Dress Code

Dress Code

May 22nd, 2017 by Abbey Fitzpatrick

Warmer weather is fastly approaching (hopefully) and the classic dress code speech is right around the corner. "No shorts/skirts above your fingertips" "No bra straps showing" "Tank tops must have straps at least one inch thick," etcetera, etcetera. More recently, there has been a substantial debate about school dress codes all over the country. Sandy Creek's dress code, like many of its kind promotes conservative ideas for "dressing appropriately". These thoughts are discriminatory towards girls because it objectifies their bodies. Action needs to be taken to promote more equal and fair dress codes between both genders.
One of the main reasons a change needs happen is that the dress code now is more lenient on males than females. For example, a female can be taken out of class, wasting valuable education time while she could be educated instead, because she is "distracting boys" with her apparentl "too short" skirt. The question that stands out here: What is more important: A student's attire or their education? All students should be held to the same standard, gender should not matter. Materialistic items should not affect a student's education. By implementing a more equitable non-discriminatory dress code, an example would be set for holding all students to the same standard later in life at the workplace and in society in general.
Another reason revision needs to happen is that the dress code is simply unethical. Society today revolves around having the newest and most "trendy" materialistic items, which causes youth and young adults to feel like they "require" these things in order to be seen as acceptable . Kids today face so many outside pressures, so why add more in place where the kids should be able to just be themselves? Students should be able to be comfortable in their own skin during school and not have to deal with additional judgment about what they wear from their peers and staff alike.
As the President of the Class of 2019, I feel that it is my job to bring up this issue and to give some suggestions as of how we can amend the dress code to be more equitable as well as feasible and up to date. Instead of specific parameters for lengths and types of clothing, I believe students should be able to wear clothes that just simply meet health and safety standards, i.e covering up specific body parts, being clean etc, and that are not offensive/obscene in nature. It's as simple as that. Being equal and feasible with the dress code will, again, promote equality today and later in life.
I have also made a poll on the school website to find out what revisions people would like to see.
Link to the poll: https://goo.gl/forms/gJNA7YwVi333mRSw1

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