A middle school in El Paso announced a ban on all-black clothing starting this school year.
The decision by Charles Middle School’s administration is intended to create a more positive atmosphere for students who may be struggling with mental health issues, according to a letter to parents before the start of the school year that began on Monday.
The school cited a growing awareness of the impact of clothing choices on emotional well-being and believes that certain colors can influence mood, the letter said.
“We are also eliminating a look that has become pervasive on campus where students wear black tops and black bottoms. This is more likely to be associated with depression and mental health issues and/or delinquency than with happy and healthy children ready to learn,” Nick DeSantis, middle school principal, said in the letter to parents.
The policy has drawn mixed reactions from the online community. “How about instead of clothing bans, they offer mental health support?” asked Ami Lucas in a Facebook post.
“Wouldn’t it make more sense to have more or better resources available?!? With all the tax dollars we pay, I think that would be possible,” Kayla Blanch said in a Facebook post.
DeSantis did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Dallas Morning News.
An Aug. 2 message on the district’s website from Superintendent Diana Sayavedra said, “Dress codes at some schools have recently attracted public attention. We see this as a valuable opportunity to encourage healthy community engagement to instill the values we share regarding student safety and success.”
Of 6.3 million Texans ages 17 and younger, 1.4 million have a mental, emotional, behavioral or developmental problem, accounting for 23% of all Texas youth, according to a 2021-22 study. According to the Census Bureau’s National Survey of Children’s Health, these problems include conduct problems, behavior disorders, anxiety and depression.
