Does Student Attire Affect Campus Culture?
Alexandra Baird
EE Staff Writer ‘13
When walking through the halls of Trumbull High School, I sometimes see girls and begin to question their wardrobe choices. The amount of skin being shown by some of these girls is clearly in violation of the school’s beloved dress code, yet what is being done about it? Nothing. While I am not always one to preach on behalf of Trumbull High School’s policies, I strongly support our school’s rules on how to dress.
Trumbull High School’s dress code is focused on girls and their tendency to mistake beach fashion for school apparel. The code restricts girls from wearing booty shorts, midriff and shoulder bearing shirts, as well as other items that may be deemed inappropriate. Consequences for girls who break these rules include being sent home to change or calling a parent to drop off appropriate clothing.
In addition to changing, violators will also get a warning and have the incident marked on their record. But that does not stop the girls who are intent on looking as if they are about to spend the day pool side, rather than in a school building.
In fact, many students oppose the dress code. Some believe that it is too strict, and that they should be allowed to wear shorts that could double as underwear. Well, maybe they think they look classy and sophisticated, but I know I could bear to see a few less body parts on my walks through the hallways.
Mrs. Nicholson, a business and technology teacher at Trumbull High School, is a fellow supporter of the dress code. Like many other teachers, she finds it important to enforce the code, but it is sometimes difficult to do so. “For many teachers, it is embarrassing to have to call out a student for inappropriate clothing, especially regarding girls and their shirt choices.” This plays a big part in the fact that many times the dress code is not enforced.
And can we blame the students for not following it if no one is enforcing it? In my opinion, no.
We can only blame the lack of avid dress code followers on the teachers who fail to enforce it for so long. At some point, these girls need to step up and realize that their degrading way of dressing is trashy and disturbing to those who have to see it. Students who want to be successful in their careers need to realize now that dressing inappropriately will have an affect on their future.
Senior Chayse Hellthaler, was found to be in violation of the dress code last June. Her shorts were found to be too short by an administrator, and she was sent home to change into pants. Her personal record now has been marred by that experience, and she reflects on the incident.
“If I could go back, I probably would have followed the dress code more carefully, but my shorts were hardly the worst offense in the halls,” Chayse says.
After speaking with multiple girls, a common feeling is that while people who get in trouble often deserve it, many skip away in their tiny crop tops that expose half of their upper body without even a warning. While I can sympathize with these believers, is it that hard to just put on an outfit that doesn’t come with the risk of flashing people?
In my fourth year here at THS, I have yet to have any of my outfits commented on by staff for being “illegal,” and I cannot say that I have tried very hard to accomplish that. While the subzero temperatures of some of my classrooms are partially to blame, I also have some self respect and do not find it necessary to expose myself in a learning institution. I save my bikini tops for the beach, not bake shop.