As most of our students and staff know, Randall High School has a dress code policy. Like many other schools all around the U.S., our school enforces rules such as these: Mid-drift must be covered at all times, including when the student’s arms are raised over their head when seated. If a hairstyle is considered a distraction to the learning environment, students will be directed to change hairstyle, color, or design. In grades 3-12, shorts, skirts, and dresses need to extend at least past the tip of the middle finger when the student’s hands are placed at their side.  These are just a few of the rules students are instructed to follow every day when coming to school.

Some find the dress code to be fair and agree with the rules, while others may find them difficult to abide by and discriminatory.

“If I’m required to be here every day, then I don’t think the people around me should tell me what I can and can’t wear,” sophomore Rylee Hoelting said.

Senior Kylie Glenn is more open to having a dress code.

“I think that the dress code is good to a certain point,” Glenn said. “People shouldn’t walk around looking super inappropriate, but we should have a little bit more freedom like in college.”

Many teachers and administrators have the belief that school is a student’s workplace, and students should dress appropriately for the workplace.

“A school is a place for learning and students should come dressed and ready to learn,” assistant principal Rachel Harris said. “If you roll out of bed and come to school in your pajamas you are going to be less awake than you would be if you took the time to wake up, get dressed, and eat some breakfast.”

As we start the school year, keep in mind the dress code rules — whether you agree or not.

“If it were up to me, I would stick to the district dress code,” Harris said. “In a perfect world, every student would follow those expectations.”