In August 2017, Tony Alarcon’s phone rang unexpectedly.
Like many parents, he thought it might be a telemarketer. But this time, he answered the call.
Hearing from the school can be nerve-wracking for any parent. Tony immediately started worrying—was his daughter, Demetra, okay? Had something happened?
What he found out left him surprised.
It was a hot summer day in Northern California, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees. Tony had dropped off his 13-year-old daughter, Demetra, at school that morning. She wore a blue romper to stay cool in the heat, and neither of them thought the outfit would cause any issues.
Demetra, a student at Raymond J. Fisher Middle School in Los Gatos, California, had simply dressed for the weather.
Not everyone agreed with Demetra’s outfit. A teacher at her school said her romper was “too distracting” for the boys.
When the teacher told Demetra that her outfit was too short, her dad, Tony, rushed back to the school with a change of clothes—jean shorts and a tank top. But the school said those clothes were also inappropriate.
Tony was shocked. He asked Demetra to bend over and touch her toes in front of the school administrator. “Nothing is hanging out. There’s nothing inappropriate. I don’t understand this dress code rule,” he told TODAY.
Still, the school said her clothes were “distracting.” Since it was 90 degrees outside, Tony had no choice but to go to his car and grab a pair of leggings for Demetra to wear.
Demetra felt embarrassed.
Tony expressed his frustration, saying, “She’s just a kid. She’s only 13. She’s not trying to be a sex symbol. She just wants to be comfortable and attend class, but we’re not giving her that chance.”
This wasn’t the first time Demetra had been in trouble for her clothes. Just a week before, she was called out for a visible bra strap. “When I got dress coded last week, they said my bra strap was showing,” Demetra told the *San Jose Mercury News*. “Like, I’m wearing a bra—what’s the big deal?”
Tony, a successful investment advisor and father of two, didn’t let it go. Angry at what he saw as an unfair rule that mostly targeted girls, he took his complaint to social media. Parents from all over the country showed their support, agreeing that the school’s dress code was outdated and unfair to girls.
“Demetra’s not the only one. If you sit in the school parking lot, you’ll see that,” Tony said. “Lots of girls just want to be comfortable, but they feel forced to wear leggings even when it’s 100 degrees outside.”
Tony believed that parents, not schools, should decide if their children’s clothes are appropriate. He was also worried about how being told their clothing is a “distraction” to boys could affect young girls emotionally in the long run.
The story quickly got attention from the media, with major news outlets reporting on Tony’s efforts to change the dress code. While the school didn’t speak on camera, they did release a statement:
“The Los Gatos Union School District believes that appropriate dress and grooming contribute to a productive learning environment,” the district said. “Students are expected to wear clothes that reflect the core values of our learning community.”
Tony’s efforts made an impact. His push for change led the Los Gatos Union School District to reevaluate its dress code to make it fairer and less strict for all students.
Lisa Fraser, the school’s principal, explained that the dress code rules, called “Fashion Faux Pas,” apply to both girls and boys. Some of the rules include no hats or hoods indoors, no visible underwear, no inappropriate logos or words, and shorts must have at least 4-inch inseams.
“There has always been a dress code,” Fraser told a newspaper. “These are basic rules for appropriate behavior. I can set guidelines for the school, but I want them to reflect the community’s values.”
In the end, Tony Alarcon’s persistence started an important discussion about how school dress codes affect young girls — showing that one parent’s voice can truly make a difference.
What do you think about the school’s dress code? Have you or your children faced a similar situation? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!
Chinese Restaurant Is In Big Trouble After We Found Out Where Their Chicken Is From
“Do you guys see what I’m seeing?” wrote a TikTok user who had discovered something shocking at a nearby Chinese buffet. This user was shocked to see chicken nuggets fashioned like dinosaurs being served. The nuggets looked quite good with the sauce and sesame seeds on top. The user, however, was astounded by what they saw and chose to take a video in order to observe the reactions of others to this unexpected buffet provision.
The video was clear-cut and short. Using a variety of TikTok capabilities, the user concentrated the camera on the dinosaur nuggets coated in sesame seeds and produced a video that swiftly gained popularity. The first line of this article was narrated by the user via the text-to-voice tool. Then, the camera repeatedly focused in to provide a close-up of the nuggets, which were obviously obtained from the frozen food department of a grocery store and used for the buffet.
The video was shared on TikTok, Reddit, Twitter, and other websites. It received thousands of comments, over 100,000 likes, and over two million views.
That would surpass the severity of an infestation! One commenter screamed, “I mean, we can just buy them from the grocery store!”
Some appeared to be more understanding, stating that if they were the only thing available, they would happily eat them.
“No food over dino nuggets.” Another said, “I mean, they look pretty good too!”
After watching the video, someone even made a joke about going to get sesame seeds and dinosaur nuggets.
“I’m going to pick up some Dino nuggets.” Delicious! While we’re at it, I may as well purchase some chicken and sesame seeds. #satisfyinginmytummy
More than ten thousand people commented on the video, expressing their shock and amusement at the restaurant’s use of dinosaur nuggets. Someone said that if they happened upon the sesame seed dinosaur nuggets at the buffet, they would eat them all.
They said, “I would definitely eat dino nugget sesame chicken.”
A jubilant user said, “It doesn’t matter that they used dinosaur nuggets.” All I want to do is taste them.
Another TikToker joked, “Don’t be suspicious, don’t be suspicious.”
Another person responded, “Okay, but that really looks really good.”
Another commentator made the joke, “Chicken shortage so real that they replaced it with prehistoric meat.”
“You mean, not the dinosaur nuggets?” another person said.
One person brought up the point that customers, as well as businesses such as restaurants, are being severely impacted by supply chain problems and inflation.
“Dino nuggets, oh my god? They wrote, “This inflation is ridiculous.”
Some were worried that the chicken nuggets would be contaminated with maggots or other insects, while others anticipated the video to be offensive.
“I’m searching for maggots.” “Is that a dinosaur nugget?” inquired someone else.
Leave a Reply