Zehring 1

Lindsey Zehring

Prof. Dunham

English 1101-01

23 November 2020

Should Public Schools Have a Dress Code?

Have you ever received a dress code violation for something that didn’t seem fair? Most

school systems have written in the handbook a dress code that students must follow, but to what

extent should these rules be followed especially when they seem outlandish. In schools all

across the nation, female students are being dress coded for ridiculous reasons mainly having to

do with “distracting the boys.” Teachers often dress code based on their own interpretation of

the code. And kids are no longer being able to effectively express themselves through clothing.

Public schools should not have a dress code because of the gender discrimination, biased

opinions of teachers and the freedom of expression.

Growing up, girls are often told to not wear anything too revealing because the boys in

class will be distracted. They won’t be able to focus. Schools seem to agree with this stigma as

a majority of the dress codes are directed at female clothing. The National Women’s Law Center

made this apparent by posting that “in our nation’s capital, 81 percent of the public schools

require a uniform; 65 percent regulate the length of skirts; 58 percent forbid tank tops; (and) 42

percent ban tights and/or leggings'' (Perry). Three of the four regulations only apply to girls.

Furthermore, the national news covered stories of dress code violations including the suspension

of a student for wearing a skirt that wasn’t long enough and a student being sent to the office

because she wasn’t wearing a bra (Barrett). Schools are too concerned with what kids are

wearing to the point that they are interfering with their education. Most schools claim that they
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must police female dress because it is “too much of a distraction for boys”. Schools that do this

instead of teaching male students to respect their female peers are just encouraging sexual

harassment (Perry). Educators are just promoting discrimmination beginning with their own

policies.

If you ever attended a public school or just know general patterns of people, you would

agree that some teachers tend to favor certain students over others. Meaning, teachers will often

dress code some students for something they are wearing but not someone else who is wearing

the exact same thing. This is another form of discrimination in schools that is seen against black

women. At a public school in Baltimore City, a student asked an administrator why her black

friends get called down to the office more than someone that looks like her and he said, word for

word, it was “because white girls don’t have as much to show” (Barrett). He straight up

admitted that teachers will automatically look more into what you are wearing based on race. In

addition, some administrators have a completely indescribable bias. For example, a principal

from a high school in South Carolina told the girls that they could only wear leggings if they

were a size zero or two (Chief). Administrators end up being the only ones benefiting from the

dress codes. This kind of bias just creates an uneasy environment in schools in which students

feel like their superiors are working against them instead of with them.

Teenage years are a time for exploration and personal growth including the search for an

identity through style. Kids aren’t able to express themselves because of the hypersensitivity of

schools. Two friends had permission by their parents to wear bracelets to school that said ‘I

(heart) boobies’ in support of breast cancer awareness, but were later called down to the

Principal's Office where they got in trouble and were banned for a month from their school

dances (Gereluk). The girls were punished for something as simple as a bracelet that was by no
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means bothering any other student and was actually representing a good cause. Another instance

in which kids were trying to voice their opinions was in 1965 when three students wore black

armbands to protest the Vietnam War. They were suspended so the Tinker family brought it to

the attention of the Supreme Court which declared that the fear of disturbance in the classroom is

not enough reason to override one’s right to freedom of expression (Gereluk). Although this was

stated by the highest court in the land, it is still clearly taken lightly. In fact, in 1925 a similar

address was given by the Supreme Court saying “that the state does not have the power to

‘standardize’ its children,” but school dress codes that are heavily detailed still accomplish this

(Robson). Therefore, it can be said that students are getting way too many restrictions put on

their dress that isn’t even constitutionally allowed.

Some may argue that dress codes are very important and necessary in schools. Claiming

that they prevent teasing, to an extent, and keep kids more focused. An article about the pros and

cons of dress codes stated that 88% of parents that took part in a survey in NYC said dress codes

reduced teasing among kids because they promoted a sense of equality (Chief). The lack of

teasing between girls and boys is a valid reason for dress codes because students feeling safe is a

number one priority, but unfortunately it’s impossible to eliminate all the teasing. “Kids will

find a way to differentiate themselves from one another,” it’s just human nature (Chief). Much

more evidence would be required to prove that dress codes are absolutely necessary.

To conclude, dress codes should not be allowed in public schools. The codes mainly

apply to female students which leave them feeling very discriminated against. Teachers are

biased when they decide who to dress code and who not to by discriminating against body size

and race. Freedom of speech is threatened from schools restricting students to use their voice

through clothing. On the other hand, parents have explained that dress codes decrease teasing,
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but it is impossible for teasing to be completely eliminated. Ultimately, dress codes should be

eliminated.
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Works Cited:

Barrett, Kira. “When School Dress Codes Discriminate.” NEA, 24 July 2018,

www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/when-school-dress-codes-

discriminate.

Chief, Editor in. “19 School Dress Code Pros and Cons.” ConnectUS, 30 Apr. 2019,

connectusfund.org/19-school-dress-code-pros-and-cons.

Gereluk, Dianne. "Should Schools Have Dress Codes?" Macmillan Interdisciplinary

Handbooks:

Philosophy: Education, edited by Bryan Warnick, Macmillan US, 1st edition, 2018.

Credo Reference, http://sinclair.ohionet.org/login?

url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/macuspe/should_schools_have_dress

_codes/0?institutionId=6043. Accessed 07 Nov. 2020.

Perry, Andre. “Dress Codes Can't Cover for Bad Teaching.” The Hechinger Report, 22

May 2018, hechingerreport.org/dress-codes-cant-cover-for-bad-teaching/.

Robson, Ruthann. "Strict School Dress Codes Have Gone Beyond Safety Concerns." Gale

Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2020. Gale In Context: Opposing

Viewpoints,

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/SYVXBP725087493/OVIC?

u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=1c498395. Accessed 3 Nov. 2020. Originally published

as "School dress codes: Miniskirt madness," Los Angeles Times, 5 Sept. 2013.