Everyone knows commenting on a woman’s attire is dangerous.

Leaders at local school districts have found out just how temperamental ladies are in regards to this subject with the release of revised dress codes at Niles and Brandywine schools prohibiting tight pants.

A touchy topic to be sure, I think the decision to forbid such clothing is a good choice, and, while they may be upset now, I think students adhering to this dress code will eventually appreciate their administrators for enforcing the policies.

I think it is important for students and parents to keep in mind that with every generation and change in trends comes a controversial dress code change.

For me, it was the revised “fingertip rule” for shorts and skirts. When we put our arms to our sides, our shorts and skirts had to extend below our fingertips. I remember being disgruntled with my ridiculously long legs that I hadn’t grown into yet and my “monkey arms” that made it impossible to find shorts that were appropriate for our un-air conditioned schools. Nonetheless, looking back, I appreciate being forced to cover up and dress modestly.

As schools across the country have made similar amendments to their dress codes, an outpour of blogs and letters from outraged citizens have peppered the media. Plenty of people have asserted that it is unfair to punish girls with harsh dress code policies in order to prevent wandering eyes of distracted male students. Many have even gone as far as to say that enforcing such a dress code for this reason is no better than blaming a female rape victim for wearing revealing clothing when she was attacked.

While my inner feminist applauds this sentiment and I understand the frustration that comes with having to hide one’s body in order to keep boys on task, I think some people are missing the point.

I think everyone can agree that students learn more in school than common core curriculum. Students spend so much of their time in these buildings that it makes perfect sense to train them in other life lessons while they are there. Without enforced dress codes in school, many people would never learn how important choice in attire is during other important parts of life, like job interviews or other professional settings. While students are unlikely to wear the slacks and blouses required in a professional setting, learning traditionally acceptable necklines and clothing fits will likely do wonders when picking out clothes in the future.

Like Niles superintendent Dr. Lindley said, administrators are trying to prepare students for their futures. If students are forced to get in the habit of dressing in accordance to workplace standards while they are in school, they are more likely to dress accordingly throughout the rest of their lives.

So, while your first instinct may be to fight back against these new dress codes, I urge young ladies to try to approach the topic objectively and use this time as a training ground for future work settings.

Trust me. You’ll thank your teachers later.

 

Ambrosia Neldon is the managing editor at Leader Publications. She can be reached by email at ambrosia.neldon@leaderpub.com, or by phone at (269) 687-7713.