The Importance Of Dress Codes In Public Schools

Dress codes violate the first amendment. Students should have the ability to express themselves as it is their right to do so, but schools are prohibiting them from being able to express themselves. In the article Are Student Dress Codes a Violation of Civil Rights, Yates Kimberly claims, “If a school district can show that political

School uniforms restrict student’s creativity and freedom of expression. As proof, the First Amendment of the US Constitution states that all individuals have the right to express themselves freely. Thus, schools encourage an appreciation of diversity, and enforcing standardized uniforms sends a contradictory message. In school, they decide to teach us about Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony. Teachers say these people express themselves, in doing what they think is right, while we cannot express ourselves in the hallway.

When schools enforce a dress code, students must surrender the right of expressing themselves through their appearance. For example, the First Amendment of the Constitution states that all Americans have the right to freely express themselves. As a result, we, as Americans, should be able to convey our personalities through our clothes. With dress codes, we are unable to because of what we can and cannot wear. Secondly, the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada states that our clothing choices are “a crucial form of self-expression” (school-uniforms.procon.org). This demonstrates that the way we dress ourselves shows who we are as a person. If we wear the clothes we want, it lets us express how we feel and our personalities. As one can see, if we are unable to dress

Approximately 64% of the United States public education system requires a strict dress code. How does the dress code affect the students and how does it benefit them? Do the students have a say in this dress code policy? Do they have a fair vote on how dress code violations should be addressed? So many questions on how the students defend their rights in the public-school system, yet they cannot have the opportunity to have their opinions heard. Dress code amongst the years have changed amongst the years and not for the better. High School dress code is demoralizing towards females and the consequences are exorbitant.

One example, of how a government in school district, many students are able to express themselves through what they wear to school, students and teachers are free to speak their minds on public school grounds. They can even wear T-shirts with messages, dye their hair funky colors, and wear jewelry or buttons that make a social statement. But, even with First Amendment protection guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, there are limits in the school setting. And figuring out where the line is drawn is fairly complicated, and more teenagers are facing restrictions as the school’s boards across the country adopt more stringent policies.

Chapter Eight overviews the freedom of student speech and expression on public school property. The First Amendment provides students with the ability to openly speech and express themselves; however, there are limitations to these rights. Schools must balance the students right to free speech and expression with the need for a safe school that is advantageous for learning. As teachers and administrators, it is important to recognize that freedom of speech and expression is not strictly defined to the spoken word. Students are afforded the freedom to express themselves in what they wear, the style of their hair, etc. So long as this expression does not infringe on the school’s ability to educate the students.

Traditionally favored by charter and private schools, and institutions of the like, school uniforms are being introduced to public schools at an increasing rate. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees all citizens the right to express oneself; The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada states that having a choice in clothing is “…Crucial form of self-expression.” The ACLU also argues that “allowing students to choose their clothing is an empowering message from the schools that a student is a maturing person who is entitled to the most basic self-determination,” (Four Reasons). Self-expression of style aside, choices in clothing are also a popular method of expressing support for any variety of social causes, ideologies, and affiliations, and school uniforms strip students of this option completely.

One issue that is often presented in public schools is dress codes. Each school has a variety of different policies for both boys and girls, yet most are more biased against what girls wear. We often find in a student handbook the amount of sentences for what girls aren’t allowed to wear compared to boys. These dress codes are seen as sexist because they require girls to cover anything that seems to be “distracting,” but mainly these codes are made mainly for a boy’s purpose. Regulations include such as, nothing revealing, as for the exposure of shoulders, shorts or skirts have to be a certain length and often yoga or leggings are banned. When girls violate the dress code they are often sent to the office to change or suspended because they didn’t follow the rules. These policies also take over school events like prom and homecomings. It is such an issue because they limit a girls freedom of what they want to wear. Also, it is sexist because most of these regulations are made for boys in order to not be distracted on what a girl wears. These dress codes are problematic at public schools and girls are more targeted on these policies. Throughout the years they have faced discrimination and the effects, yet some agree that these dress codes serve a purpose.

Whether it’s out at a restaurant or walking down the street teenagers and children don’t look twice at a female in leggings or a male with long hair because it is “too distracting.” Contrary to what school boards believe, the same lack of concern is present in a school setting. When Janice Javine, a teacher at Barnsdall High School, was asked if she has ever ignored a dress code violation she said, “I think sometimes I may not be aware of [violations] as much because it’s just what society has out there.” School boards fail to realize that even the ones required to enforce dress code rules see some of them as old-fashioned. Students against dress code requirements don’t wish to ban dress codes entirely; they want to update dress codes to accommodate what is now socially acceptable. Clothing trends, along with what is considered immodest for males and females, has changed tremendously throughout the decades. In light of this, school boards should modernize school dress codes because they contribute to the sexualization and sexist stereotyping of students, and the change in rules will help students feel more comfortable and confident about their bodies.

School dress code and uniforms prevent us from being able to exercise our rights of freedom of speech and expression. Because of these rights given to us as U.S. citizens we don’t have to be subjected to conformity. It should be in the parent’s power to be able to deny or reject uniforms. These rights apply to all things and that includes clothing so the school district may not even be able to legally uphold these dress codes. In the court of law the school's rules and regulations may be denied for their reasoning behind the case is not always constitutional. The school and its board are not permitted to take away rights of american citizens, in fact no one is allowed to take citizen rights, so schools shouldn’t be treated any differently. If the choice made reaches the requirements of decency and doesn’t pose a threat then there should be no issue. If the attire meets the minimum requirements of appropriateness then it should be allowed. There is no reason for the student to get ‘dress coded’ because someone doesn't approve of what the t-shirt says, or if there is an insignia on the front right pocket. If that person chooses to wear that let them, constitutionally you have to and clothing is not something worth fighting over! We as citizens are able to exercise the right of freedom of expression and the right of freedom of speech, no one can take that away, nor can anyone limit or regulate it if it doesn't hurt anyone or break any other rules or laws in the

For girls, school dress code consists of covering up shoulders, thighs, cleavage, collar bones, back, butt, abdomen, etc. This defeats the First Amendment’s guarantee for the freedom of expression by diminishing girls’ body image through limiting the type of clothing they can wear: revealing or flashy. With the unfairness between girls’ and boys’ policies, it is ultimately proven that girls get more violations than boys through a study conducted in Tottenville High School where 90% of violations were given to girls. This sends a message that policies are being put more strictly on girls primarily for the reason to

In the article, “The Sexism of School Dress Codes,” Li Zhou discusses how school dress codes regulate students. Zhou takes a point of view looking at how school dress codes affect students in school. She talks about the effects on female students, as well as LGBT students. She points out that clothing is a self expression and identity for students. Zhou believes one of the problems creating the discrimination among students is the misunderstanding between students and administration. She goes on to talk about a possible solution to resolve the conflict between students and administration. Zhou builds her arguments using quotes from students. Zhou overall thinks that dress codes are given their power from school authorities, and that the dress codes discriminate against students. Although Zhou brings awareness to the discriminatory standards of female students, she uses more anecdotes than actual facts to support her claims, and her conclusion loses its power as she tries to provide a solution to the problem.

As the society that we live in today grows and becomes more accepting of the different ways people act, groom, and dress, we look to expand the policies we have in place in our schools regarding the ways our students are allowed to present themselves in the classroom. Each different school has their own dress code that they expect their students to follow. Most private schools require that students wear a uniform to school they also have regulations on what type of clothes is acceptable attire to wear to school. In addition to clothes, schools also have rules on how students are allowed to wear their hair and makeup (PBS, 1999). In recent years there has been a growing argument about these dress codes and

The way teens dress has become a daily argument in homes and schools. Many issues have gone all the way US Supreme Court. More than half of the country’s schools have some form of dress code, but there is no gold standard of what to wear in high school. It's a controversy over constitutional rights, gender, and politics. The pros and cons of dress code in schools have many people on the fence of whether or not to agree.

The placement of uniforms in schools can discriminate against gender equality, as well as one’s sexual orientation, political views, and religion. The First Amendment was put in place to grant these individual freedoms, yet students are expected to conform to school policies regardless of their own beliefs. An example of this violation would be Tinker v. Des Moines. In this court case students from a school in Des Moines, Iowa were threatened with suspension if they went through with a plan to silently protest the war in Vietnam. The students involved were denied their right to peacefully assemble.