Learning Activity 3.5, Task 4: What do I believe in?
Dress Codes in Schools: An Opinion Essay
Although dress codes have long been a part of school rules, students, parents, and teachers still disagree with the rule. Schools frequently claim that dress requirements encourage respect, safety, and focusing more. Traditional dress regulations should be reconsidered, in my opinion, as they frequently continue gender bias, lead to needless penalty problems, and divert attention from learning far more than the actual clothing. Restrictive clothing standards sometimes fail to promote the ideals of diversity, fairness, and student health, which should be the main focus of a modern educational environment.
The fact that clothing restrictions frequently unfairly target girls is one of their biggest issues. Female students are more likely to be "dress-coded" for things like tank tops, crop tops, shorts, or even straps that are considered "inappropriate" in many schools. These rules hold girls accountable for how others may view them and reflect outdated notions of modesty. These regulations unintentionally communicate the idea that instead of utilizing clothing as a distraction, girls' bodies should be regulated or hidden. In addition to continuing negative gender stereotypes, this fosters a school climate in which girls feel monitored rather than encouraged. All students should be subject to the same clothing code without being subjected to unfair treatment.
Strict dress restrictions also frequently result in needless disciplinary issues that may be prevented. Teachers and administrators can spend time enforcing regulations about dress length or strap width rather than concentrating on student involvement or academic success. Students miss class, learning is disrupted, and staff-student relationships are harmed as a result. Students are sometimes even sent home to change, which detracts from their education by keeping them out of the classroom. It defies logic that something as little as a shirt or pair of shorts may take priority over attendance or academic achievement when the goal of education is to foster learning.
The identity and mental health of students may be affected as a result of strict dress codes. The expression of identity in terms of ethnic identity, gender identity, as well as being yourself, is mostly channeled through clothes. The students may lack confidence and may not feel like being different when they feel confined or embarrassed because of what they wear. The dress code rule may be effectively constructed in a manner that expects clothing along particular gender lines. This could be confusing or unpleasant discriminatory to students who may not comply to the expected gender identities. Schools can be promoters of diversities in self confidence and welcoming environments when students are given less dress codes.
In conclusion, school dress standards should be checked out again to reflect the modern times of equality, justice, and respect. Conventional policies frequently restrict students' freedom of expression, impose gender bias, and cause needless disciplinary problems. A new clothing dress code should prioritize appropriateness and safety without restricting students' identities or bodies. Students are more likely to study, contribute, and succeed when they are at ease, feeling more accepted. Education should be the top priority in schools, not dress codes.