Pronouns, Phones, and Dress Codes: Texas School Districts Grapple With New Policies

When I was growing up in the '90s and attending public school in West Texas, the school policies I remember ruffling the most feathers typically involved things like spaghetti-strapped shirts, ripped jeans, short shorts, and haircuts. I vividly remember looking down to be sure my fingertips didn't reach further than the hem of my mini-skirt before heading to school. I was a pretty good kid, and getting in trouble for dress code violations was always in the back of my mind. I remember a teacher calling me out in front of the class for wearing a shirt she thought was too revealing. It landed me in the principal's office, where I was handed a smelly old sweatshirt from the lost and found to wear for the remainder. It was pretty embarrassing and it stuck with me.

My silly violation never kept me up at night or replayed over again in my head. It was just a bunch of nothing. Unfortunately, that small incident pales in comparison to school policies today and the impact they could have on a student in the future.

In 2024, some Texas school districts are at odds with students, teachers, and parents over policy changes, or the lack thereof. I believe most Texas educators are doing their best to protect students and give them a safe environment to learn and grow into productive members of society. There's just one problem:

No one can agree on what's best for kids.

It makes sense. Everyone has a different opinion on technology usage in the classroom, proper dress code, and other heated subjects like gender identity and pronoun usage.

"Should kids be able to have their phones in class?"

"Are shorts and mohawks distracting from learning?"

"Does a student's sexual orientation or gender identity truly call for more inclusivity to prevent bullying?"

It's impossible to please everyone when dealing with incredibly divisive subjects, but, one of the greatest things about living in a free country is our right to disagree.

When it comes to school policies in Texas, it sometimes feels like our ego paired with our desire for others to share our individual beliefs, gets in the way of what we're trying to accomplish, which is to give a child the best chance at success.

Every child. Every single one of them. The jocks, the weirdos, the artsy ones, and all those in between.

If you are a parent or teacher of a Texas student, please don't forget, at the end of the day, it's all about them. They are the future of our great state. While their ideas may not align with yours, please take the time to listen to them and consider their opinions. They are growing up in a much different world than you and I.

If I've learned anything from history, it's those who staunchly oppose societal change and advances in technology, who are eventually left behind.

Please educate yourself on unfamiliar subjects, use compassion, and do your best to help our kids, not harm them. They will thank you in the future.