There are seven days in a week. At the most, five of them are spent within the1
walls of a school. Whether you go to high school, junior high school or elementary school, there are rules set forth that everyone at the school must follow. These rules are often argued about or broken by students attending the school. One of the most commonly argued rules in high schools in our area is the dress code. Dress code means that straps on shirts must be three fingers wide, no one is allowed to show their stomachs or backs, and shorts and skirts must be no shorter than your fingertips when your arms are hanging down. Because of the dress code, girls object to not being able to wear halter-tops or shirts with spaghetti straps, and guys complain about not being able to wear muscle shirts and hats.2
What none of these teenagers are considering is the image that they put forth3
for others to see. Some guys like to see girls in short skirts or in shirts that show their cleavage, but those girls are just certain girls out of a whole school and they make the others look bad. The other girls don’t exactly enjoy looking at the amount of thigh that some girls willingly expose. They don’t exactly seem to care about what the other girls call them or what they say about them. They get a bad reputation in they eyes of people who actually dress appropriately. There are also adults in the school that don’t exactly need to see the belly button or cleavage of a teenage girl. The way you dress at school shouldn’t make people stare with disrespect. As for hats, it is definitely a plus to see the eyes of the person you’re talking to without the distracting shadow cast by a hat.4
Some people get away with breaking dress codes at dances by showing up wearing something such as a sweater or larger shirt that they plan to take off once they get onto the dance floor. There they are seen wearing tops that show their backs, and the straps are thin or non-existent. By breaking dress code it only ruins things for people that obey the rules. The dress code gets more strict, and the school starts looking more closely at what people are wearing to school functions. Every time that we are bussed down to a presentation at the theatre, guys put on their hats, and every time they are reminded again that it is still a school function so hats are not allowed.5
If you really look at the dress code, it’s far from a life or death situation. It actually could be a lot worse. Yes, the administration at school is telling you what you’re not allowed to wear to school, but they aren’t telling you what you have to wear. Dress code does not mean that everyone has to dress the same and it does not mean anything like uniforms. Dress code simply means that for six and a half hours a day, you wear things that are acceptable for school. For the other seventeen and a half hours, you can dress however you want.6
It just doesn’t make sense that when you’re standing in front of your closet or getting ready for school, that it takes that much effort to put on something with a little bit thicker straps. How hard is it to conceal your legs in something a few inches longer? How hard is it to keep the hat in your backpack until you are outside where you will actually need it? Really, it’s not a big deal, dressing appropriately and respectively isn’t the worst, or even the hardest thing that’s going to happen in life. It should be worth keeping yourself from a bad reputation, and seven hours later you can wear whatever you want. Deal?7
Author notes
This is my writer's workshop persuasive essay. it's the third assignment i had to hand in for writers workshop, the other two were Changes, and The mirror. This was my persuasive essay, and I got an A on it.
kayla*
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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Interesting. I would have thought to give you an A-. Sorry. The biggest argument for dress code is so students can concentrate more on their studies and not be caught up in the social scene of who is wearing or not wearing what. Education is the goal of schools even if that fact has largely been forgotten by our society.
You did present good argument for the dress code. There is another side, but sure the teacher did not asks you to present them both in one paper. Journalist in me speaking.
Congrats on the A. -
Yeah the text color is a little hard on the eyes but you did a GREAT job with this! I hate when girls come to school and their... breasts are hanging out of their shirt or their butt hanging out of their shorts and skirts. We have a dress code too but people still break it. I dont mind spaghetti straps or shrts that dont have much back. Shoulders and backs arent anything horrible at least not to me. Hat are ok. Some guys look so hot with a hat on their heads but I do like to see people's eyes. Also, the boys at my school wear muscle shirts sort of. They wear those tight white tank top thinkgs sunder their shirts and then they take them off when they get hot. They cant wear those shirts with the arm holes that go down far and show their chest (thank god!) I hate when large boys with boobs wear those its just gross. You did a great job with this essay and you definately deserved that A!
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Amen! As a Christian in a leanient public school, i TOTALLY see your side. So many girls come wearing basically nothing at all, disrespecting themselves and only feeding fuel into the pervert machines they complain about ever so frequently. Respect is a huge issue here, and a lot of people lack it, and do whatever they can to be popular or whatever. Well, sadly you could have the personality of a rock, if you show enough skin you are automatically popular. It's sickening. I hate it when girls come to school dressed like.... um.....streetwalkers. Not only is it disturbing but its just not right to see that much of them. I agree with you completely and this was a great essay, you deserved the A you got. All i can suggest is changing the text color....white on pink is a bit hard on the eyes. great job
-saab
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I agree, about the dress code. However, I think that your arguement rather than presenting facts, it presented opinion. Dress is one form of expression that is in the eyes of the wearer- even if it is misenterpeted by the eyes of the seer.
Looking back- when I attended a private school, I realize that both I and my parents saved a considerable amount on the cost of clothing- trendy or new. Your opinions are noted and are very prespective. One perspective would be- How much would the average outfit worn once every week or two weeks cost? How much would be saved if the average teenager had to wear uniforms 5 out of 7 days?
Nice write- good arguement. -
Never had to worry about a dress code... actually envied those private school kids who had to wear uniforms.... was guilty of showing cleavage and back also... a good argument presented... can you write the other side of it?
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WELL HEY, at my school I have to wear a blue tartan skirt, a white shirt, black stockings and black shoes and a blue jumper., i also wear a blue tie and when I am in town, or anywhere in public while wearing this uniform I have to wear a black jacket with the schools symbol on it. I go to a private school so they are strict about this. but when it comes down to it, I don't mind, because if we didnt have a uniform, I would have a hard time deciding what I was going to wear to school, even though I have a massive wordrobe, i think it is easier this way, and there is a slim chance that I will not look respectable.
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