A Few Simple Things: Dress Code

     Dress code is one of the many things we, as a school system, allow to become a problem for the simple reason that we do nothing about it.  It is not a problem everywhere, but it is in some school systems.  I have taught in three different high schools in three different states.  The high school I attended was in another state. So I have experience of some kind in four high schools in four states.  The difference of the impact of dress code is amazing to me.  So are the reasons that determine the impact dress code can have on the educational day.
     Where I went to high school dress code was not a problem.  We were made aware of the expectations.  We knew what was acceptable and what was not.  We also knew that if we crossed that line it would not be overlooked by the staff and administration.  If you wore something (male or female) that did not meet the policy expectations you were given a few minutes to correct the problem if that was possible.  If the issue was not, or could not be corrected the student was sent home, no questions asked.      My first teaching experience was very similar.  The dress code expectations were very clear and consistently enforced.  By doing both the county prevented dress from becoming an issue which took time and focus away from instructional time.  There were no questions, no excuses.  You either met the expectations or you were not allowed to be there.     My second high school as a teacher was a little less effective when dealing with the dress code.  The enforcement of the policy was consistent.  However, the expectations of what was, and was not acceptable were not as clear.  The uncertainty on the part of the students led to more violations as students felt more free to test the boundaries.  The uncertainty also led teachers to spend more time determining what should be addressed and what should not.  The simple uncertainty allowed the dress code to encroach on instructional time.     In my current school system:  “Wear what you want and see if anything happens.”  At least that might as well be the printed policy for dress code.  Believe it or not we have currently instituted a new dress code which consist of students not being allowed to show their stomachs.  No joke, that is it.  What makes this even worse than it sounds is that our policy is only strongly enforced the first week of school and the first week of spring.  For the rest of the school year it is random at best, and dependent on who the student is at worst.  A student can wear an outfit two or three times but it will only be addressed as a dress code policy issue once.  Worse, two students can wear the same outfit on the same day, but it will only be addressed as a dress code issue with one of the students.
     The uncertainty along with the on-gain, off-again enforcement makes dress code a factor of each and every class period of every school day.  It is not that dress code should not matter. Dress code should matter as students need to understand what is acceptable and unacceptable in certain situations concerning dress. Students need to understand they cannot necessarily wear whatever they want to a job interview, or to work.  The simple fact is dress code is allowed to become a problem in my current school system (and many others) because those in charge do not want to take the time to enforce the an appropriate dress code.  In today’s society our current dress code (or lack there of) is a security concern.  I will address dress code as a security problem in a near future post.