An Open Letter Concerning the Texas School Black Clothing Ban

In an attempt to “enhance student’s well-being and sense of pride” a Middle School in El Paso, Texas decided to ban their students from wearing all black clothing.

Charles Middle School, part of the El Paso Independent School District, determined that wearing all black outfits is a concern for their student’s well-being. The school’s principle, Nick DeSantis stated in an email to student’s parents, “We are … 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.”

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While I am not one to completely disagree with dress codes being enforced in schools, like not allowing clothing with mature content on it, I do think black clothing is an interesting thing to focus the school’s energy on.

As someone that had a very hard time with their mental health during middle school and high school, I don’t think black clothes are the problem here.

The real problem lies within things like bullying, a lack of mental health education and treatment, and what is going on in the child’s home life. The black clothing is more of a form of self-expression rooted in the way the child is feeling about themselves and the world around them.

Maybe instead of taking away a harmless form of self-expression, the school should put their energy towards improving counseling programs, limiting bullying on their campuses, and providing parents with information on how to support their child if they are struggling with mental health problems.