Should Dress Codes Be Paid In High School?

High school dress codes are too strict. More specifically Oak Harbor High School 's dress code is too strict. The Benton-Carroll-Salem School District Student Handbook specifies, “All students are expected to dress in a manner not to interfere with the teaching/ learning process”. A manner that does not interfere with the teaching and learning process is then clearly stated. For example, “Skirts/Shorts must not exceed 3``above the knee…,” and, “Holes are not permitted above fingertip length”.

While the school administration argues that the dress code brings school unity, they are wrong because it takes away a sense of individuality from each student (Logos, concede). In today’s society, people use fashion and their daily outfits as a key way to express themselves. Students are constantly told throughout their school careers that they should demonstrates what makes them “different”, yet uniforms deny that sense of self-expression. According to Grace Chen of the Public School Review, uniforms may result in students turning to “other avenues of self-expression that may be viewed as even more inappropriate than clothing” (Ethos, professional credibility). This includes a nontraditional hairstyle, make up, or acting out towards authority at school or at home.

School Dress codes do not allow students to completely express their individuality. Schools want students to be able to think for themselves and create a sense of who they are, but it is not easy when they are forced to abide by rules that take away from from that. It should be a place of expressing ourselves freely in a learning environment without having to worry about what we wear as an interfering issue. The fact that the school system cares more about the student dress code than their education is an issue in itself. Schools should promote dress code individuality because of religious aspects, mental health, and human experience.

Recently, more and more schools all over the country have turned to dress codes. Some people say that dress codes teach professionalism and protect students. However, schools should not have dress codes because dress codes target girls and limit their freedom of expression. They also are hard to enforce and students break them anyways. First, schools should not have dress codes because they target girls and limit freedom of expression.

Throughout the years the debate over school dress has been a hot topic, while dress codes are nothing new, they have been a growing issue that past few decades. According to Laura Birkett on the Toronto Star, “For as long as there have been teenagers, there have been adults aghast at their habits... often expressed by their wardrobe” (“Students Protest Dress Codes” IN7). Dress codes pose to have no actual effect on students in today's world. Birkett also explained that with a dress code or without it kids will do what they want and will still, most likely, grow up to me respectable adults in the working class (“Students Protest Dress Codes” IN7). Dress codes have been proven unnecessary and therefore, have no positive benefits for students.

In the article, Arguments Against School Uniforms, it says “ policies(dress codes) place limitations on freedom of expression…” This quote explains why most kids think dress codes are living nightmares. When all students look the same, it doesn’t let them express who they really are. Whenever kids wear what they want, they can express their personality through what they wear. On the contrary, the only problem about not having dress codes is that some kids bully each other for what they wear, which is totally unacceptable.

Dress codes are a necessary aspect of school, and they help teenagers to focus more in school. Rules for how to dress prevent boys and girls from being distracted by fancy clothing. Often times, girls tend to focus on what other girls are wearing and how other girls may look super attractive or trashy. In addition, boys look at girls who are dressed in very releasing clothing. Whether the person is a boy or girl, both become distracted by revealing or poor clothing.

On the morning new show TODAY, teen and child development specialist, Robyn Silverman, explains, “As a body image expert, I hear from students all the time that they feel it allows for a lot of comparison... So if you have a body that’s a plus-size body, a curvier body, a very tall body, a very short body, those girls often feel that they don’t look their best.” Some students are not comfortable in their body and do not want to dress on what the school dress code states how they can or can not dress. For example, in some schools, sweatshirts, sweatpants, and t-shirts are banned at some schools unless they bear the school’s logo. Schools should not be able to hold over you head what you can and can not wear, especially if it is the only thing that the student feels comfortable in.

Any girl who has attended a public high school understands the daily dilemma of dress code. On those scorching hot days as the school year approaches summer, many girls can be found scavenging through their closet for a “school appropriate” outfit or one they won’t melt into a sweaty puddle in. Her dresses will show too much leg, her tops will inappropriately expose her shoulder or collar bone, and her shorts will be too short — at least that 's what the school says. Dress code in modern day high schools should be boycotted because they are a violation to student and parents rights, sexist, out of date, a double standard, and they disrupt a female students education. It 's fair to agree with a policy that claims stringent dress codes increase the emphasis on academics and reduce the pressure of socioeconomic status; however, these dress codes violate the students First Amendment right to freedom of expression and the parents’ Fourteenth Amendment right to raise their children in their own way.

Dress Code When it comes to the topic of dress code there are many controversial factors that come to mind such as While some argue that dress code is necessary in order to properly teach students to dress appropriately, others contend that dress code infringes on students individuality and creativity. This is not to say that there are some people whose feelings land in the gray area in between. In recent discussion of dress code, a common question has been whether dress code is fair or not fair among all students. On the one hand we have parents, young women, and other members of society who argue that some schools take dress code too far.

Over the last 20 years, many schools have shifted away from fairly unregulated student dress codes to more stringent dress codes, with some schools implementing voluntary or mandatory school uniforms. There are several positions on the dress code issue, each of which have their own persuasive arguments to support them, which can be evaluated to examine their validity. One position in favor of implementing dress codes is that these standards can improve student safety and perhaps even student performance at school. There are variations on this position that favor strict standards on what students can wear, while others want to implement school uniforms in public schools. The opposing view is that students should not be subject to any dress codes on the grounds that they restrict students' freedom of expression, and that they may place unfair cost burdens on poor families.

Students can express their style and identity through their clothes. Students would like the freedom to keep up with latest styles and fashion and having dress codes takes that away. Lee Rowland, “School dress codes are saying that the self-identity that you want to express through your clothes doesn 't belong here. ”(Rowland 1).

Dress code is very common in places such as offices, workplaces, and schools. Having a dress code in offices and workplaces isn’t a problem because it makes the workers dress appropriate and represent the company. Although people can argue that dress code in schools does the same thing as workplaces and offices, there is a lot of controversy. Dress code and uniform policies in schools hasn’t always been a problem, because clothing used to be simple and plain. As time has gone on, numbers have been dramatically increasing.

Many high schools have implemented dress codes that set rules for what students can and cannot wear while on school premises, and yet many people disagree with these policies. Though arguments can be made for either side, a dress code can have a very positive outcome for all parties involved. A fixed dress code promotes professionalism in a learning environment, and contrary to popular belief, it does not limit a student’s freedom of expression. Last but not least it encourages equality and acceptance among their peers. A dress code can be reasonable if used in proper situations that require certain attires.

Dress code is a crucial part of school since it teaches good habits while preparing you for the later in life and creating a feeling of equality. In most schools today there is no dress code, but that needs to change. There are tons of cases of bullying in schools all across America. By enforcing a dress code it can unify students and ultimately help them in the long run. Not only does the dress code lessen bullying, it ingrains good habits for later in life.