Dress code policies have been a hot topic in current media. There has been a huge debate and that does not exclude debate in NKHS.

Female students have many concerns about the dress code and how often they get stopped. One anonymous student who had been stopped said,“I was wearing long shorts and a cropped shirt. I wish I could have been given a better reason than ‘it’s clearly against dress code’ or ‘it’s inappropriate.’”  

Many of the female students argue that the dress code sexualizes their bodies or makes them feel uncomfortable in their own skin. The student said, “For me, a lot of contention about the dress code is that it implies that there is something wrong with my body or the way I choose to dress myself.”

Public school dress codes have always, and continue to be, a point of disagreement between parents, administrators, and students trying to find a middle ground on what is appropriate. If you visit or email the student council, you can air your grievances with the dress code to them.

Taking into account that High school is a place to prepare for college, and inevitably a job, Dean Meghan Maguire said, “ I think in my opinion that the school environment should promote professionalism. For example, outside of school you’re going to later do things like go to work and you wouldn’t necessarily wear to work where you would wear out with your friends.”

Teachers have an obligation to enforce the dress code whether or not they agree with it. It is part of their job to foster the rules that administration sets up for them. As Mrs. Maguire said, “I think that part of it is important and also not to mention like, you know, there are male and female teachers in the building who don’t want to see their students’ body parts.”

The dress code has been controversial for many reasons, one being the inadvertent targeting of female bodies. As the student said, “The shirt did show my stomach a bit, but it was comfortable and I felt good about myself in it. It wasn’t a big deal to me that the shirt showed 2 inches of my stomach, but I guess it is to administration.” Both Mrs. Maguire and Mrs. Lemos said that the dress code is a blanket statement for all genders; if one gender tends to break the dress code more often it is out of their hands.

The dress code has always, and will continue to be, an unsolved situation, but visiting the student union could help to get students’ opinions and beliefs heard.