FROM bans on “edges” to restrictions on tight pants, black hair dye and even belt buckles, stricter school dress codes are igniting heated debate across Jamaica.

On Monday, at least 34 boys were locked out of Calabar High School in St Andrew on the first day of the academic year. The infractions ranged from missing buttons and incorrect belt buckles to tight-fitting khakis and hair length. Now, some all-girls’ schools are also clamping down, barring students who wear “edges” or dye their hair black.

The Ministry of Education has repeatedly cautioned schools against locking out students, insisting that once children arrive on campus, administrators act in loco parentis. Principals, however, maintain that they are simply enforcing established rules.

The issue has spilled over onto social media, where Jamaicans have been weighing in on whether these disciplinary measures are necessary to preserve standards or whether they go too far. In today’s Word on the Street, we share lightly edited versions of some of the public’s views posted to the Jamaica Observer’s Instagram and Facebook accounts.

@lolaroamsja:

Pickney dem come a school and before unuh accept them unuh turn them out fi go igle a road. Madness. Important thing is THEY CAME TO SCHOOL.

@indilianna:

Fair is fair. While edges do compliment the ladies, some really overdo it. Simple and subtle edges are okay, but when you give them an inch, they take a mile. Dress and carry yourselves like modest students and not like the ladies of the night. Some of these ‘curtain’ edges really do make these young girls look a particular way. Dress your age and enjoy being kids. After all, you not going to school for looks, you’re going for your education

@aadoresworld:

So edges and tight pants a go stop pikney from learn? Some of the rules are good rules but some jus nuh mek sense. Wah the edges a go do? Block dem brain from receiving information and the pants a go stop them brain from concentrate?

@onepapacharlie:

Rules are rules but I think they have their priorities in all the wrong places because the rules they’re enforcing aren’t contributing anything to overall behaviour and of students, including how well they’re doing academically. Furthermore, I really don’t think these strict rules correlate much with preparing them for entering a society where the same rules are non-existent. Hair taller than one inch doesn’t mean improper grooming, and enforcing unnecessarily strict rules doesn’t necessarily equate to teaching proper morals and values.

@blacgadrecords:

Long time this need to happen; too much big man and woman a guh school. 80 per cent of these kids overdo it. Nah ramp wid nuh pickney; a we the parents need to be blamed at times cuz we see the problem and left it fi teachers handle when discipline should start from the home.

@abundantly_supplied:

The principals who lock students out should be removed. If the children show up, they are ready to learn. Locking them out defeats the purpose of school. Let’s dive a little deeper and see how well the school is performing. Let’s put the school leaders to task and see if these measures are effective. This is too much. If something happens to anyone of these students who have been locked out, the school leaders must be held accountable.

@yulandacampbell:

We all see the difference in the academics of the children that obey the school dress code to those that don’t, right? Even the schools on a whole have a better academic record, with the majority of the children looking simple and neat vs looking like a fashion show.

@missrich23:

I don’t get what the big deal is. My daughter attends St Andrew’s and she didn’t have an issue conforming. Kids need to focus more on their studies and less on these superficial things.

@nme9:

Imagine if the teachers/principals spent this much time and effort actually trying to teach, maybe they wouldn’t have the hopeless pass rates that they currently do.

justjaybless:

This liberalisation is one of the leading causes of the breakdown in our education system. Children need structure and order. Allowing a child to do or dress however they please redounds to anarchy and chaos. Who keeps them in check? These are the same children that grow up lacking accountability. It’s not what you say that goes; you can’t have it your own way!

@mztara_tee:

Rules should always be respected and followed, however who will be held accountable if something should happen to a child because they were left loitering on the streets because they were refused entry? Come on, there are many ways to skin a cat — give them some form of punishment within the confines of the school campus, janitorial or otherwise. Find something. The indiscipline should not be tolerated but instead, find an alternative method to deal with it that still ensures their safety.

@stephanie.jarrett.hairstyle:

Parents, please help your kids to dress as the school requires; inspect them before they leave in the mornings. And children, it’s not hard to follow rules, okay. Be obedient to your school rules.

@diana.banton.5:

I work at a hotel and them have hair rules and fingernail rules, so them going to face rules all in the workplace. My son use to work at a hotel and them complain about his tight pants. l have daughter in high school and we obey the school rules.

@lovemakeseverythingbeautiful:

Where are the parents? All parents knew the school rule before the year start. If you don’t like the rule, move your child. Imagine calling your parents to say, ‘Mi get lock out cuz mi pants too tight,’ or, ‘Mi edge dem done up.’ How dem one brazin suh? Not even God cuda help mi wen mi mada done wid mi.

@spare.me21:

Imagine locking out a kid because they are missing a button on their pants or because they have in black hair dye. Very foolish rules; these educators should be fired. You can’t lock out people kids in the sun for so long because of that. And the parents don’t even know of this. Imagine if something bad happens to these kids while they are locked out of schools.

@jaguarpaw1738:

I agree with the schools’ dress code. That’s how discipline, morals, self-esteem and respect start, which will propel them for the future.

@roundawaygurl:

When kids have to focus on their books more than looks it produces higher academic achievement.

@queen.kalphat2_you:

The ‘No edges’ I think is too far. Yes, girls’ uniforms must be at knee or little below; boys’ pants must no be too tight, all acceptable; but wah edge have to do with anything?

@Sassykattybratz:

Some of these rules are needed in schools in America. I saw students wearing pajamas to school, wigs, crop top blouses, short shorts. It’s all a fashion show.

@kd_official___:

Rules are rules, I just don’t agree with the practice of barring the student from entering the premises. There have to be other ways to discipline and enforce without locking them out of the schools.

@lola_speaks_her_mind:

My daughter just graduated from St Andrew High… would have it no other way! Some a who on social media talking don’t have no kids or raising leggo beast! Leave all unnecessary frills for the weekend. Structure and discipline in schools…

@theresaaudra:

Ppl waan dem pickney go ‘top’ school and immediately want to change the rules. Look at the schools that are more liberal and see. Give Jamaican ppl an inch and dem tek a mile. Move yuh pickney if dem edges more important than dem grades.

@txya.lcia:

More discrimination against black girls. Edges is a part of how we as black girls care for our hair. Edges vs tight pants and belt buckle is not the same.

@jodylopezjackson:

Most students who show up at school looking like it’s a fashion show spend half the time in the bathroom fixing those edges or cleaning the shoes to ensure the tight pants and shoes are ready. They don’t end up going to class, which then means they are wasting time. Most time when a student is attending school and abide by the rules they are usually more focused, teachers have less issues, and they take initiative in their schoolwork — and everybody wins in this scenario.

@unruly_jcan:

Thank God my two girls are out school cause what’s edges gonna do? None of my 2 girls made that distract them from what was taught in school. SMH, that’s ridiculous. I can understand the tight pants and short uniforms but edges? Jah jah.

@thegreatestballersofalltime:

Is there an improvement in grades when they cut their hair and wear baggy pants? Di crime rate musi too low. Dem lock out di yout dem so dem can go turn delinquent.

@kharabrooke:

The simple fact is that if some of these students weren’t taking it too far, these drastic rules would not exist, so di good haffi suffa fi di bad.

@ecameg:

Children do not run school. If parents want them to run their household, so be it, but parents and students do not get to run school as it suits them.

These unruly children need order and discipline. The country is not lawless so why must school be lawless? What I hate is that Government, especially Ministry of Education, do not support the school with enforcing the rules. Because of politics they left it on the school board and principal, which makes it harder for the principal to deal with these goons and their parents. Lock them out if they cannot respect the rule.

Marvin Mow Mow:

Lots of workplaces require you to wear a uniform and abide by a dress code. Why not start from school? We are often under the misconception that school is only for learning to read and write, which isn’t entirely true. One of the key functions of the school is to prepare our young people for the world — learning to follow rules is one of those things. They knew the rules and chose to be defiant; they need to know that breaking rules has consequences.

I’d be more sympathetic if these infractions were economical, like based on affordability. What should the school do if they do it intentionally because they dress to model instead of dressing for school in accordance with the rules?

Syreeta Thomas:

I don’t agree with this. While the students should absolutely adhere to school rules I think it would’ve been better to allow them inside, and let them remain in the dean’s office, and make contact with the parents/guardians. There must be some protocol regarding situations like these.

Yes, rules are necessary — a school without order falls apart — but rules should never override the responsibility of protection. Keeping children safe is not “soft”, it’s foundational. True authority balances firmness with fairness.

Hearts, not just behaviour, must be reached. If a child obeys only out of fear, rebellion may show up later in secret ways. But when discipline is paired with guidance and care it can win their respect and shape their character. That’s the kind of correction that lasts.

JacquiRealzphoenixx Cohen:

Almost every year we hear the same thing. People, just follow rule. I’m sure these students know what is acceptable and what is not. They just don’t care.

Some of the 34 Calabar High School students who were locked out on Monday stand at the entrance. They were denied entry for infractions ranging from missing buttons and incorrect belt buckles to tight-fitting khakis and hair length. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)