Winter is nearing its end, so naturally we hope the spring semester will bring warmer, more tolerable weather. We can anticipate that this might also entail a shift in apparel, more specifically wearing less layers, which could prove to be disagreeable to the Watauga Student Handbook’s dress code. Fashion trends are anything but stagnant, and neither is social justice as we saw this past summer, so many young individuals are reevaluating their personal beliefs about dress code and individual expression.
The restriction of apparel serves a different purpose for every school, some implementing strict uniform codes for the sake of tradition, and others being extremely relaxed as a means to create a seemingly progressive environment.
Watauga High School’s dress code does not enforce uniforms, though that does not mean we are without restrictions altogether. For years our dress code policy has acted as a guide to how to dress appropriately, some examples being the prohibition of profanity, dangerous accessories and visible undergarments, midriffs, private areas, etc.
A common curiosity students have expressed is why dress code is necessary at all, to which Watauga High School Principal, Chris Blanton, has answered, “There are portions of the policy that discusses not allowing anything that endangers the health and safety of students. I think anything we can do to keep students safe is necessary.” In other words, there are a variety of accessories and clothing designs that could either serve as a threat to a student’s health, or to a student’s identity.
Being that we’re sandwiched in a relatively small town in the more rural portions of North Carolina, Watauga High School’s diversity is lacking, so it's imperative that the dress code prohibits any discriminative apparel of any kind as we lack diversity that might highlight the need for an accepting attitude that a school in an urban area might possess.
Sophomore Sarah Trefz agrees, stating, “The dress code is helpful because there are many offensive symbols or phrases that can make others feel uncomfortable and unaccepted. Though we all have freedom of speech, derogatory comments and symbols that are degrading [to] certain communities and individuals are a big problem. I think all students should feel accepted equally.”
The Watauga Student Handbook states, “The board prohibits any appearance or clothing that does the following: violates a reasonable dress code adopted and publicized by the school; is substantially disruptive; is provocative or obscene; or endangers the health or safety of the student or others.”
Despite it's assistance in prohibiting offensive symbols and messages, various other issues have been discussed regarding this certain topic, such as how dress codes act as validation for individuals who tend to victim blame. “Disruptive” is a subjective term, so many students are wondering why certain parts of their body may be distracting when it isn’t inherently sexual, which brings about the question if we’re teaching students that it's okay to sexualize their peers.
Another second sophomore student, who wished to remain anonymous, stated, “People should be able to wear whatever they want. One way to express yourself is your clothes…boys need to learn how to control themselves because there is no dress code in the real world so they need to get used to how some women dress (same with girls).”
Administration argues that restrictions are set in place for other reasons. “One thing that is particularly important to me is preparing students for life after high school and appearance is an important part of future success,” Blanton assures us.
Administration is correct in that a large proportion of professional jobs will have an accompanying dress code for it's employees, however how many are going to continue to abide by a dress code post-COVID? Having had to shift to remote communication over quarantine this past spring, many employed persons are still doing so as their employer does not require them to work in person. Working from home would in turn entail a more relaxed approach to apparel, so we could see a shift in the dependence of dress code in the workplace. This debate is one that has two valid arguments, and as the world starts to adjust back into normality, we might just see dress code change.
Written by: Sullivan McAulay
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