Crown Heights School Warns Moms To Ditch Leggings And ‘Loud’ Nail Polish

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By Sam Kestenbaum June 5, 2017

A Hasidic girls school in Brooklyn is demanding mothers of students appear more “modest” next school year.

Some of the things the administration is forbidding? Leggings, denim and “loud” nail polish.

In a letter to parents from Crown Heights Girls’ School Bnos Menachem, director Motty Gurary explained the rationale for the changes: to “create a ripple effect in the community at large.” The local website Crownheights.info posted a copy of the letter.

The new rules require women to “completely cover” their elbows feet and neckline and refrain from wearing leggings, tight clothing or denim. “Nail polish should be conservative/soft colors,” the letter reads.

“As a group, we can make a significant difference if we try. We should not throw our hands up in despair, but rather, should unite to show our children that there is a better way,” Gurary wrote.

Going forward, applications to the school will have to be accompanied by a signed agreement — from both fathers and mothers — to abide by the new rules, though the rules appear to only apply to women.

“It should not be hard to meet these requirements, as our students need to keep similar rules,” the letter reads, “and it is imperative that the home and the school follow the same standards.”

Email Sam Kestenbaum at kestenbaum@forward.com and follow him on Twitter at @skestenbaum

Sam Kestenbaum is a contributing editor and former staff writer for the Forward. Before this, he worked for The New York Times and newsrooms in Sana, Ramallah and Beijing. Contact him at kestenbaum@forward.com and follow him on Twitter at @skestenbaum and on Instagram at @skestenbaum.

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