By Pete Kendall/reporter@trcle.com
—
Cleburne High School has long promoted an accepting atmosphere or doing your own thing as long as your thing isn’t considered unacceptable by adults or peers.
That hasn’t really changed, but enforcement of stated rules may be slightly more strict under new principal Jennifer Baadsgaard.
There will be no piercings except in the ears, no unnatural hair colors and no trousers that sag to the thighs. In addition, no electronic devices may be activated except for classroom use.
Baadsgaard acknowledged having conversations with students Monday about adornments and apparel on the first day of school.
“I’ve talked to some of the guys and girls about piercings, hair color and saggy pants,” the former San Antonio administrator said. “Piercings are acceptable in the ears only. The hair color has to be natural. If someone can be born with it, you can have it, but no purples, blues or greens. And no saggy pants. They have to be up. That goes for skinny jeans, too.”
Students were merely corrected the first day. The first day is now over.
“At some point, it’s not about dress code,” Baadsgaard said. “It’s about defiance of the rules.”
Punishment will vary according to the violation.
“Phones and other electronic devices will be confiscated if they’re not for instructional use. There will be a fee to pick them up. The first time dress code is violated, we give them the opportunity to change. We give them a warning. After that, it’s defiance. We give them detention.
“Today, I explained to some of the students that piercings are anything going through the flesh, even if it’s clear or a wire or string. You have to take them out.”
She said she believes she got a positive reception from the multi-pierced.
“They were very polite to me. And when I saw them again, they didn’t have the piercings in. I think it’s a matter of talking to them with respect and telling them why.”
That’s Baadsgaard’s secret to discipline — respect.
“The words ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ will get you a whole lot more than the words ‘because I said so.’ I tell them I shouldn’t expect less of them than from others.”
She said she heard no major complaints on the first day. Some seniors received schedules with unexpected classes.
“This summer, when we were looking at the transcripts, we saw courses they needed to be able to walk the stage at graduation,” Baadsgaard said. “They understood the reason.”
Understandably, seniors expect fewer changes than juniors, sophomores and freshmen.
“It can’t be easy getting a new principal your senior year,” Baadsgaard said.
She said she got a few questioning looks.
“I can’t make an assumption that they all know me,” Baadsgaard said. “The first thing I do is introduce myself, and I make sure I’m visible.”
She said her first-day interaction with teachers was smooth. A change in registration may have helped.
“The teachers had told me that all the kids pick up their schedules in the commons area from student council,” Baadsgaard. “We changed that. The students find their name on a list, go to that room, turn in an information sheet and get a schedule in return. The attendance ladies said that went a little quicker than before.”
Most of the students were friendly, she said.
“Even the ones who weren’t chipper had their reasons,” she said. “Either their schedules weren’t what they thought they would be, or they found out they can’t wear their hair a certain way. I understand why they’re upset. But it’s not OK for them to break the rules. We’re going to keep going over the rules to make sure everybody knows them. I think it’s important that everybody knows the expectations before you hold them to it.
“I had a conversation with one girl who had blue hair and one who had [electric] red hair. I asked how long it would take them to change the color. One is going to be able to do it tomorrow, the other at the end of the week.”
Baadsgaard said she was pleasantly surprised with cafeteria decorum the first day.
“The assistant principals were telling me, ‘Don’t freak out about lunch.’ Hey, lunch was great. I felt like I died and went to lunch heaven. It was a lot less stressful than the middle school where I came from, and all those kids were wearing uniforms.”
Tasting lunch was another matter.
“I haven’t had time to eat lunch, but I’m kind of excited,” she said, “because kids can have pizza every day and salad every day. This is kind of nice.”
