policy and procedures to manage these issues. A must-read for all educational leaders and legal scholars. -- Laura H. Nelson, M.Ed., CAGS, J.D., superintendent of schools, Derry Cooperative School District, Derry, New Hampshire School administrators constantly must balance their ever-present duty to maintain an orderly learning environment against their students' individual rights. One area that presents a unique challenge in this regard concerns student dress codes. Fossey and DeMitchell's well-written book provides administrators with the knowledge needed to properly maintain that balance. It is a must-read for all principals and other school administrators. -- Allan Osborne, principal (Retired), Snug Harbor Community School, Quincy, MA The legal boundaries of student expression and dress codes continue to be challenged in U.S. public schools. Recent litigation involving anti-abortion, Confederate flag and anti-gay t-shirts, gang-affiliated attire, and cancer awareness bracelets provide some guidance to school personnel but many of the court opinions are in conflict. DeMitchell and Fossey's book takes these legally complex student expression matters and presents them in an accessible format. Additionally, there are several helpful suggestions for lawyers and school personnel about drafting student dress codes. The book is comprehensive and well written. It should be on the shelf of every school administrator in the country. -- Suzanne Eckes, JD, PhD, Susan S. Engeleiter Professor of Education Law, Policy and Practice, Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Former President, Education Law Association