Every school has the choice. Each school has to make its decision. So, the question is, ”Should high schools have dress codes?” Although students are not in the positon to decide, they are in the place where they are affected by the choice made. I gather that most of them do not want to wear a uniform to school every day, or any day, for that matter. However, it must be realized this issue has so much more depth to it than simply what students are going to wear next monday morning. High schools should not enforce a dress code for many reasons. Having a dress code would severely reduce the expression of students. Also, if everyone wore the same uniform, this would bring about conformity. Lastly, this would limit students’ freedom even more.
Having a school dress code would limit the expression of its students. There are so many different kinds of clothing out there but, by having a specific uniform dress, the students’ opportunities to represent themselves in the way they choose would be ruined. However, there should be certain guidelines regarding how students dress because, while they are representing themselves, the students, as a whole, are also representing their school. High schoolers should have the opportunity to express themselves through their clothing choices, but they should be required to do so in an appropriate, modest way.
If everyone wore the same clothes, it would bring about conformity. Imagine how boring it would be if all high schoolers dressed the same. It is understandable that certain teams and clubs within the school should wear uniforms. The purpose of uniform dress is to, as the word suggests, “unify” the groups that wear them. So, dress codes are a suitable choice for programs within a school since they show the fact that those students are coming together for a common interest and working towards a similar goal. However, none of us are alike. We all look different , so I’m asking, “Why would we try to be the same?” With so much variety in the world, we really shouldn’t insist that everyone conform to one idea.
The freedom of students is restricted when dress codes are in place. Even though, it is a relatively insignificant decision in life, if there is a dress code, it becomes just one more choice taken away. If schools instead determine exactly what their students can put on every monday through friday, then eventually that control over them adds up. While schools should have authority over their students, it is not really necessary to have complete possession over this area. Highschoolers should be able to learn how they feel most comfortable, that it is fine to make some choices of their own, and that they shouldn’t feel the need to fit into a specific image.
High schoolers should not be required to wear uniforms, but they should be expected to dress and also carry themselves in a mature, acceptable manner that upholds the strong values that should be developed in the individual and within the school. Although, in the bigger picture, dress codes are not that significant, the ideas that they generate should definitely be taken into consideration. We should take whatever measures we can, no matter how small, to establish within students, and people in general, that is okay to be whatever they want, but more importantly, that it is striking to be themselves.
That’s another thing- I really enjoy conversation and I’m pretty sure I say way more than the average words used per day.
