Alexander Wright Mr. Greco ELA 11 18 March 2024 School dress codes have long been a subject of controversy, sparking debates over individuality, equality, and safety in educational environments. Some people argue that dress codes promote a sense of professionalism and minimize distractions, while others claim they often suppress self-expression and can perpetuate gender biases. This paper will explore the multifaceted implications of enforcing dress codes in schools, examining their impact on student freedom, educational outcomes, and the school culture at large. The implementation of more lenient school dress codes can foster greater self-expression and individuality among students, ultimately enhancing their overall educational experience. …show more content…
Another example of the school going out of their way to punish someone for wearing dress code was when a girl was punished for wearing jeans while it was cold outside and not the school skirt. The school dress code has always been demeaning kids for wearing what they wanted to wear and in a similar situation, a school would punish someone for wearing something they felt comfortable in. For instance, a school in Canada would punish a girl for just wearing a dress and jeans on different days (“School dress codes are demeaning”). In 2015, Lauren Wiggins saw that her school dress code policies were unfair and needed a change, so she decided to go against these standards by wearing a full-length halter dress. Lauren was later taken into detention and told to change out of her clothes and not do this again. However, Lauren wanted to show them that it's okay and wore jeans to school the next day. She was later taken to detention and told not to do this …show more content…
They think that it's fair for the school system to take away other clothing like see-through garments, spaghetti straps, hats, and gang-related colors (Rowena). They also note that boys wearing baggy pants, showing their underwear, can be a distraction in a classroom, too. Although some of these may be reasonable, they have no right to take out colors just because they are gang colors or spaghetti straps because they may be too inappropriate. While some school students can take advantage of the school system, they don’t have the right to take away from everyone. Furthermore, with lenient school dress codes, students can express themselves among their peers and gain a higher level of confidence and enhance their experience in school. Some more examples stated in this paper were when a high school boy figured he could wear a dress to prom and face no consequences, but was fined $249 for the incident. Another example was when a girl in Canada went against her school standards and wore a full-length halter dress, was reprimanded, and told to never do that again, however the next day she wore jeans and faced more
It was official in 2005; the Lima City Schools board of education adopted a new dress code policy. This policy would be used to crack down on the unruly students who refused to follow the already lenient rules. “With a stricter dress code, students will focus more on school than looking at other students, said Suzanne Helm, a Victoria resident.” (Cavazos, 1). Lima City School District, like the Victoria school district located in Texas, spent many hours designing the new dress code policy. This new policy will test if the way students dress effects their behavior and the way that they learn.
According to greatschools.org, “Enforcing a strict dress code can place the focus of school on clothing and rules, rather than on education.” Most schools have specific uniforms that a child must wear in order to attend. Many children that go to school, have single parents and / or more than one ...
The belief that public schools should enforce strict dress codes has been the topic of many controversial and heated debates throughout history. Although it is uncommon for public schools to require uniforms, every school has some type of dress code. Elizabeth Forward High School in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, is no different than the rest of the nation. When caught violating the dress code, some teachers will choose to ignore it, whereas others will send the student to the high school office. If sent to the office, students are penalized with a day of in-school suspension instead of being allowed to call for a change of clothes. At first glance, the prohibition of tank tops, jeans with holes above the knee, and shorts and skirts shorter than fingertip length, among many other guidelines, seems reasonable, but after further reconsideration, it is clear that the dress code at Elizabeth Forward High School is ridiculous and hypocritical. I think that Elizabeth Forward High School should lift the harsh policies because of the temperature fluctuation in the building throughout the school year, recent trends among teens, and the hypocrisy associated with the dress code.
“Dress codes and school uniforms increase school safety by eliminating gang-related clothing and helping aid in the recognition of nonstudents on campus. Other potential benefits cited include better student behavior, more resistance to peer pressure and improved emphasis on academics. About one in four public elementary schools and one in eight public middle and high schools in the USA have policies dictating what a student wears to school.” (Ellis)
Did you know that Americans spend around one billion dollars per year on school uniforms? At the beginning of every school year, families shop for weeks and weeks to find specific clothes that fit into a school’s strict uniform dress code. School uniforms should not be required in schools because they take away from the student’s freedom of expression, do not lower disciplinary problems, and do not prevent bullying based on economic status. Dress codes often have more of a negative impact than a positive impact when it comes to students being able to learn. Many people say that being in free dress is a distraction, when in reality, uniforms are more of a distraction.
Parents and their children are constantly arguing about the way students dress in school. This debate has become a national conversation which has been going on for more than a decade. However, there still hasn’t been a final resolution. The questions “Why do I have to wear the uniform today?” or “Can I wear this t-shirt because the color matches with my school t-shirt?” have become part of our everyday lives. Before we go any further, we have to understand the difference between uniforms and dress codes. A uniform is simply a garment worn that is the same in all cases and at all times. Whereas, a dress code is a set of rules regarding the required manner of clothing in a certain context. For instance, a school might not allow students to wear
Varying Issues Corresponding to the School Dress Code Shelby A. Scholle Newbury Park High School Abstract Dress code enforces the modest dress of students, preventing bullying and distractions. Numerous people believe clothing is a distraction and when eliminated the school environment is more professional and gives a better education to a student. Authority figures consider the school apparel enforcements are constitutionally sound, not affecting the child’s right to freely express, and providing a professional and working setting causing a better learning environment and decreased amount of bullying due to clear differences in appearance. However, opposers disagree with the restrictive code because of its limitations on individuality causing students to conform, sexist ideas in the form of punishment and how forms of clothing causes a distraction, and influencing rape culture. Costs for an advanced educational environment, positive, and negative effects will be explored within this paper to determine whether or not the dress code is necessary for an advanced learning environment or limiting the student's ability to express themselves.
America’s school systems seem to have many issues concerning students receiving a quality education without distraction. A current debate argues weather a dress code policy is efficient or takes away from student’s expression. Administrators at schools should regulate a dress code policy because the system improves discipline and student’s attention, reduces social conflict and peer pressure related to appearance, and dress code provides a more serious learning environment.
Dress codes have always existed in the United States. They were especially popular throughout the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Once the ‘80s hit, the dress code fad began to die off until the late ‘90s came around. At the beginning of 1997, three percent of public schools required school uniforms, and by the end of 2000, the percentage had increased to twenty-one percent (“School Uniforms Timeline” 2). This is when school uniforms began to come back into style. More and more schools are now adapting school dress code policies. According to Matt Buesing, about twenty-two percent of children across the nation wore some form of a dress code in 2010 (Cavazos 2). Since then, David Brunsma has found that about one in eight public middle schools and high schools in the United States have policies about what students are supposed to wear to school (Motsinger 1). For example, certain schools have a strict dress code that ma...
School dress code is controversial, sometimes being the cause of inner-school violence. The censorship of this raises issues when students complain that their personal rights to express themselves after schools limit what they can or cannot wear. School dress code are the guide lines that schools set that define what is acceptable to wear to school. An example of student dress code censorship was the case involving a thirteen year-old student in Williamstown displaying his political opinion about former President Bush (Nguyen). Because the shirt contained drug references and words calling the president a "crook", an "AWOL, draft dodger" and a "lying drunk driver," he was told to go home after refusing to take it off (Nguyen). This case went to two different courts, a US District Court, and the Second Circuit Court. The US District Court agreed with the school's opinion because they believed the images on Guille's shirt were not appropriate for a school atmosphere (Nguyen). Meanwhile, the Second Circuit Court ruled that the school should not have censored the shirt because even thou...
Over the past decade, the school dress code has become an increasingly common policy in many schools across the globe. These dress codes were put in place of the requirements for students to wear specific clothing such as uniforms. School dress codes provide guidelines through which students are allowed to wear any clothing that meets the school’s requirement, most times restricting the content, style or cut of clothing. Consequently, school dress codes are designed to create a safe and distraction-free atmosphere in a school while providing students with the freedom of expression and individuality through their wardrobe. Over the years, studies have shown that school dress codes promote a more serious school atmosphere
Before this subject can be analyzed further, there are a few key terms that must be defined. Dress codes are: “Rules designed by school districts or individual schools to prescribe students’ attire” (Chittom 1). Public Schools are: “Schools that are openly available to the general public at minimal cost and do not have entrance requirements based on prior knowledge or ability” (Chittom 1). Many public schools are requiring school uniforms in an effort to improve students’ academic performance. Some public schools have received positive results, but many others have a different point of view. This leads into the first point of this essay.
Pickerington School District should require students to have a uniform dress code. The current dress code policy is very minimal and is not adhered to by the students. Faculty overlook the students who don’t abide by the current dress code as it would take away from their teaching time. One of the main concerns that is brought up when the topic of school uniforms is discussed is freedom of expression. Many people worry that not allowing children to wear certain clothing will “stifle their creativity” (p. ) or restrict their First Amendment rights (Nevada, 2008). There are many reasons for having uniforms in public schools. School uniforms have been shown to improve test scores, raise school pride, increase attendance, reduce violence, and teaches students to dress professionally. School uniforms can also avert the wearing of gang colors (Wilson, 1998).
On the contrary, others argue that by enforcing school uniforms in a high school setting, it suppresses individuality. They argue that uniforms do not encourage students to pursue individual thought. In addition, they claim that by enforcin...
When a large population of people are expected to dress alike there will be controversy. A large population of dress regulations that is evident would be in current schools because of uniforms. From the side of wearing or purchasing uniforms, students and parents feel as if they are oppressed from their rights when they are forced to abide by the school policies. When the argument is for school uniforms, people agree that uniforms decrease the focus on clothing rather circulates around education, discipline, and safety. The opinions of both sides are arguably valid; yet, uniforms will continue to be enforced.