Destructive Desires: What is HISD doing?

Toward the end of last summer, several Sharpstown High School students, including me, were informed that our school would begin enforcing uniforms as part of a new dress code. Hundreds of families went into an uproar about the announcement, especially because they had already purchased new, non-uniform school clothes for their children. 

The problem

Eighty-three percent of Sharpstown is economically disadvantaged. This means that those families didn’t complain unreasonably. A petition by Sharpstown High School Student Manuel Rios gained over 500 signatures requesting that the policy be rescinded. One student commented, “Last minute notifications of uniform requirements is ridiculous, especially since the economy is not in a good place. Also uniforms are more expensive and will put unneeded pressure on the children.”

Students who cannot afford the new uniforms are now sent home for not following the dress code. Children are missing valuable education time over uniforms that they are unable to afford. Though Sharpstown has wraparound services for these students, this doesn’t refund their money already spent on new school clothes, and it doesn’t alleviate the stress the policy has placed on families.

The school will allegedly ban hoodies and zip-ups after Thanksgiving break. This means that students who are not able to afford plain colored sweatshirts (matching the color assigned to their grade) will likely have to come to school cold, or their families will have to spend more money. Making matters worse, the principal hosted an event on Oct. 25 that was advertised as intended to give out free money. However, the money was shredded before it was handed out to students—an attempt to teach "financial responsibility." Many of us felt this was insensitive.

The bigger problem

Students and parents aren’t the only ones affected. According to many teachers, blame falls on them if a student in their class is caught out of compliance with the dress code. Teachers are expected to follow new teaching guidelines, including lesson plans with timers, bell-to-bell teaching, and required whiteboard usage, all while observers critique them. Additionally, they are not allowed to close classroom doors, must ensure all students sit at the front of the class, and must make sure no students use phones or headphones. 

One teacher said a few of her colleagues have been brought to tears. “It is stressful, very stressful. I think that if they want teachers to work well, a stressful environment won’t help, and will cause more mistakes,” she said.

The goal

Many other schools in the district report similar rules. Parents, teachers and students alike are responding with confusion and stress.  The question is, what is HISD doing? The Houston Independent School District (HISD) claims that Mike Miles, the new superintendent, is attempting to bridge a gap between underperforming and high-performing students. Yet, everything seems to be unfolding in the opposite direction. Some students believe the true goal is to remove impoverished and underperforming students from HISD in general. By labeling this forced system as “high-quality instruction,” the district is creating a climate that does not emphasize education or success, but rather neglect. 

Khalil Daniels is a junior at Sharpstown High School.