From: Principal Hutchins
To: All
Subject: Welcome Back!
Hello, students and faculty. It feels great to welcome you back to another school year at Wamford Academy. It gives me great pride to once again commence classes at the finest preparatory school in the town of Wamford. Although I am sure it is going to be another year of continuing our achievements--both academic and athletic--it is also a year of change.
As you all know, our slogan has long been "Making men", and for nearly two centuries we have done just that, accepting only the most gifted 18 year old men and putting them through our intense one-year curriculum to prepare them for college and their future adult years. However, our slogan has been changed to "Making men and women" because, for the first time in our venerable history, we have admitted a female student.
I am sure you have all noticed Kaitlyn around campus today (It's hard to miss a tall redhead, especially if she's the only woman around). Please join me in giving her a warm Wamford welcome!
I'd like to wrap up this email by taking care of some administrative matters. Copies of the latest version of the student handbook have already been distributed, but the faculty council will be meeting regularly and any modifications will be communicated via email. Right now, there is one last-minute change to the dress code. The printed handbook described the uniform for men, but lacked a uniform for women. After much discussion and reflection, we have come up with a uniform for women (well, just one woman at the moment). Reflecting the cosmopolitan nature of our curriculum, we have taken our cues from the "sailor fuku" uniforms popular in Japanese schools. The woman's uniform will consist of a white shirt or blouse, red kerchief and navy blue pleated skirt. Stockings are optional and may be worn at the student's discretion. Shoes must be black patent-leather Mary Janes, although on casual Fridays high heels of any color may be worn.
Thank you for reading, and let's all have a great school year!
Humbert Hutchins
Principal
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From: Principal Hutchins
To: Faculty
Subject: Dress code clarifications
Hello faculty,
I have been so glad to hear that the first week of classes has gone smoothly so far. As always, I am happy to answer any questions you may have. One thing that has come up several times is the issue of skirt length. There is no regulation on skirt length. We respect our students' autonomy as young adults, and a student may wear her skirt as long or as short as she likes, even if that means occasionally "flashing". I trust you are all skilled enough at controlling your classrooms that this won't cause undue distraction.
Best Wishes,
Humbert Hutchins
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From: Principal Hutchins
To: Tom Flinders
Subject: Stockings
Hi Tom,
I have to confess I needed to google some of the terms in your email. But to answer your question, any style of stocking is permitted, whether they are thigh highs with elastic tops or the other kind that need a garter belt. Also, any color of stocking is permitted. That means they can be white, black, pink, or even, like we saw yesterday, red. As I mentioned in my email two weeks ago, the skirt may be of any length. I don't care if you can see the garter straps, I don't care if you can see the lace tops of her stockings, and I don't care if you can see the little bows on top. It is Kaitlyn's decision to make. It is also her decision to pick up the pencils her classmates drop. Personally, I think that is generous of her. If every boy in your class is dropping his pencil multiple times, that sounds like a systemic issue and it wouldn't be right to single out any individuals.
Humbert
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From: Principal Hutchins
To: Coach Lech
Subject: Swimwear
Heya coach!
Great question, and I'm glad you asked before swimming lessons start next week. There is nothing in the handbook about women's swimwear, so I looking into the academy bylaws. Apparently, there is a total ban on both bikins and women's one-piece swimsuits. I think it was introduced during a moral panic in the 60s. Modifying the bylaws is a lot more complicated than revising the handbook. I'd have to call a Plenary Convention; make a quorum of faculty, alumni and local citizens; and go through parliamentary procedures. The last Plenary Convention took almost 2 years to organize and then immediately deadlocked over how to handle the drainage situation, a debate which was never resolved (which is why the grounds get so muddy every spring), so that probably explains why there hasn't been a Plenary Convention in almost 20 years.
But getting back to the point: what should she wear? Well, the bylaws do state that "If the fairer sex do partake in swimming, they should strive to do so in the spirit of our Victorian forbears." I'm still puzzling that out, but I did a bit of research, and it looks like Victorian women swam in dresses. I think the best thing we could do to comply is have Kaitlyn swim in her school uniform.
H
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From: Principal Hutchins
To: Coach Lech
Subject: Swimming tournament
I just wanted to say, I was impressed with the quality of athleticism I saw when I looked in on your swimming lessons. I don't think I've seen such speed in the water since '06. What do you say to holding an all-school swimming tournament this year? Maybe at the end of the semester.
H
P. S. I think Kaitlyn is likely to turn out to be your star student. It's true, she was outpaced by some of the boys, but I think that was due to her uniform weighing her down. The sight of her skirt and blouse floating in the water when she jumps in is beautiful, but the clothes probably produce extra drag when she swims forward. I will talk with counsel soon and see what can be done about the bylaws.
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From: Principal Hutchins
To: Custodial Staff
