Students and teachers at Cane Creek Middle School constantly undergo the argument on dress code. Some might call it overreacting to such a minor idea, while others, specifically students, are passionate about its biased nature. “It’s clearly biased. You see boys all the time having underwear sticking out from under their shorts, and the girls not being allowed to have a single bra strap showing,” stated an anonymous adverse. Of course, with such a growing argument we have the contradiction, expressing that it is fully fair because of muscle shirts, head wear, and all rules applying to the population as a whole. Of the teachers we conferred with, all of them agreed that the dress code is appropriate, and can easily influence education with more freedom. “No matter the attempted disputes, you can’t deny that boys still have a dress code, even if it is not being enforced with balance. If people didn't want to wear scandalous and inappropriate clothing, then this wouldn't have to be an issue.” Cane Creek students gathered together to discuss this openly, beyond just our school.
Areas within Tennessee only allow you to have a solid color shirt, tucked in neatly at all times. If you choose to wear a dress, It must be black or navy blue. These schools prioritize violation prevention. After only 2 violations of the dress code, the student will have a day of ISS. No holes in pants, no flare pants, and always a belt no matter what type of pants you are wearing. “I feel like highly restrictive rules can take away a sense of your identity and self expression,” states a student, having experienced uniforms at an old school. These schools only allow piercings on the bottom of the ears and nowhere else (Nose, cartilage etc…) Long coats, heavy coats, and hooded items have to be put away in a locker or left at home, who cares if it’s pouring rain. “That’s insane,” states some CCMS students growing new appreciation for their rights. You must have your name on your clothes and it can only be one inch long on the top of your jackets, pants, and shirts. You have to be clean, have properly fitted clothes and have no wrinkles in them. No brand names or pictures are allowed on your clothing or you will have to change. If you get dress coded 5 or more times then you can get expelled from the school!
We looked at another school together. In Maddison Middle School, South Carolina, all shirts must be solid in color and no patterns, not even the word “Nike” or “Adidas”. You can only wear black or navy blue pants. Hoodies are not allowed in the building either. No shirts that allow people to see above your waist, similar to the rules at CCMS. The shorts and rips in your pants have to be 3 inches below the middle of your knee (a little lower than our “finger length” rule). Students must wear appropriate footwear, no slides, sandals, house shoes, or any other shoes that are not tennis shoes. So for lot’s of girls at our school, don’t go to Maddison if you would like to wear your Birkenstocks. And of course, an enforced rule often violated at our school, no pajama pants or sleepwear allowed.
We surveyed students and faculty on the dress code and here are some of their opinions. Mila Davidson said, “I disagree with the dress code because someone could wear shorts with very short arms but if someone were to wear the same pair of shorts and have long arms they would be dress-coded. Also, if one girl is more ‘grown’ than another girl, they get dress coded, and the other person likely wouldn't be. It is 100% gender biased, because guys can wear underwear going past their shorts, but girls can barely wear any type of shorts. I understand the bra strap rule but girls have to wear bras so they shouldn't get in trouble for wearing one.” Davidson had very strong ideas and insisted on many changes. Another student, Ethan Whitaker stated that the dress code being biased is both true and not true in certain ways. “The dress code depends, it is different between girls and guys because most boys don't have to worry about wearing belly and cropped shirts. It is somewhat gender biased because the rules make sense, but girls tend to choose to wear more revealing clothes than boys, therefore they seem to be targeted. You should be able to wear what you want to wear. Be yourself, man!”
When someone gets dress-coded they are told to change, but I believe the dress code isn't hurting anyone. If someone’s parents let them leave the house in that outfit, then it should be fine for them to wear it as long as they feel comfortable in it. There are extremes that I understand, and obvious areas needing to be covered, but that doesn’t explain some rules. The dress code should be changed to where there is no shoulder restriction, you should be able to wear spaghetti straps and students should be allowed to wear crop tops at a certain length. No one has told a teacher it was distracting, so why does it matter to the teachers and the county so much? This debate is real and objecting and supporting students seem to stay strong on their ideas until we settle on a logical agreement.