Naturally, it is the schools’ responsibility to provide students with the best education it is capable …show more content…
of. As stated in the dress code policy, its goal is to “specify standards of dress and grooming that promote a safe school setting conducive to a positive learning environment” (Dress Policy). The learning environment is crucial to students’ academic success. Most certainly, revealing clothes can be disruptive to the educational environment. High school students go through the most sexually aware periods. Even with self-control and discipline, it is hard for most of them to focus on academics without any thoughts about sex. Revealing clothes that fail to appropriately cover the body inevitably draw attention that should be going to the education. By enforcing a dress code to conceal the body, schools create a suitable education environment, with a greater focus on education rather than on sexual excitement.
The social development of the students is no less important than academic development.
Schools teach teenagers how to act in a civil society. In schools’ microcosm, students learn to interact with each other and with teachers. They learn the manners in society and respect towards the community and themselves. Through the dress code policy, appropriate attire is taught in schools. In the workplace, there is no dress code to guide the workers, but successful workers still adhere to the common sense on expectations of formality and conservativeness of clothing. It is the schools’ goal to teach its students this common sense so that they can be a successful worker in the future. Furthermore, the most important factor in presenting oneself is the clothes. The standards of dress set forth by the dress code sets a bare minimum. Failure to follow this guideline would not only result in punishments from the school but also in degradation of self. It is important that schools socially educate the students by enforcing the dress code
policies.
It is only just that the schools enforce these dress codes with respect to law and morals. It is true that dress codes violate the students’ First Amendment rights to freedom of expression and Fourteenth Amendment rights to freedom of individuality; however, schools’ policies take precedence over Constitutional laws to create a safe and positive environment. The 1969 Supreme Court ruling “protects students’ right to expression through clothing” as long as it is “not disruptive or political” (Libertarian Rock). Because what a student is wearing can be a hindrance to education, schools have all the rights to enforce a dress code that prohibits excessive exposure. Like the suspension of Second Amendment rights, First Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment rights are also suspended in school. Not having a dress code policy to moderate sexually immoral clothes would only lead to troubles, including sexual harassment, teen pregnancy, and academic failure, and therefore, these policies are rightfully created and enforced.
The schools are justified in creating and enforcing the dress codes policies restraining the uncovering of skin because it promotes a better learning environment in which students socially and academically develop more successfully. Students claim that they are responsible and they should have the right to choose their own fashion; however, it is because the students are not yet fully responsible that they are enrolled in school. School shapes these responsibilities to be more acceptable in society. Naturally, with hot temperatures, students are inclined to wear clothing that tends to display more skin. The self-control and durability to refrain from choosing these exposing clothing, which disrupts the class, should be taught in school. Like building a skyscraper from its base, schools are built with its base on firm moderation of school attire. Students should be dressed for success, because clothes make the person.