Student’s recent style choices continue to cause problems at TJ.
District dress code tough to follow for some students during the warm temperatures. Photo by Savannah Orth
Over the years, the DPS dress code has slowly become more and more liberal, but lately some question if this is being taken advantage of has arrisen.
Waunetta Vann, a DU Ritchie Administrative Intern here at TJ, has been cracking down on students who have violated the school dress code. Vann describes students’ recent style selections as “not casual,” and believes students should be more conscious about what they wear. The increasing number of students wearing what teachers consider “inappropriate” not only causes stress to faculty members, but also diverts the student from their attention to their school work.
“Students sometimes forget about the beauty that they naturally have,” Vann comments. Many of the outfits worn by some students at TJ are both overly provacative and a distraction from the learning environment. Although the warm summer weather may be to blame, Vann still believes students’ revealing outfits may not be the answer to fighting off the hot summer weather. According to Vann, “Less clothing will not make you cooler. Wearing one inch longer shorts will not change your body temperature.” Even so, Vann would not change anything about TJ’s dress code policy. In fact, when asked about her thoughts on uniforms, Vann stated, “Individuals should be individuals and should be allowed to express themselves,” making her opposition on uniforms clear.
Cassie Jewell, a senior at TJ, not only rejects the idea of uniforms but also views the dress code as somewhat of an exaggeration. “I think there is some extent to where girls should be sent home for what they’re wearing, but also be smart about what they wear because not everything they send girls home for is inappropriate.” Recently, most of the girls who are getting sent home is because their tops are too low cut or because their shorts are too short, but are teachers determining inappropriate clothing based on a rule that doesn’t apply to all?
Many teachers expect students to wear appropriate shorts and/or skirts that are “below their fingertips” when the arms are extended downward at the sides. But it’s hard to apply this rule since everyone is different. “Each girl has a different body shape and you have to find what fits you right. It’s even harder to do that because of popular styles today and that’s all stores sell now, even Target,” said Jewell, who believes it’s not just the students’ fault for their choices in fashion, but also celebrities, as well as the clothing that is sold in many retail stores. “With style today it’s hard to find shorts that are the certain length [teachers] want. Everywhere you shop it’s all the same style.” Most celebrities today wear somewhat revealing outfits and the majority of teenagers follow in their footsteps. However, students should be conscious that they are students and not celebrities and must respect the dress code that their school enforces.
The distraction caused by students’ revealing outfits not only impairs their learning experience, but that of their classmates, as well. It’s important for students to wear school-appropriate clothing in order to maintain a productive learning environment while still keeping in touch with their own personal style.
