James Braman

Bailey Brant
Jay Carrick
Alisa Priest
Krissii Rankin
Hugh Stanton
English 12 A (2)
Mr. Gross
26 February 14

School Dress Code

Walk in to a school with boys and girls all wearing the same colored tan shirt, and
navy blue slakes. All of the students hair is a natural color and all the girls either have
short hair or it is up in a ponytail. All kids look almost the same, because the school dress
code states they must be that way. Basic public decency laws are sufficient for the rest of
the country, they should be sufficient in school too. It is not as if a lack of a dress code
means students will not have to follow already established laws. School dress codes are
an extremely harmful practice which limit religious expression, and self-expression.
Numerous religions such as Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, certain sects of Christianity, and
other religions require members to wear specific clothing when outside the home. People
have an innate desire to be free which dress codes would severely hinder by forcing
students to wear clothing which runs contrary to their values.
School dress codes hinder thousands, if not millions of students who wish to
express their religious or spiritual beliefs. Muslims girls cannot wear their head scarf due
to many schools ban on hats. For example, Upon entering the school building, students
(male and female) must remove their hats and place them in their lockers until they exit
the building for lunch or to go home (Shepherd Student Handbook 16). This shows there
are no provisions for anyone of any religious faith who is required to wear some form of
head covering. In some schools, certain spiritual or occult symbols are also repressed
even though students who practice these beliefs have as much right to religious freedom
as members of more popular religions. "If Christians blatantly wear their crosses, or if
Jews can wear a Star of David, why can't I wear my pentacle" (Erickson 1). Dress codes
are a massive impingement on every Americans right to religious freedom.
School dress codes do not allow kids to express themselves because every
morning a student takes time to dress according to their mood, sexuality, race, or just
their own style. Sometimes students wear certain clothes for a purpose, or they might not
be fortunate to wear whatever they want. By not allowing a student to dress the way they
desire, a part of them is being insulted, and affronted. In 1969, there was a Supreme
Court case that all started over two teens in high school wearing armbands against the
Vietnam War. Students, the Court held, do not "shed their constitutional rights to
freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate,"(SPLC 1). The case was ruled
to give students the freedom to express their selves.
By giving schools dress codes that do not they are violating this right that was
given to them by the law. While many support the idea of school uniforms and believe
it would help to limit the bullying among peers and create equality among all the
financial classes of students, it eliminates making fun of a child that has bad clothes or
clothes that do not match.(Ferrari-Man 1) Many believe that dress codes teach young
people self respect and morals. School uniforms have been shown to raise test scores and
help students focus more on studies and homework. Despite popular beliefs dress codes
only lime the freedom that students are entitled to.
Trying to prevent bullying is a worthy cause, but the benefits of each decision
must be weighed against the negative. Hindering students ability to exercise their first
amendment right far outweighs any potential positives that dress codes would give.
Students also have a right to express themselves in an appropriate manner compliant with
the law. Excessive regulations are not required for civil obedience. Forcing students to
conform with someone elses standards is an incredibly unhealthy practice. Allow
students to be express their individuality, it is for their own benefit.