First and foremost, I feel like I should give the disclaimer that this is not talking about every dress code ever. The sometimes antiquated and sexist rules that exist in some schools can occasionally go too far and are due for a change. What this article is meant to tackle, or rather complain about, is more of a uniform code, like the ones seen at private schools.
I was a private school kid. I have been for my entire life, and, even now, I attend a private university. Last year on the first day of school of college, it was the first time I had ever picked up my own clothes to wear to school. No real uniform or dress code in place. I have never known anything but uniforms, so I understand that it really can feel like it's taking away individuality or not the most appealing to the fashionably gifted (not a gift I possess).
I love my high school for all its flaws, and so, for that, it shall remain nameless. Over the summer, I heard that a new person will be taking over as a dean of students, enforcing the rules that they have fallen by the wayside in previous years. One of the big issues that have occurred at my high school for at least as long as I was there, was skirt length. Uniform included a tucked in button up shirt, a plaid or khaki skirt for girls, khaki pants for boys, dress shoes, and a blazer. The rule on skirts is pretty specific: skirts should fall 4" above the young woman's knee when she's kneeling.*
That, or something similar, has been the rule since I started there in sixth grade, yet a majority still don't follow it. I'd be lying if I said there wasn't the occasional rolling of my own skirt so that it was shorter than regulation length, but I'd like to think it wasn't ridiculous. Anyway, on the first day of school this year, something like 70 girls got disciplinary infractions for having skirts of an inappropriate link, which in a high school of 350 people, makes a splash. It was ALL over my social media. People making jokes about the infractions. But the thing that made me pause was the small minority that was actually ticked. And to that, I have to say…
Stop whining. I'm so glad I'm not there anymore because I can only imagine the hate that I would get for saying that, but stop. I went to the school for seven years. I got yelled that countless times for having the wrong socks, or for my shirt not being tucked in, but I usually knew that I was breaking the rules. Because of this, I accepted the trouble I got in. At my school, and many other private schools, before the year even starts, we are mandated to read the handbook then sign a paper, along with our parents' signature, to confirm that we did indeed read the handbook. For those who don't know, the handbook is a VERY detailed list of EVERY rule at the school. By signing that paper, we are signing to agree to follow those rules. By being a parent and signing the paper, you're saying you'll make sure your child follows the rules.
I talked to one of the teachers at school, and she confirmed that not one male teacher had written any infractions. They had ALL been written by female teachers. I will say that some girls were called out in front of others, and I don't agree with the practice of shaming females. Give them the note to fix it, and leave it alone.
That's pretty much my entire rant, and I'm sure this whole issue will pass over soon, but I'm just tired of hearing some people acting like the teachers are completely to blame. You signed the paper saying you'd follow the rules. So follow them.
