School Dress Codes

Public School Dress Codes School dress codes have been a very controversial topic lately. With social media helping to spread the stories of students that feel like their schools have taken these rules too far people all around the country are outraged over public school dress codes and how they oversexualize pre-teen and teenage girls and limit the clothes students can wear. To help fully understand this hot button issue and establish a point of view I will speak of some of the history of dress codes, why I believe they are unnecessarily restrictive, inconsistent, and unfair, and some arguments that are promoting these codes. The first dress code laws were established in 1969 by the US Supreme Court. The case that brought this law was the

Typical male attire might include a t-shirt and jeans, both acceptable at almost any school. Lower necklines, sleeveless shirts, and hems above the knee are elements of most female clothes. But these aspects are banned from school making it harder for girls to find clothes that are acceptable. This not only limits their shopping options but requires the conscious awareness of what is and isn’t allowed at school while buying clothes. According to a study by the Education Partnership Inc. into the effect of dress codes on test scores, the result were inconclusive and mixed. There are several more studies just like this one proving that strict dress codes don’t really do much except anger students. Now that we have the looked back to the past, learned about the present, and have evaluated how unnecessarily restrictive, inconsistent, and unfair dress codes are let’s look at some of the arguments promoting these rigid dress

However what they fail to acknowledge is college is about learning, so there is no dress code. Yes there are certain days, like when you are giving a speech, which you will want to look professional but overall people don’t focus on things like that because frankly nobody cares. Even in professional office settings more often than not shoulders and collarbones and knees are acceptable. Another argument for these strict dress codes is that without them people would dress in a way that would distract their peers. When, in reality, it is the responsibility of each student to control his or her mind and focus in class. Doubting students’ ability to control their own minds is an insult to them. It suggests that these students are not able to control their thoughts and other people must change to fit their needs. This isn’t how the world works and if these students think the world around them will change to fit their needs they are sorely mistaken, and definitely not college or career ready. These young adults should be held responsible for their own