Task 4: What do I believe in?

     Living in North America, freedom of expression is a concept that is detrimental to our rights, and something that is collectively agreed upon in the constitution. The issue then arises on the limits of that expression and where and when the lines need to be drawn. A place where this often becomes a controversy is in school environments on the topic of dress codes; the extent to which they should be enforced or whether they should be there at all. In my opinion, dress codes are essential to school environments and come with many benefits.

     Although schools are meant to be learning environments, for many students the very thought of that setting can be stressful due to the pressure to “fit in” or be “popular”. A sad reality that we have to face today is that a lot of this “popularity” comes from appearance whether it is having the right kind of curves or the right kind of muscles. Body shaming is a very real issue that both boys and girls face in school today which not only affects their mental health, but can significantly hinder their academic performance. It reduces students’ self-esteem and shifts their focus to looking and dressing in the way that seems desirable or accepted by others rather than focusing on their learning. Keeping a dress code in place can reduce this type of social conflict and peer pressure as it sets appropriate clothing guidelines. These guidelines ensure that students dress themselves in way that does not instigate any negative or inferior feelings in others. A simple dress code can avoid many of these issues and allows students to focus on the real reason they are in school: to learn.

     Another great benefit to dress codes is the concept of discipline. As comfortable as we would like students to feel at school, we must remind them that it is still a learning environment and they are expected to look presentable to a certain extent. Wearing appropriate clothing comes with a level of respect for the teachers and fellow students and creates a healthy environment; an environment which students will have to deal with in the real world. It instils discipline in the kids so that they are well aware of how to present themselves in more serious and formal settings, and there is no reason why schools should not be one of those settings. At the end of the day, it is a learning environment and students should be taught to be comfortable, but respect that space at the same time. The purpose of a dress code is not to shame students, but to teach them that there is a time and place for everything; just as it would be in the future when they will have to carry themselves in the real world.

     As mentioned previously, a topic that often gets addressed when it comes to dress codes is freedom of expression. One thing that must be understood is that there is a difference between a dress code and uniform. While a uniform is specific pieces of clothing that strictly must be worn by all students, a dress code is simply a set of guidelines. Dress codes do not blend each and every student into one colour, but rather gives them the freedom to choose their own wardrobe while ensuring that those choices are wise and appropriate. In this way, if one would like to argue about freedom of expression, there is not much to say as dress codes do not limit expression in the way a uniform does. Additionally, there is much more to freedom of expression than simply your clothing. Individuality comes from so much more than just appearance; your manners, speech, and treatment of others says more about you than anything else could, and this is a concept that must be enforced in schools time and time again. Having the freedom to choose our appearance is important, but while we focus on that we must remember that true individuality comes from within.

     Although simple, dress codes can become a sensitive topic, but given the points above it can be seen the importance of its existence in a school environment. A dress code is not a uniform, and aims to play a completely different role; its purpose is not to put everyone under one label. Dress codes do not ask for a lot, but having one in place most certainly does a lot. It encourages students to focus on their academics and instils discipline into their own choices rather than making those choices for them.