Administration says it will work with girls to ‘find a solution’
WATONGA — On Wednesday, Sept. 1, Watonga High School sopho more Mary Barton found herself in the office after wearing a T-shirt her teacher deemed too revealing; it was her third time being “dresscoded” this year, or asked to change or cover up because of a non-compliant outfit.
Frustrated, Barton took to social media and posted a picture decrying the school’s dress code as sexist. The next morning, Barton and multiple others got together and did a peaceful protest during breakfast, marching into the cafeteria with the message that girls’ clothes should not be considered distracting by staff and administration.
“I feel like we should be comfortable,” Barton said in an interview, adding that girls can only wear sweatpants, jeans and long shorts to school. Crop tops, shorts and leggings are among the items that can easily get a girl “dress-coded,” but Barton said there are few rules about boys’ attire.
The Watonga dress code permits shorts that reach at least fingertip length. It does prohibit “muscle shirts” and athletic shorts “except during appropriate classes,” as well as hats and other head coverings, but most rules concern clothing usually worn by girls.
In response to the protest, Watonga Superintendent Kyle Hilterbran said he and high school principal Todd Overstreet have been in contact with the girls about their concerns. “We look forward to working with the students to find a solution that is equitable and helps our students represent themselves in the best possible way,” Hilterbran said in a statement. “We encourage our students to use the WHS Student Council and voice their concerns in writing to the campus principal when they have issues with policy.”
Hilterbran can recommend policy changes to the school board if necessary, he added.
The girls who helped with the protest said they plan to attend the next school board meeting.