Dress codes have historically been a big deal at school, with administrators, parents, and students debating whether or not clothing is too “distracting” or too “inappropriate.” Lately, students are starting to wear whatever they want as long as they are comfortable wearing it and teachers and administrators have not been as strict with dress code enforcement as previous years. Dress code policies have changed over the years, and people are starting to care less about it.
Even though some students may be uncomfortable with how their peers dress at school a great deal of leeway is seen from the various outfits. A shift of equity and acceptance has occurred in many campuses that allows for a changing set of behavior rules. However, there are still some guidelines.
“It has to be enforced at some level if it’s an extreme violation of it but I don’t think it’s enforced too regularly what the student is wearing is an extreme form of violating the dress code,” said Erika Luna, a counselor here at James Logan High School. “So my impression of it is that it’s fine. It exists for a reason like every school needs a dress code because we definitely don’t need students wearing offensive things like on their T-shirts and such.”
Students haven’t been getting dress coded based on what they are wearing. Dress codes are less talked about, and it should be something that the students are more aware about. Speaking to senior Ryzel Dela Cruz on her perspective on the whole dress code policy, she says,
“I barely see anyone wearing alternative clothing that is more revealing. I don’t hear anyone getting called out to change,” senior Rysel Del Cruz said.
Years ago, everyone had to follow up with what to wear and what not to wear at school. Students who were dress coded were told to change into their PE clothes or received a phone call home. But are teachers and administrators starting to care less about what a student wears?
“Yes, I think we have become so immune. We are used to seeing things that maybe historically have not been okay,” Luna said. “But there are still moments when it’s necessary to have conversations about it. So for the most part, yes we are not paying attention.”
