To the Editor:

 

I am writing today to bring attention to the dress code that was implemented at Edwardsburg Public Schools. This dress code is unnecessary, perpetuates misogyny and conformism and places an extreme burden on teachers and students alike.

A strict dress code may seem like a harmless and beneficial rule for schools. However, it is neither of those. First, there is scant research that shows a dress code improves grades, attendance, school spirit, or problem behavior in school. So, if there is no objective data to support dress codes as beneficial we have to ask why would a school implement a dress code?

The reason given to me is the primary impetus for this letter. According to at least one administrator at my school, some clothing can be distracting. But who are we distracting? (When I say ‘we’, I am referring to the female population of our school system, because a very large majority of the dress code is addressed to women.)

Why should females be penalized because the males are “distracted?” In reality, this administrator was telling me two things; 1. males are not responsible for their own behavior and 2. I value a male’s education more than a female’s education. This statement is extremely troubling to me. By holding young women accountable at such an early age for males’ actions, we are supporting misogyny.

Blaming women for someone else’s actions is known as a rape culture, because the victim is never seen as completely innocent. Moreover, by taking girls out of class because their attire may arouse/distract boys, are denying them equal access to class time. If a girl has to wait in the office until her parents bring something deemed suitable they are obviously missing out on valuable instruction.

By having such a strict dress code, we are learning that we have to conform to standards presented to us or we are doing something bad. An after-effect of being forced to think this way is that we grow up believing that we should follow standards and rules without question. I know it seems trite, but this mindset cuts off almost all creativity, and when this happens, works of art, intuitive new inventions, activists stepping out of social norms to bring justice, all get diminished.

Having a strict dress code will cause an educator to literally become the fashion police. Teachers and administrators are already burdened with work that may actually affect the future of young adults (i.e., teaching), giving them needless responsibilities will only take away from the important things they need to do.

Finally, I know that it is the prerogative of the school to implement a dress code. If they must have a strict dress code, I’d like to suggest that the school work with the students to develop one that respects our dignity and values, and does not perpetuate cultural practices that are harmful.

 

Sincerely,

Natalie Adams

Edwardsburg freshman