Administration is cracking down on student dress code enforcement because of outfits worn around the school building. Last week, the school shared a presentation on appropriate dress attire and inappropriate dress attire and sent an email days later.

The problem with strict enforcement of a dress code is that it violates the opportunity for free expression, everybody should be able to wear what they want to without being told what not to do. If students feel comfortable in they you are wearing then that is what they should wear. It is about how they feel about their clothes, not how others may view them. It’s important to be comfortable in one’s clothes because it can make up one’s identity and how other people see them.

Students and staff should be able to control themselves about whatever other students wear, what someone wears is not a distraction unless individuals allow it to be. What students want to wear to school is their choice and not the school’s choice. Clothes can be a big part of someone’s life and their clothes could mean a lot to them, and the “no’s” from administration only hurt, not help expression.

As long as clothes don’t have anything illegal or offensive, students should be allowed to wear them. The dress code infractions are mainly toward those who have exposed and showing skin, seemingly targeted at female students and not males who often wear exposing clothing. 

Some students may not have enough money or their parents may not be able to afford them new clothes. If they are not allowed to wear the clothes that they already have then they may struggle finding different clothes and further alienate them among their classmates. 

Students should be able to freely wear whatever they want and feel comfortable in the clothes that they have. The dress code should not be taken as strictly as it is because it is really not a big deal for the majority of students and staff. A revised dress code is necessary and essential to include and provide opportunity for expression to all students.