Mount Everett students wear tank tops for their yearbook photos. The school says no, pointing to

Mount Everett students wear tank tops for their yearbook photos. The school says no, pointing to 'unfortunate connotations'


SHEFFIELD — Fruit of the Loom refers to it as an “A-shirt.”

Hanes, Calvin Klein and other clothing manufacturers simply refer to it as a “tank top.”

But, this sleeveless undershirt with the narrow bands over the shoulders also goes by other names, too. “Wife beater” is one. Another term uses a word that is derogatory toward Italians.

Some 11th grade Mount Everett High School boys say that when they donned matching white tank tops for their yearbook photos this school year, they only were looking to display, in a silly, informal way, their camaraderie and that they meant no offense. But, when school officials saw the photos, they exercised their prerogative to determine that the photos “will not be usable.”

In an email sent to students and parents Nov. 12, the school said the decision was based on the "unfortunate connotations that the white tank tops have." The school also emphasized that it did not believe that the boys had any ill intentions. That email and follow-up emails were shared with The Eagle by a parent.

Read more: https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/southern_berkshires/mount-everett-students-wear-tank-tops-for-their-yearbook/article_889e8d58-497a-11ec-beb1-f30d9ca70aba.html