Let's talk about the dress code. It has become a very popular topic discussed among parents. I am not a parent, but I was in school not long ago. I currently work in retail, so I am very aware of the changes that have occurred since my graduation back in 2012.

During my years in school, the dress code was quite simple: No baggy clothes that hang off your butt and fall to your knees, no facial piercings can be worn by either males or females, girls couldn't show their belly buttons, no vulgar or obscene language or graphics on clothes. The dress code addressed do's and don'ts of both girls and boys.

From working in retail, especially during the back to school shopping season, I quickly started learning the crazy changes that were being made right under our eyes. There was one woman and her daughter that came into my store looking for a lace cardigan. I showed her one that we had. It was a cap sleeve, and she she told me that her daughter's shoulder had to be completely covered. I was astonished. After she told me that, I decided to do some digging.

The girl is a student at Colbert County High School in Leighton, Alabama. I looked up the dress code for that particular county, and this is what I found: "Students must recognize that revealing clothing is not appropriate apparel in school. Garments that are “see-through,” cut low or expose ones midriff are not acceptable...Garments must have a visible sleeve that extends beyond the end of the shoulder. Skirts or shorts must not be shorter than touching the top of the knee when the wearer stands upright. Gym shorts, spandex/bike shorts and other similar type shorts are prohibited."

I love the fact that they added "revealing" into the same bullet point. So apparently showing a little shoulder is revealing now. This is the middle of the freaking summer! Why would you not allow shorts of any kind as long as they're an "appropriate" length? Being a girl that was once in school, the only shorts I could wear were basketball shorts. That leaves girls now the option of burning up, or burning up.

This really sparked my interest in search of other dress codes across the state. I looked into Lauderdale County's dress code, and I was surprisingly pleased with it. Here is what I found: "Skirts or dresses must be at least one (1) inch below mid-thigh." And also, "Shorts shall be permitted in grades K-12; however, beginning in the 4th grade, shorts are permissible when the length is at least one (1) inch below mid-thigh and not so tight that they would be considered disruptive."

Take a minute to look at where mid-thigh is. In comparison to other school systems' dress codes, mid-thigh is very generous. So if Lauderdale County Board of Education doesn't think that mid-thigh is "disruptive," then why do other schools? Almost all dress codes that I have looked into have stated that piercings are limited to the ears for girls only. No belly rings allowed. Excuse me, but it's none of their business if a girl has her belly button pierced. If the belly button is such a sacred place, then they need to keep their eyes to themselves.

If school administrators would spend more time focusing on the education of students instead of what they're wearing, then we would have a lot less entitled children running around. And when you pull a student out of the classroom because her shoulder was showing, then you are stealing her of her education. Shame on you. I reached out to a mother whose daughter was suspended from school because her clothes didn't meet the dress code that was changed after school had already started. The mother's name is Symphany Powell, and she had this to say, "All I want is for our kids to be treated equally. Suspending girls because they distract boys says their education is not as important as male students." I couldn't agree with you more, Symphany.

It's absolutely sad that we are living in a body shaming time. If someone's eyes wander, it's not their fault. It's the fault of the other person (almost always girls), the true victim, for what they are wearing. If a boy cannot control his eyes and his second brain at the sight of a shoulder or the sight of a tiny hole in a pair of pants, then he has a huge problem and needs mental help. Please get that boy some Prozac. Or Jesus.