A Dearborn Catholic school wants to remind students to dress appropriately for prom by displaying "Modesty Ponchos."
Administrators at Divine Child High School say they're doing this to encourage students to wear the right outfits when it comes to prom.
The poncho is designed to cover the front and the back of a student's prom dress, but according to the school, the unique cover up will not be passed out at prom.
According to a parent of a student who attends Divine Child, there's a list of rules students must abide by which includes: No exposed cleavage, no two-piece or backless dresses, no short dresses and no spaghetti straps or strapless allowed.
The school responded saying:
Dear Parents of Divine Child High School,
Like a majority of private and public schools, we ask that students and parents follow the dress code when they are purchasing Prom attire, just as they would follow the dress code for daily classes and other school events. Our intention with displaying the poncho was never to make students feel uncomfortable, but to remind all students and parents of our formal Prom dress policy, which has not changed for several years. To be clear: The poncho will not be passed out at Prom. It was on display to proactively remind students of our dress code policies and eliminate any confusion prior to this special event. We recognize that it has done the opposite for some members of our community and draws away from our goal of having students adhere to the dress code policy.
We encourage our students to tailor their out ts or provide their own wraps or shawls that would meet our requirements. If necessary, we may also provide wraps and shawls, as we have done at school functions for many years. Thank you to all who have contacted us directly to discuss this important matter. We are focused on creating a wonderful experience for our students to enjoy this memorable evening.
Eric Haley
Principal
Divine Child High School
