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Mar 26, 2009 12:55 pm US/Central
Fla. HS Holds 'Pull Up Your Pants Day'
PLANTATION, Fla. (CBS) ―
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Capitalizing on Pres. Barack Obama's call to "Men of America - Pull Up Your Pants," Plantation High has declared March 26th "Pull Up Your Pants Day." (File)
CBS News
Capitalizing on Pres. Barack Obama's call to "Men of America - Pull Up Your Pants," Plantation High has declared March 26th "Pull Up Your Pants Day."
During the changing of classes after first period, community leaders, school alumni and mentors patrolled the halls looking for droopy pants or saggy drawers. Those caught were given a free belt courtesy of Wal-Mart.
Students like Miguel Rosa at Plantation High School were literally caught with their pants down, at least half way down, as they made their way to class on Thursday.
Instead of a reprimand, students were given a belt and made to pull up their saggy pants.
Rosa told CBS station WFOR-TV that he likes the trendy look and the other benefits such a look brings, adding, " I get attention from the girls, what can I do?"
Another student, Trent Vangalis, added that he didn't mind if people saw his underwear, commenting "They're pretty."
Other students like Javaris Perry mentioned it was all about comfort. "I feel comfortable wearing my pants like that; I don't know about anybody else."
The look is against the Broward County District School dress code. It prompted a reading teacher, Diana Carter, along with another teacher to come up with 'Pull Up Your Pants Day'.
They convinced Wal-Mart to donate 200 belts and they recruited volunteers along with students dressed for success to pass out the belts.
"We're just telling kids that no one is trying to take away your independence or how you might dress on your own time," said Dania Carter, "but when you are in school, and for the future: as you dress so are you perceived."
This isn't the first time the trendy look made popular by rappers and the hip-hop culture has been in the spotlight.
In 2007, Opa-locka became one of the first U.S. cities to ban people from wearing sagging pants in public facilities, including its city hall and three parks.
At Plantation High, students were also shown an MTV interview of then President- Elect Barack Obama addressing the issue.
He said legislation to ban the look was not necessary, but young people needed to dress with respect. Many are now taking that message to heart.
"I think the message we're sending is this," added former educator Peter Tingom, "…the appropriate way to dress and if you're going to be successful in life,you need to dress for success as we've said many times."
School officials say it was an effort to reach out to young men and increase their self-esteem and self-image.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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