not quite sure parents that this is the best pic to support your argument... I sure hope these poor girls dont have to bend over to pick something up... no wonder why there is a trail of 14 year old boys behind them!!!

Pretty dresses, but they look ready to go to a club, not a semi formal dance.

Seriously, these are minors, not 21 year old cocktail waitresses at a club...where are the parents?! This is what you allow your child to wear to a semi-formal event?!

Even still, the mom reports that these dresses met the fingertip rule implemented by the school. With that in mind, does anyone think the school needs additional guidelines for dance attire?

The three to the right are too short and not appropriate for girls that age. Why wasn't the black and white dress on the left allowed in? That seems to be within the dress code.

The black dress on the left was probally not allowed because it's a tube top with no straps. You also can't wear spaghetti straps to the dance.

I think it definitely a sign of the times. The parents don't care and the kids don't either. Teenagers want sexy clothes it's sad, but true.

Regarding the picture: Unfortunately what you do not see is our beautiful daughters (and sons) happy smiling faces clearly excited about an upcoming night of fun. For those of you who still think these dresses are inappropriate , sorry to offend thee, but you really need to come out of the dark ages. These are the times, like the 60's were and the 70's and the 80"s and then the 90's. You obviously have no idea how hard it is to shop for "appropriate" attire that your child will wear or like. So as parents we have to pick our battles as well as trust our kids, because if we don't start trusting our kids now how will they get the opportunity to become trustworthy? Portsmouth is a great town, the kids are great kids, if this is all we can complain about, I'll take it! I am officially done.

What shocks me most is the parents who think it is perfectly ok for their daughter's (or son's) to dress this way. The picture shows girls with extremely short dresses, barely covering their bottoms. People today, especially parents, think it is ok for their daughters to dress provocatively and it ok for these girls who are only 14 or 15. No one wants to make their kids responsible anymore. They were clearly told as stated in the article what was not allowed yet these kids think (and their parents) that they are entitled and can do whatever they want. Time for parents and kids to wake up and start learning there are rules, rules not to be broken. The scariest part is the parents on here defending their children instead of admonishing them for not following the rules. Why should your kids be excluded from the rules and to the parent who says to "get with it" maybe needs to wake up and keep your daughter young while you can. Being a "cool" mother and trying to be their friend only makes you look ridiculous and like you want to be young again.

That's right keep it positive. We obviously don't have an obesity issue here. Maybe well hear next from the administration that the color choice was not representative of school patriotism

@M.P. you can clearly see that the two that you pointed out would fail the finger tips test if their hands are straight down by there side... anyone can bend their arms and say that they pass.

The rule made should have been followed, by BOTH, students and chaperones. If some kids were sent away and they met the fingertip rule then that was wrong and the principal should not be defending incorrect actions by the staff, however the students that had dresses that were too short then in fact should have been turned away and pay the consequences. I think there were mistakes made on both parts in this situation, and unfortunately both the school and the kids are now paying the price.

Use to be that when a girl kneeled the hem had to touch the floor(back in the day of hot pants and mini dresses) that got tossed out to, What you wear is not who you are, to stigmytize this way and not allow these people into the dance just robbed them of a night of fun and happiness, common sense would mean the teachers should have been looking for behavior issues while danceing, this seems more like a personal control issue, how do you go to a class now with ateacher who made you or a friend feel cheap and like a fool?

Why dont we just take a look at the administrations christmas card and see what they think is "appropriate"?

I am a senior at Portsmouth High School and although I did not go to the dance, I know a lot of the girls who were turned away. I think that it's unfortunate that the girls were turned away but I don't think its completely their fault. First of all, the school has never enforced these rules to this extent as long as I've been going here, so they probably didn't think that anything was really going to happen anyways. Second, trying to blame the parents is a little ridiculous. The girls I know are not bad girls and their parents are not bad parents. I respect a lot of them and most of them put in a lot of effort when it comes to sports and extra curricular activities. The last point is about the teachers' consistency. How is it fair that some girls got kicked out even though they were wearing the same dress as other girls who got in. Is this suggesting that there is some bias involved possibly with girls that the administrators knew and thought highly of? I don't know, but the bottom line is that I think a lot of people overreacted and even though turning the girls away is justified to some point, those same girls don't need a whole debate over whether they have good parents or are brought up well enough.

And Amen to Rick Astley

Someone...maybe in one of the other threads about this issue...pointed out that what the girls were wearing (in the picture above for example) was more appropriate for a nightclub than for a dance that was designated as a semi-formal (which this was). Wouldn’t “semi-formal” call for something along the lines of what a bridesmaid would wear? I’ve never seen bridesmaids were anything like what’s pictured above, but I do see women wearing those styles in clubs. Someone above mentioned how hard it is to shop for something the girls will approve of. Brides/bridesmaids do it all the time. As a parent, my kids are/were told “These are you choices for what to wear… or you won’t go to the function/event.” Be the parent, not a friend!!! (Of course the problem is that some parents find it OK to allow their kids to dress like 20-somthings in a nightclub rather than the 14-18 year olds they are.)

To Tamori,
Lets talk about following the so called "rules" at PHS including the dress code. I have first hand knowledge that the administration doesn't follow some of the "rules" that are in place by them. I could go on and on, but this isn't the place. The adminstration needs to follow all of their rules if they want their rules followed. They can't pick and choose what rules are followed and by whom. Many are sticking their heads in the sand if they think that PHS isn't guilty of having double standards.

Well we all seem to have our opinions wether they are liked or not!!!! More than half of the girls wore these types of dresses, maybe it's time that PHS takes a look at their own dress code. The figure tip rule was followed!!! Lets remember the dresses do not make the person, your judging these girls and their parents by a dress!!!! REALLY? I happen to know each of these girls and thier parents. They are honor roll students, student counsil members and very involved in sports! The parents are awsome too and very involved with the kids and PHS sports. Hopefully the next dance, if any , will have a better turnout. Parents are more than happy to help out with advanced notice. Sorry but if you think these dresses were bad maybe you should see the Christmas card that was mentioned above. If your going to enforce the rules you also need to follow them. This type of debate can and has gone on for decades, you can not please everyone, and everyone has an opinion. Some are just better off not being said. DONE!DONE!!DONE!!!!

Let's see the Christmas card...

I'm a senior at PHS and ealier in the year, I saw the administration Christmas card hanging up on a teacher's bulletin board in her classroom. I don't have a picture of the card, but from what I remember, it was of four main staff members (vice principal (McEwen) etc.) imitating and posing as the cast of Jersey Shore in a less than professional way. I personally couldn't believe that this picture was even used for an administration Christmas card...I thought it was completely inappropriate! There are a lot of double standards at PHS. So glad I'm graduating this year...

with remarks like that i hope your not a real coach

I'm still interested in the Christmas card....that would make a great story

The bottom line is that no teacher is now going to chaperone. I refuse to tell anyone they can't come in because of the way they are dressed and then get have angry students and parents. I don't mind being judged for my teaching abilities but I am not going to judge semi-formal attire.

Jiml in your expert opinion what should the dress code be?

@ East Side, let me clarify. I will chaperone by collecting tickets, selling water and pizza. I will NOT judge the length of a dress. Would you ? It is a difficult position to be put into and it is uncomfortable. I have no problems disciplining a student while in class based on behavior etc. I would refuse to talk to a young women about their attire, that could be interpreted that "I am looking at her". Don't want to go there at all ! If you are a male East Side it can open up a whole can of worms.
The positive thing that has happened is that conversations with students are happening and we will try to remedy this problem. We love the students and want to see them have fun in a comfortable enviornment for ALL.

Ok, our kids are good decent kids that stay out of trouble. Go to school, do what they are told to do, have good parents, and will grow up to be good decent human beings that will help our world be a better place.
What the heck do you think they are going to do, in a dance, in the school? Really? These dresses are in just like fads have been forever. They are teenage girls and boys. Give them a little respect, especially if you want the respect back. My son and his girlfriend were not allowed into that dance, and they were really looking forward to it. When he was not allowed in they called me and let me know where they were going instead. Can all parents say they're kids would do that? Shame on you people, we raised great kids. You just made them feel like bad kids!

I agree with TLM. Dances have been this way for several years now, why the problem with it all of the sudden? This type of dress & dancing style is a fad, as much as adults may not like it, we arent able to change it. Fads come and go, and soon eneough a new fase will be in, until then, we need to all take a breath and understand the youth changes daily, monthy and yearly. imagine how they feel right now, being targeted like this...probably very uncomfortable. No use arguing over this anymore, the only ones that can cause a change are the youth, let the time pass and the change will happen!

And also, a few form fitting dresses should not cause this big of a mess! i know when i was young, i liked to feel beautiful, let the girls express themselves.

Didn't anybody ever see Dirty Dancing?

Do these young women want to be known for who they are, or what they look like? Whether it is in style or not is irrelevant, the dresses depicted do little to reveal beauty but a lot to exude sexuality. If these are such smart, modern young women, why are they playing the traditional gender roles? What young man looks at a young woman in a dress like this and thinks "this is a girl I want to get to know" in anything but a carnal way?

Hi Folks,
Lots of comments on here, but I think we are all overanalyzing this on both sides. This isn't about who wore what in what decade, parenting skills, gender discrimination, the fads today or even whether or not people agree with the type of dancing that goes on. The issue here is did these students abide by the school's dress code and rules? If no, they should have been kicked out. If yes, they should have been allowed to stay. End of story. What some students may or may not have done upon leaving the dance, has no bearing on the dress code itself. We can argue about our likes and dislikes, but in the end, the school sets the rules for their dances. Students have a choice to follow or not follow. I think if students abided by these rules there should have been no problem and students should have been allowed to stay.. If students didn't, then the school was justified in asking them to leave.

This was a semi-formal dance if you look up semi formal attire you will see that for girls Hem lengths in semi-formal attire dresses vary. Dresses can be cocktail dresses, no more than an inch above the knee, or they can extend to the ankle. the dresses in the picture are not semi formal attire.

This is getting ridiculous. The Christmas card argument is completely irrelevant. The students and more so the PARENTS, are blowing this out of proportion. The judgement made on the appropriateness of the dress by the administration was inconsistent. The rules should have been the same for every single student. Plain and simple.

OK, Parents, line up to be the chaperones at future school events. Why teachers even put themselves on the line to be insulted, challenged and disregarded as they give of their own free time away from their families is beyond me. Something happens, young "ladies" are treated "unfairly" probably because the clothes they are wearing at 14 and 15 years old scream "YEP, no secrets here guys!"... and guess who gets blamed? The school, I'd bet. Since when does attractive or pretty require that all but the barest essentials be shared with the world? You're right, it's the style. It's current fashion. But, I certainly wish there were SOME parents who would say enough is enough. Good kids and scanty clothes are not mutually exclusive. I'm sure these students have made their parents, teachers and themselves proud over the years. How sad that they can't be strong or brave enough to buck the tide that is revered every day by the media......

Reality check. Teenage girls, regardless of their age are always going to push the envelope. As a parent, I would prefer that my daughter be known for her smile and her personality, and liked because she is a nice person. I think that it is inappropriate for a 14/15 year old to ooze sex appeal. Though the thought of recognition is exciting, but the territory that they are entering into is one that they are not prepared for. Hormones are raging on both sides of the equation.

When I dance, my hands are up in the air, over my head, I wiggle all around. If my dress was at best finger tip length with my hands at my sides, it is unlikely that it would be that long when I'm dancing. Never mind what happens when you choose to sit down.

As for the friends who didn't get in, perhaps it is because they are good friends and maintained 'the buddy system'. They came together, they stayed together. As for the comment above that it is sexist, the boys who were turned away because they were also inappropriately dressed. Blue Jeans do not constitute semi-formal, no matter what kind of tie you wear.

Its 2011 people get over yourselves --- it should not be a crime to be beautiful, young, intelligent i wish i had my teenager body back -- i hope these girls know they did nothing wrong its unfortunate they have been made out to be bad girls -- hope these girls aren't scarred for life by all the ignorant and ugly comments some half wits have made

Think about this. Are you, or do you know a female, who ever wore a mini skirt in the 60's or 70's, and if so, were you/they trying to be"sexy"? Because, I did wear them as a teenager and if someone tried to tell me I was trying to be "sexy" it would have been so off base and I would have been disgusted and told them to get their mind out of the gutter. It was the style then, just like what these girls wore is the style now, and too many are trying to label and judge them for what they wore, not who they are. If we all were made to wear what the generations before us wore, we would still be in corsets and long gowns, or poodle skirts, etc. I feel really sorry for these girls who were made to feel ashamed and judged for just being "in fashion", like it or not. By the way, aren't the cheerleading skirts just as short as some of the so called 'inappropriate length' dresses worn? Yet they can be in front of school crowds with their skirts flying up with undergarments exposed and no one tells them to go home and change, do they? Hmmm, sounds like some are talking out of both sides of their mouth...