Dress Code?

As the weather gets warmer and the sun comes out so does more and more skin. When the temperature reaches about 70 degrees at VHS students look for any excuse to shed a layer of clothing. The sleeves to men’s shirts suddenly disappear and walking down the hallway it is nearly impossible to notice the bare stomachs and exposed legs on every girl that walks past.

Like any other school VHS has a dress code, but the lack of enforcement gives students an opportunity to show some more skin than specified in the guidelines.

“In general most people don’t take advantage of the dress code but there are clearly some students who push the limits,” said VHS teacher Patricia Hemsley-Cartotto.

It is no secret that girls are more limited by school dress codes and that these rules are meant to keep the school environment appropriate; some of these rules specify that shorts, skirts and dresses may not be shorter than a certain length, stomachs must be covered and shirts can not be cut too low on the chest. Meanwhile for the boy students the main rule is that shirts with no sleeves are not allowed.

“The dress code here is definitely much more relaxed than other schools and rightfully so because traditional dress codes are focused around girls which doesn’t seem fair,” added VHs Senior Ciarra Davidson.

As our society develops is it time that our schools become more progressive as well or should dress codes continue to be implemented in order to prevent any distractions during the day?

The school handbook states that all “VHS students are expected to attend school dressed in a manner which is not distracting to the teachers, staff or other students and which is not detrimental to the educational process of the school.” But, there is definitely a blurred line determining what actually serves as a distraction to our students. Are you really distracted by that boy’s bare bicep while you are sitting in math class and is it affecting the positive learning environment?

While there are some teachers who enforce the dress code at VHS, there is definitely an inconsistency on what is accepted. Sometimes students can easily get away with anything they wear while other times they are told to change. The lack of clarity with the implementation of the rules allows students to go around the guidelines much easier.

As the temperature continues to rise so will the hemlines. Shirts will be much shorter and sleeves will magically disappear and many students will continue to push the limits. Will schools continue to enforce dress code regulations or will they become something of the past?