Texas school cites a peculiar reason for banning all-black clothing in letter to parents

Almost every color is associated with specific traits and qualities. However, banning a color based on its supposed associations is a step too far. This is what happened when an El Paso school banned head-to-toe black clothing for its students, as per KFOX 14. The school claimed that the reason behind the ban is the color's association with mental health concerns. Parents received a letter from principal Nick DeSantis of Charles Middle School saying that all-black clothes have a connection to depression and mental health issues.

"What they are not allowing [is] for students to wear clothing that is black from top to bottom. They can wear black shorts to go to PE. And they can wear it on free dress day, but they just cannot wear it from top to bottom," stated Norma De La Rosa, the president of the El Paso Teachers Association. De La Rosa explained that the reason behind the rule is that teachers have noticed several students switch to all-black clothes when they are facing mental health issues.

However, she also told CBS Texas, "You can have the most colorful dress on and still be suffering through depression." Many parents came forth to comment about the new policy, as per KFOX 14. “The color of clothing has nothing to do with your ability to do anything or feel any emotion," Alex Lucero pointed out.

“Making students wear a different color isn’t going to magically make them a completely different person," Alexis Contreras said. "I don't think we should be grouping, and red flagging kids that just like to wear black," Stephanie Rascon told KVIA7. Meanwhile, another parent, Nancy Rangel-Gomez felt, "It brings down, I think, the mood of the school if it's just black."

Krista Wingate, a mental health expert told the outlet, "I think they should be looking out for different signs of stress or different signs of anxiety. A lot of times students will feel pressure. They may have difficulty because they have a change in their routine, so they might feel overwhelmed with shifting from the summer months, going back into school and needing to organize themselves for assignments and different tasks that have to be completed academically."

The statement issued by the school reportedly reads: "Charles Middle School is updating its uniform policy to enhance students' well-being and sense of pride. This decision, carefully considered and approved by the Campus Improvement Team—comprising parents, faculty, staff and community stakeholders—aims to foster a positive self-image among students and more effectively showcase the school’s colors and pride."

"The dress code changes were a response to concerns and recommendations brought forward by the stakeholders of Charles Middle School," the letter stated. "We are also eliminating a look that has taken over on campus with students wearing black tops with black bottoms, which has become more associated with depression and mental health issues and/or criminality than with happy and healthy kids ready to learn." As per the policy, students are supposed to wear blue or khaki jeans instead of black. "Wearing your uniform is a part of the school rules, at every campus. If they’re in uniform violations, it can be a disciplinary infraction but that is up to every administrator," Sarah Venegas told reporters.