Mandatory Dress Codes In Public Schools

To some, arguing over student dress code seems trivial and useless. To others, it goes deeper than that. Dress code might seem like the typical “first world problem”, but to the average high school student, gaining the freedom ‘no dress code’ grants is incredible. The fact of the matter is, the rigid enforcement of student dress code has gone too far in today 's society and dehumanizes us as citizens. Although school dress code attempts to promote modesty and protection, it also reinforces gender inequality, smothers individualism, is unconstitutional, and should not be enforced in public schools.

The controversy about dress codes asks an important question: are dress codes targeting girls and transgender students? Several sites including:https://www.adl.org/education/resources/tools-and-strategies/table-talk/what's-fair-and-unfair-about-student-dress-codes, stated that when they spoke to girls they said they feel shamed and judged by dress codes. Are dress codes limiting students creativity. Should these girls really feel harassed men and boys at their school?

Many people still believe a dress code is the answer to most school problems, but they’re wrong. I think that schools should stop enforcing dress codes. There are so many reasons and instances that prove that dress codes are completely unnecessary. One reason being that restricting student expression is against their first amendment rights. Another being that dress codes can be sexist. Also, contrary to popular belief, dress codes don’t prevent bullying.

During the last few years, dress codes have been implemented and accepted more and more. Dress codes are commonplace and most schools consider them a necessity. Dress codes, however, need to be revised. Dress codes objectify students’ bodies and often interrupt the students’ learning environment more than the student violating the dress code. For example, if a student has dyed hair, then there is still focus inside the classroom, but if the teacher dress codes them, all the class attention is lost. Dress codes should be revised to not interrupt the learning environment and be less objective and shameful to students’ bodies.

Why are schools and work places always so strict about what you can and can’t wear? Depending on where you live and what district you’re in the dress code can vary. If you live in a better school district or private school, you might have a uniform or only be permitted a few things. If you live in a district that doesn’t enforce them as much you might be able to get away with a couple of things. Most people try to break them so they can fit in. Most schools don’t understand that. I think that dress codes should be less strict because they stop freedom of expression, they are bias and they can start bulling; ways that we can stop all of that is if the school understands the current fashion, but if we were to buy uniforms it could potentially

The topic of dress codes are very picky among students. Many student hate dress codes. Most students do not believe that schools should have a dress code which is a opinion that has been proven true.Studies show that schools that don’t have a dress code have a higher amount of principle's list and honor roll students. Studies have shown that people that didn’t have a dress code while they were in school have become better members of society and more independent. Researchers believe this is true because while they were growing up they had more choices in their life; one of which being what they could ware.

School Dress Codes: one of the most enforced school policies of all time for students of any age and gender. Of course, everyone has their opinion about what is too short or too long, what is too low or too high, and what is too tight or too loose; however, according to schools, middle school and high school girls are all “indecent”, or how the students put it, whorish. Because of this, there are very specific rules, right down to the T, about what girls can and cannot wear while on school grounds. As the handbook says, “Skirts, dresses, and shorts cannot be more than 2 ¼ inches above the knee.” Oh, and to make you moan and groan even more, “The inseam of your shorts has to be, at the very least, 4 inches long.” So they are trying to tell me and the rest of the student body that we can only wear long shorts? Is it just me, or does that bulls*** sound like an oxymoron? Wouldn’t long shorts be… what do you call them? Oh… pants?

As I am reading the Countryside “Modified” Dress Code many things are crossing my mind. One of the many is the slow deterioration of youth expression. We go to school to learn, not to worry about what we can and can't wear. Little things like this take away from the minimal sleep many high schooler’s receive. Instead of using time and money towards the appearances, the school could give this attention to the other needs of the school such as the shortage of books in many classrooms. The school board is making irrational, and impulsive decisions while effecting the budget of parents.

Fashion, one of the biggest art movements that has made a huge global impact on people from all over the world. It has been around since the old ages, when man first walked the earth, and continues to grow and change throughout time. Fashion is primarily a way that people can express themselves truly and freely. With fashion, there is no limitations on who you can and cannot be, because everyone is different and everyone believes in something else. One place where fashion desperately struggles is in the workplace or at school. Some workplaces and schools have very strict dress codes, which can prevent one from being able to fully express themselves.

In 1969, the Des Moines Independent District was the first to implement a dress code. The Supreme Court decided made this decision in a case known as, Tinker vs. Des Moines Independent School District, which involved several high school students who wore black armbands in order to protest against the Vietnam War. It was because of this the Supreme Court decided to limit student expression. There were concerns that things like this were both disruptive to the learning environment and violated the rights of others. Nowadays, most states have laws that allow the school board to make their own dress code policies within their district in order to promote a safe school environment, prevent distractions with schoolwork and discipline, and to encourage constancy of student dress. Dress codes

Everyday countless amounts of students are pulled out of class and getting their learning time taken away from them, but weren’t distractions what school officials were trying to eliminate in the first place? These dress code restrictions are contradictory and leads students to want to rebel even more. One rule the principal needs to change is the dress code because it makes people feel insecure and it is sexist.

“Tallie Doyle was sent to the principals office at her elementary school recently for violating a dress code prohibiting spaghetti-strap tank tops, she and her mother publicly challenged the policy as sexist and silly”(Maclean’s) More than half of public schools enforce a dress code and they all contain an underlying basis of sexism because of the stereotypes lain out by past generations. But the world is becoming more and more open-minded, so why not schools and their dress codes? Dress codes are sexist and should be changed seeing as they target girls with a specific body type, teach boys to objectify women, and the schools in which they are implemented in are reinforcing gender inequality through them.

On the other hand, it is suggested that students should have their own freedom to make decision on their choice of clothing to the school (Wendell, 2002). Opponents argue that restrictive dress codes and uniform policies will suppress student's freedom of self-expression, not to mention their spirit of creativity and individualism. There are too many clones in the adult world already, they contended. Several legal challenges to dress code and uniforms policies have asserted that student’s freedom to choose what to wear to school is, indeed, a form a self-expression that school have no right to infringe upon (Lumsden, 2001). Infringers on freedom of choice causes everyone to look the same. Becomes difficult to enforce in areas that are extremely

It is a belief that school uniforms teach students to respect their learning environment and behave themselves, and, therefore improving discipline. However, that assumption isn’t entirely correct. Researchers have actually found that school uniforms don’t make students better behaved. According to a study of more than 4,500 students, those who wore a school uniform did not have fewer behavior problems or better attendance. Forcing students to wear uniforms lead to more problems and misbehavior instead of encouraging discipline. Students could get into trouble if they did not wear their uniforms correctly. Many kids in today’s society cannot stand the thought of someone telling them what to do, especially what to wear. Instead of encouraging respect, uniforms may cause rebellions. For example, in 2009, a group of students at John A. Ferguson Senior High School rebelled against their school uniforms. Instead of following their school uniform requirements, the students wore what they thought would be a better school uniform to school. Not only uniforms don’t earn schools the respect from its students, but it may also lead to more problems.

The effect on a student that administrators want is that by taking their free will of how they dress away they will create a better learning environment. Without the allure free expressing one's self the students are not able to be rowdy and disruptive in the classroom. According to Devbra “ David L. Brunsma, a researcher at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Brunsma, an assistant professor of sociology, has been studying the movement for public school uniforms since 1996. The research done by them will express how uniforms do not bring positive effects to the school environment. A statement made by David L ,Brunsma was “Requiring students to wear uniforms is a change that affects not only students, but also school faculty and parents. Instituting a mandatory uniform policy is a change that is immediate, highly visible, and shifts the environmental landscape of any particular school. Changing the landscape is a superficial change, but it attracts attention because of its visible nature.” By looking at his findings one can see how uniforms cause a chain of events to happen when they are implemented and how uniforms affects much more than just the students. This is why uniforms are hard to enforce in public systems because of how many people are affected to the change. By evaluating another point made by Debra Viadero “ Despite the anecdotal meanderings of politicians, community members, educators, board members, parents, and students, uniforms have not been effective at attacking the very outcomes and issues they were assumed to aid.” The message of how uniforms goal of creating a better learning environment and increasing student performance is not met.