PHOTOS: The Week's Best Style Moments
Administrators at a Memphis middle school have developed an interesting way of battling students with sagging pants: making them look like television nerd Steve Urkel.
When Westside Middle School Principal Bobby White or a staff member sees a student with his or her pants hanging too low on their butts, they apply a plastic zip tie to tighten the pants at a proper (or slightly high) level.
The too-tight zip tie creates a fashionable "high-water" affect on the pants hem that resembles the look worn by Family Matters character Steve Urkel.
The plan started last week, and about 80 students a day are now getting "Urkeled."
Now sagging pants is said to have dropped 80 percent in the school.
I'll give the school administrators an A for creativity. This is a cute way of drawing attention to the issue of sagging pants among young people. It isn't exactly the worst thing going on in our community (try our youth killing each other in droves), but it is a problem because it conditions the students to both dress and act unprofessionally.
Unfortunately, as the embarrassment and novelty fades, it will probably become cool to get "Urkeled" in the school. So be it.
Comments: (33)
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By: kbroome1969 on 12/09/2010 3:41PM
its a sorry sight when parents let their kids leave the house looking that way
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By: AL on 12/10/2010 10:46AM
Recent recollections come to mind...
I observed a kid at the mall getting pepper sprayed for asserting his right to fashion, refusing to pull up his pants in the food court. His pants were so low (down behind his knees) that even a seasoned sagger was like "Say What"
The (almost 30 year old white man) cried like a B and screamed in pain while he was cuffed and led away. Everyone around cheered as well. :-)
Another BV article posted shots of a 40 something father calling it a fashion trend of which he has no problem passing down to his kids.
most of the posters called him an adolescent idiot.
Looks like this trend is nearing the end
PRAISE JESUS!
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By: lam on 12/10/2010 12:21PM
SOME parents may not be allowing their kids do this ---- they probably drop their pants once they leave the house! Its time to sit down and have a heart to heart talk with our children --- in these last days --- no one has the time as they did when I was coming up! TV is their parent!!!! One last thing --- when they took prayer out of the schools and said God did not deserve to be there -- that is when the enemy stepped in and "all hell broke loose"! Drugs showed up, lesbians showed up, bullying showed up, disrespect for the teachers showed up, killings showed up, and every conceivable thing that the enemy want has taken place in the schools and the communities. PARENTS --- when are you going to say "I'm mad as h---l and won't take it any more!!!" Let's stop talking about it ---- parents come together and do something about it!!!!! We protest about any and everything but not for the welfare of our children. Its time to be an advocate for your children!!!!
lam
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By: dkdalke on 12/10/2010 9:14PM
one of the real up side features of the internet is that both thoes who believe outragious social behavier will in the long run inhanse there agendia and those of who paid our dues both have a common forum where we can pleed our case. I would say that I am a social liberal, who belives that low profile and slow is the formula for progress.As the old yankee cleshay said the proof is the pudding. Let's face it the US is very young country and we now have a mixed race president. I happen to believe that his liniage has nothing to do with his abilities as a humanbeing. Restricting the ability middle school students to act out is comendial. I was emploied for 17 as amiddle school teacher in Dade county florida. I can commente with athority on the public school situatiuoin/problem. One of the problems is that no one wants to listen to old farts.
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By: Igby on 12/10/2010 9:18PM
I couldn't agree with you more.
Parents are the first line of defense in their childrens' presentation and manners. I am a teacher and I have a hell of a time getting my boys to stop sagging. This principal was creative and unafraid to stand up to the pressure under which many cave.
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By: Pink on 12/09/2010 5:50PM
This is funny as hell. Good for the school. I'm so tired of looking at sagging pants, and young guys holding their pants up like they're a girl holding up their skirt I don't know what to do. This needs to be made a nationwide trend.
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By: JuNe on 12/10/2010 6:45AM
Parents? Most of these kids parents R probably sagging themselves. If they do have both parents in the home, they probably leave all buckled up, professional looking, little carbon copies of whatever they are being asphyxiated and tricked into becomming, and then; after leaving the home; Then, they get in the proper uniform-ie: They get they sag on. Don't get me wrong, i'm all for the not sagging agenda. I just hope upon hope that sagging or not, they R engaged in a condusive learning environment. I know alot of brothers with three peice minds that R simply carbnon copies, and tht old blueprint stinks.
Hold on, I gotta pull my pants up!!
Gods's Peace B still...
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By: lahelama on 12/10/2010 8:57AM
Instead of trying to humiliate children by cinch tying them why not give them a belt to wear and insist that they wear it.
I can see the outrage now when the first kid comes home with bruises or cuts around their belly or craps themselves because they can't removed their pants.
Resturants distribute ties and jackets to ensure that everyone adheres to their dress code. This sounds like a great idea for schools too or better yet school uniforms.
When adults in powerful positions humiliate children (and yes they are children) it breeds nothing but resentment
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By: Twoknights06 on 12/10/2010 9:43AM
You apparently do not work in a schools system or live in one of our inner city communities.
Sagging pants has nothing to do with not owning a belt!
Most "Saggers" actually have belts on. They just choose to wear the pants low on their butts becuase they think it's cool.
Sagging is a style and I would argue that it is appropriate in certain venues.
What we must teach our kids aboout approiate dress in different situations. A Bikini is great for the beach. But, not so good for Church on Sunday.
Sagging is cool at the concert. But, not cool in front of Elders and older Women.
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By: DC on 12/10/2010 4:20PM
Sister all a kid will do is "I lost it..." and you end up playing this stupid game all day, and when you cinch it up it is done from the back leaving access to the zipper and the snaps. This style is a reflection of "Gang Culture" that has become so mainstream that many have forgot.
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