By Michaela Etienne
Dress code is a hot topic being discussed everywhere. Why are we told how to look from our head to toes? Some may argue and say that this violates freedom of expression. What they don’t know is that freedom of expression is actually limited when it comes to schools. There are certain rules that schools must follow when it comes to clothing. According to aclu.org “Dress codes that are targeted at or unevenly enforced against particular groups of students may violate laws prohibiting race and sex discrimination”. Is Apopka High School living up to these codes?
I interviewed some people to get their thoughts on the dress code. Many said that the dress code policy is way too much. Student Demelza Pierre said, “I hate dress code so much. Why do I have to please other people by what I’m wearing? I can’t come to school dressed comfortably for me, I have to dress a proper way basically for everyone else’s living. I can’t really be comfortable while I learn. I have to make others feel comfortable.” While Administrator Conyers said, “Yes, I agree with the dress code rules. They are given to us in the Student Code of Conduct and, therefore, if they are given to us then we have to abide by them. Apopka High School is actually more lenient with our dress code than the Orange County handbook because they take into account what the style is for each year. The OCPS Dress code policy states that shirts should be 4 fingers wide when covering the shoulder, we aren’t allowed to wear backless shoes, tight clothing, and revealing clothing and so on. If we were to go back to what the school code of conduct suggests then about 90% of the girls who come to school will be out of dress code.” Whereas Ms. Kelly is right in the middle of both those thoughts. She explained, “I will follow it and enforce it. However, I think that it’s a little stricter than what is more relative to what girls are wearing this day, which really isn’t bad.”
Another issue with the dress code is the treatment of boys and girls. Approximately 20 people get dress coded every week. Of that number, 90% are girls. Are boys and girls actually treated equally when it comes to the dress code? Student Holland Larson had a strong opinion about this question. She responded with, “Boys and girls aren’t necessarily treated the same. Boys, they get to wear their pants below their butts. If they can do that why can’t I show my bra strap? Of course, my boobs don’t just hang. I don’t understand how if anything slips down your shoulder you can get in trouble for that.” Ms. Kelly also disagreed with this unequal treatment. “I do not think boys and girls are treated equally when it comes to the dress code. I think it is more girls that are receiving consequences for it than the boys.” Administrator Conyers feels that we are all equally treated when it comes to the dress code “Yes, because the same rule that applies to girls also applies to boys as well.”
Wouldn’t having school uniforms make life easier? Ms. Kelly said, “Yes it would be easier to have school uniforms basically for the fact that we wouldn’t have to really monitor for dress code; it would be easy to spot someone out of it.” But Ms. Conyers didn’t feel the same. “I think that students should have original styles. By having everyone in uniforms, that does not benefit their creativity. They just have to fall in the guidelines of student dress code.”
Last, I asked everyone if they could change dress could what would they do? Holland Larson said she would allow crop tops and shorts, “We’re in Florida and it’s hot why can’t I wear shorts. I think if they loosen the dress code up then people wouldn’t be pushing.” Ms. Kelly said that “I would lighten it up a little bit like some of the shirts that the girls are wearing that are showing their shoulders a little bit I don’t think that’s so bad. I also think that it would serve a purpose as to teach different types of ways or manners to look at women and how they dress as well.” Demelza Pierre said, “I would change the whole shoulder thing because who really is going to get turned on by a shoulder.” While Ms. Conyers said, “I can’t change it so I just have to enforce it”.
