Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, like many all-girls Catholic schools, has carried the tradition of a strict dress code or uniform. However, a commendable determination to uphold handbook values has recently resulted in measures that caused controversy and frustration throughout the halls. What has caused such dissatisfaction, and why has the school not responded publicly to it?
Let’s start at the beginning. At the start of the school year, all Upper School students are required to sign a contract stating they will abide by all requirements listed in the US Student Handbook. Kilt requirements are as follows;
Black watch plaid kilt or skirt: Kilts/skirts must be in good condition and an appropriate length.
- No more than 4 inches from the top of the knee
- Shorts should not be visible
- Kilts should not be rolled
- Kilts and skirts are available at Lands’ End and Flynn O’Hara.
Though each individual student signed the handbook, there seems to be a change in attitude when required to abide by the rule listed above. Stone Ridge students have built a reputation of properly taking accountability if a rule is broken – however, there seems to be a dip in pattern when it comes to kilt requirements. So what makes this expectation different?
Just before winter break, Stone Ridge announced that kilts were to be measured to ensure that they abide by the “four inches above the knee” rule. Those that were marked as not compliant were then sent an email home and recommended to meet with Flynn O’Hara – a company students can order their kilts from – to be measured for a new kilt. On December 16th, those that were marked as “not compliant” – meaning that their kilts did not meet one of the requirements above – were sent an email stating Flynn O’Hara was on campus for those who were in need of a new kilt.
Students were reportedly aggravated by this mandate. However, it wasn’t just the measuring or requirement to be fitted for a new kilt – which cost $62.25 each – that irritated students, but rather the explanations that their teachers used in order to justify such a rule. A student, who clarified she was neutral on the handbook requirements, explained that her exasperation was rooted in, “…how they try to enforce these rules by talking about how men work here or something in that form.” She then suggested that, “…if [Stone Ridge] described it to us as an environment where they’re [trying to prepare] us for work after Stone Ridge, I feel like more people would listen.”
There was a clear trend in students being upset about the sexist undertones following the measures, and one student even went as far as to reference hurtful remarks from faculty that she characterized as saying, “…[our] legs and our bodies [are] a distraction from learning.” Those in Student Life did not respond to requests for comment.
Stone Ridge alumna and Head of School, Mrs. Catherine Ronan Karrels, is an advocate for the handbook – including, but not limited to, the kilt requirements. Mrs. Karrels noted that the kilt length was, “much stricter” during her time at Stone Ridge. “We had more options in terms of sweaters that we could wear,” she continued, “but, kilt length was tightly enforced and we just knew it wasn’t okay to violate.” She goes on to explain that kilt length is rooted in Stone Ridge’s mission to prepare students on how they “show up in the world, and how [appearances] are a form of communication.
When asked how important a role students’ voices had in the topic of kilt lengths, she commented, “People will have their opinion but, at some point, somebody has to make a decision and then stick with it. We’re never going to be at hundred-percent agreement, so somebody has to just make a decision.” When questioned about the differing body types and how that may change the appearance of a kilt on a student, she claimed “I guess nobody has ever presented it to me that way, you know, ‘here’s this six foot tall person’, maybe it should be adjusted for that particular frame. I am happy to explore that, but I don’t know what the outcome would be.”
When asked to comment on the recent complaints from students following the survey, Mrs. Karrels said, “I’m sorry that students have been feeling that way and are uncomfortable by that. Teaching students how to show up is one of the outcomes of education and I think that I’m in agreement that having a set kilt length helps towards that.”
Both sides of this argument illustrate key lessons varying from preparing students for what is expected of them following high school, as well as speaking up when there seems to be a disagreement with the central message. With regard to the former, it’s only appropriate that students are encouraged to embrace the transition from what may be most comfortable or trendy to preparation for college and the working world and what lies ahead. As to the latter, some students are vocal about their views that the requirements are outdated, and express concerns about inappropriate commentary and measures taken while enforcing these rules.
Students take issue with the mixed-messages from faculty when enforcing kilt length, and suggested that, with clarification, kilt length could be a much more approachable topic. Ultimately, Stone Ridge would benefit from more consistency on the reasoning behind the kilt-length rule, and perhaps further conversation to ensure that handbook enforcement maintains the stated requirements while also taking into account the concerns of students.
