How we have fallen. when I was in tnird grade, 1969 or so, we had a huge debate whether to allow girls to wear pants to school. it was shocking. We won. Open the door..and all winds blow in.
I'm now a teacher...a parent of one of my students stopped me in the hallway and told me she wished more people dressed the way I do. (very conservatively)
Image really does matter in public schools.
My very staid mother started a movement to allow girls to wear slacks to school at about the same time. The dress code allowed only skirts or dresses for girls – even when the temperature was below zero with a stiff wind. Waiting at the bus stop was painful.