The difference between a liberal Northwestern culture, and the Deep South. LOL

We moved from the Northwest to the Florida Panhandle around 10 or so years ago. It was quite the culture shock. We came from a very liberal cultured community, in a large mostly rural State, to the very conservative mentality of the deep south. The school systems, we were promised are the "best in the State." I failed to look at where this State compared to other States, which was at the bottom of the list, whereas the State we were from, was near the top of the list. We had a 16 year old, a 13 year old, and a 8 year old, when we moved. So 3 kids in 3 different schools. There also, is not near the kind of cultural activities that we have much interest in. It's a rather boring place really.



Before we could even bring them to school, we had to go out and buy them all new clothes to wear to school, because the clothes they wore to school in there former school, were unacceptable. They couldn't have torn knees or even a small hole in their jeans, and they couldn't wear shirts with anything considered "offensive" (their discretion") on the front. Also the girls skirts and shorts could be no shorter than 3 inches above the knee. My oldest daughter had no problem with it, because she never wore skirts, or shorts to school anyway, but my 13 year old daughter had long legs, and the "Daisy Duke" shorts were in style, and we could not find anything long enough because of the length of her legs. She was in that awkward stage, where their bodies don't keep up with their extremities. We moved from 40 below zero, to 70 above zero in a matter of a few days, and she is always hot anyway. The humidity, and thickness of the air, was difficult for her to adapt to, and of course she is in that female adolescent stage of raging hormones. This did not help the situation. Worst shopping day of my LIFE!!



I even got a call from the middle school principle one day, wanting me to come get her and take her home to change, and bring her back to school. I asked why? They said because her shorts were one inch too short. I said. "Well so, what's one inch, who's really going to notice that? He was like..."The boys....it it's distracting to the boys." I said "well discipline the boys then, teach them some manors". "Don't take it out on my daughter, just because her shorts are 1 inch too short. I am not going to waste my time, or the gas to come all the way down to the school, when there is less than half a day left, to bring her different shorts, that is ridiculous." I also said "and I better not hear that she has been shut away in the library, or something of the sort for the rest of the day either." She will not wear those shorts to school again, but it makes no sense to be making a big deal out of 1 measly inch." He just kind of stuttered, "uh uh, OK".



I couldn't believe it. They were more worried about 1 inch on a pair of shorts, than giving these kids any kind of education, or self discipline. I also don't think he expected a female to stand up to him like that. I was not raised in the south and neither were my kids at that point, and yes sir, and yes ma'am, were not in our vocabulary at the time. The kids learned very quickly when to use it. I still don't bother. LOL