The Need For Dress Code Revision

More stories from Amelia Johnson

Kayla McKenzie, freshman
December 20, 2017
Some+Casual+Wear+of+Esperanza+Students.

Amelia Johnson

Some Casual Wear of Esperanza Students.

Walking around campus, I often stop and think, “Should you wear that at school?” Well, even if it wasn’t appropriate, there was absolutely no enforcement of the dress code for those instances.

The dress code in the student handbook is  so outdated, that almost everyone in the school has broken the dress code at one point in time.

For most of the people that haven’t read the dress code, here’s a run down: Shoes are required; no “over revealing clothes” (tank tops, short shorts, bare-midriff tops, low necklines, etc.); obvious clothing about sex, drugs, racial/ethnic prejudices, or violence; and no sleepwear or underwear worn as outerwear.

It was obvious that most people don’t read nor follow the code. The lack of enforcement of the code is also at fault.

Instead of getting rid of the dress code completely, like most people would suggest. The most logical thing is to just revise the dress code. Almost everyone in high school has worn pajamas to school before, even if it was just the t-shirt that they wore to bed the night before. Though the Pajama Day, for spirit weeks, are an exception, the casual wearing of clothes that are meant for sleeping in, is not going to end. Even if it is in the dress code or not.

The thing about “over revealing” clothes is that it is more focused towards women. But, if the people who created the dress code, now look at the average clothes that are marketed and sold to women, they would realize that the low necklines, tank tops and short shorts are all really that are readily available for women in clothing stores.

So, though it should be regulated, it should be understood that sometimes the clothing choices, are less choices, but whatever is more available. So some leniency should be given, to those who have little availability to more “dress code- friendly”.

But, that doesn’t mean that all revealing clothes should be ignored from the dress code. There are certain things that shouldn’t be worn, wither it be for skin, prejudice, or other not-school-appropriate images.

The enforcement of the dress code should also be improved. If someone has a shirt that isn’t school appropriate, or in someone is showing excessive skin, outside of the understanding of the basic lack of options, they should be written up for inappropriate dress code. Early on, so that they have time to change before later on in the day. The enforcement will help later on, and still provide a more appropriate school environment. Such as a warning, and maybe offering to call home to bring a change of clothes. If the lack of regard of the dress code persists after the first day. Hours should be assigned, and another call home.

Revising the dress code would be more efficient, and enforcement of the revised dress code, will get the message across better, without shirking the expression of personality of the students.