By: Catherine Settin
A few weeks ago, high school girls from South Jordan, Utah were denied the chance to go to their senior homecoming dance because of “inappropriate clothing” that violated the school’s dress code. Their strapless evening gowns and spaghetti strap dresses were found too revealing by administrators. Stories just like this one show just how unreasonable dress code can be because it takes away a simple student right. Dress codes have become a problem in the past few years and are making students across the country unhappy. It has gotten to the point where students are getting detentions and suspensions for dress code violations. Not only are the punishments unreasonable, but some administrators and teachers are way too strict about it.
A dress code is reasonable, but the way some teachers handle it needs to change. Of course, in a school setting, students should not show up in strapless tops, tight short-shorts or saggy pants. However, some teachers do not know how to deal with dress coding a student properly. For example, a girl should be allowed to wear yoga pants without being called out for it in front of the entire class.
By calling a student out it violates a student’s privacy and you would think teachers should know how to handle that situation better. If a student isn’t dressing appropriately, instead of embarrassing the student, teachers should pull them to the side. Schools enforce dress codes mainly on girls because they believe it is a distraction for boys and the educational environment. It should not be a girl’s job to make other people behave with decency and respect.
Recently, a female senior student at Ardrey Kell was called out in front of her entire class just so her teacher could dress code her. “I’m a senior in highschool and still being treated like I’m in elementary school by my teachers. I’m 18 and should be allowed to wear what I want without automatically being accused for it in front of my whole class. Not only is it embarrassing, but its unreasonable and rude.” A simple call to the hallway could have been a more reasonable resolution instead of making her stand up in front of the class. Overall, I do believe in the dress code, but what I don’t believe in is teachers setting out to humiliate a student for trying to be comfortable at school.
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