Are those shorts too short? Is that an off the shoulder top? Are those open toed shoes? Students face foolish problems like these on the daily. School dress codes have been around for ages without much change. They are meant to prohibit students from wearing certain styles or types of clothing. Despite this, school dress codes are not faultless. They fail to create a diverse, distraction free, and equal learning environment. For this reason, school dress codes need to change.
School dress codes need to change due to their discrimination. To begin, dress codes are particularly directed toward females. They cause shaming that restricts the female body and causes body image issues (Sunseri). Strict dress codes teach women that they can’t be proud
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Although some would argue that it is easy to dress within the code, there are still countless instances where this isn’t possible. To start, there is no real reason why they are around. Dress codes work to prohibit certain styles of clothes based on the fact that they express something (Robson). Appearance for students is protected under the First Amendment (Hamilton 18). Neither the U.S. nor the states regulate school dress codes, only local school boards decide them. In 1925 the supreme court ruled that states do not have the power to standardize children, school dress codes seem to do just that (Robson). Expression can only be limited if it causes a foreseen disruption with school activities (Hamilton 18). “When looking at school rules in this context, it’s clear they rely on anti-democratic principles” (Robson). On another note, the expression that these dress codes still deny limits a student’s identity. Everyone should be able to feel beautiful and confident in the clothes that they wear to school (Sunseri). It’s hard for students to truly identify themselves with a constant dress code in place (Hamilton 28). School dress codes continue to limit student’s right to express
In schools everywhere both boys and girls are forced into modifying their normal clothing style to something the fits into their school´s strict rules. Students are having to look for clothes that are in the school´s standards, not what they like to wear. Our school´s dress code should be revised to more realistic expectations from the students. Students have the right to express themselves through their clothing. ¨… how a person dresses is a kind of self- expression...
“School officials have a responsibility to provide a safe, secure, and productive learning environment.” Therefore, schools have dress codes because the safety of students is very important. A teacher’s number one priority is their student’s safety and to have a good learning environment. All students should have the same right to their education. Is the clothing the students wear distracting others from learning? It is distracting to others, but that is not the only reason why schools have dress codes. Schools also have dress codes because it helps prevent students from being bullied based on their clothing, especially if they wear something offensive or inappropriate. It also helps them prepare for professional environments as adults in the workplace.
School dress codes send a loud and clear message, “Your individuality is inconvenient.” (Rowland 22). The constitution guarantees the right to free speech,which can be interpreted as the right to freedom of self expression, and students use clothing to express themselves. Another message that dress codes send is that “the self identity that you want to express does not belong here.” Self expression is not an inconvenience or a distraction, it is the lifeblood of our nation. (Rowland 22). Schools tell students that they should be confident in themselves, but how can they if they cannot express themselves? School dress codes now are more about shielding the boys then protecting the girls which implies that boys are immature. Calling a girl’s clothes distracting is implying that she is at fault for any disruptions. “That 's like saying that because a store has a cash register, it 's the store 's fault if it gets robbed!” (Menza 1). Students are going to be distracted anyways. Sexist dress codes are like saying that an article of clothing, or a body part showing on a female will distract male students from learning. Dress codes should be simple for both genders, everyone should wear clothing that covers up the same area. With dress codes, students are forced to dress the same as other students, taking the individuality out of school, but schools try to send the message, you are individual. Figure 1 shows a strict dress codes for both students and
The prominent reason behind the various overdone school rules regarding dress is the loose power that administrators have been given. They have been “reserve[d] the right to determine if a clothing item or accessory is appropriate for school” (Carroll High School Student Handbook 2010-2011 18). The officials at school are using their own personal opinions to judge the students’ dress. Since styles change as time goes on, the generation in control and the
America, the “land of the free, and home of the brave.” Unfortunately, this doesn 't mean “land of the free to wear whatever one desires.” In fact, school dress codes are taking away American students’ self expression, infringing on their freedom of speech, and enforcing sexist discrimination all over the country. A recent case, that occurred at Tottenville High School in Staten Island, New York, blatantly displays the negative effects dress codes are having on students, especially females. In the first couple of days of the semester, this high school managed to give 200 detentions to students for violating the dress code. Ironically enough, 90 percent of these students were girls (Swafford). The discouraging part is that schools are easily able to get away with this kind of discrimination. This is made possible by state laws that give school boards the power to enforce whatever dress codes they think are necessary to promote a distraction free learning environment, maintain discipline, and to push students to dress similarly in order to create a uniformity in the schools (“School Dress Codes”). The purpose of dress codes may be to create a distraction free learning environment; in reality, however, they produce an environment where students feel discriminated against and aren 't free to express themselves.
School dress codes are too strict because what the school district should be looking for is that girls should dress a little more appropriate. Girls who show way too much should be the ones who should get in trouble. But for guys isn't much of a deal. Dress codes want students to wear shirts that don’t show students collarbone.
The people who are in charge of creating the school dress code don’t think of girls feelings, or their need to be an individual. There are also some unnecessary rules in schools, and what schools deemed inappropriate or distracting. The schools are taking some of the girls rights away. I believe that the dress code for the younger generation is too focused on girls, and it’s way too strict. Students should not have to wear school uniforms, some schools went for believing it would get rid of competition.
I missed out on the sole purpose of school, the education. School dress codes are made to keep boys from being “distracted” in class. Boys have very little regulations, whereas girls have tons of regulations. No shoulders showing, no knees showing, no bra straps showing. These are just three of the thousands of dress code regulations made for girls across the country.
As the temperature rises, so do hemlines and the suspension rate. Students get suspended for violating school dress codes by wearing outfits that ‘show too much skin.’ One can argue that revealing clothing is distracting, but some families and students agree that school dress code implementations end up just shaming girls. Dress codes, the epitome of high school, teach girls to act ashamed, not modest. According to most school boards that come up with the dress code, the outfits young women wear come across as too distracting for their peers, especially men, and make it unable for women to be viewed by the public with dignity and respect. Everyday, school dress codes target females—especially females that are more developed.
School dress codes are believed to be to strict today, and that they need to be changed. These rules on what to wear and what not to wear are applied mainly because shorts and tank tops are seen as a distraction to other students in the classroom. Shorts that show too
Have you ever been excluded from learning because of what you wore to school? In most schools, dress codes are set in place to provide a better learning space for all students. Having a dress code can oppress students because students are given the impression that they should not express themselves. Not all families can afford the clothes that abide by the rules. For example, some students don 't have the means to pay for new clothes, so they have to use hand-me-down clothing. Enforcing a dress code can lead to more problems in the long run because of the exceptions made for students who are athletes and cheerleaders. Many school faculty members including teachers and administrators think that keeping a dress code will keep students looking appropriate while learning, but this idea is wrong because it keeps students from expressing themselves and, the dress code singles out women.
Having the freedom to dress one’s self is extremely important, as it allows students to have individuality, as well as allowing them their rights as a student. "Our biggest problem with a school uniform policy is the anti-individuality message it sends." (School Uniforms Stifle Freedom of Expression, School Policies, 2008) Not allowing students to dress
They are expensive, make it harder to be creative, and kids won’t want them. They can be uncomfortable too. I think that having a dress code is bad for schools and I hope that I convinced you too.” Many people these days believe a dress code is the answer to most school problems but, they're wrong. Schools everywhere are warming up to the idea of dress codes.
Uniforms have been around for centuries, from back in the day when women had to wear dresses or skirts and men had to wear pants. To now where students and employees have to wear certain pieces of clothing. People dress to express themselves, schools tell their students to be who they are and to be proud; however, when the student tries to do so they are sent home or held in the office which not only takes away their rights to express themselves, but takes them out of class. According to Friedrichs, “A shocking number of students are actually sent home or suspended for breaking dress code, which means even more time out of class.” A school's job is to prepare children for their futures, that can be quite hard when the student is not there to learn. Dress codes can be overwhelming to maintain. A student's wardrobe isn’t going to be full of polos and khakis because they most likely do not wear polos and khakis outside of school. Dress code should not be as strict, hoodies should be allowed, tank tops should be
First of all, dress code might not be too comfortable to follow during school. Dress code can be helpful on certain levels, but consider the comfort of the students. Yes schools could use dress code to make us look more formal, but formal doesn’t always mean discomfort. I agree the schools should not be able to wear short shorts, there’s a point to where they should not be able to even able to wear in public.