Introduction
The question of enforcing school dress codes has been controversial in the US over years. The freedom of free wear that school students have been enjoying has apparently been abused. Female students in particular have the tendency of putting on outfits which are tight and revealing, plunging their male counterparts and even teachers into a lustrous trap. There have been rampant cases of school girls grappling with unwelcome advances from male students and teachers following their manner of dressing while at school. Some have even fallen victims of rape over similar allegations ? a situation that has interfered greatly with the prime purpose of seeking education. School dress code should be enforced as it fosters uniformity among students, eliminates unnecessary immoral sideshows and uplifts discipline standards.
Body
School dress code has quite a lot of significance not just to students alone but also to the institutions as well as the nation. First, people ought to acknowledge the fact that students need to be uniform while pursuing their studies in school. Uniform is a distinctive factor separating learners from other civilians. Besides, it cultivates students’ sense of responsibility and belonging to their school. Dress code fosters learners’ commitment and patriotism to their school unlike when learners are never associated with any institution. Moreover, school uniform acts as a shield from prejudicial treatment from the society. At least learners always receive fair treatment when people see them in uniform. Since most students in schools are minors who lack formal identity credentials, it is very much in order that they identify themselves with specific institutions based on their unique dress code. This is the reason why the government should put in place measures to enact adequate policies that would oblige all institutions to embrace the idea of school dress code. The idea would enhance proper standards since many unwanted behaviors would be eradicated by introducing a dress code.
On top of that, uniform dress code for students helps uplift moral standards among the members of school communities. It is widely observed that female students usually go beyond the requisite style of dressing even to an extent of compromising their morals. A number will end up exposing their underwear, midriffs as well as cleavages while in school. This habit has on many occasions been viewed as a temptation for the male students, who do not concentrate on their studies but on the girls’ beauty. The same habit of erroneous dressing by girls has been infatuating male teachers as well. Consequently, cases of teacher-student relationships have been on the rise in the recent past. In their defense and in response to condemnation, however, female students have been heard cautioning their faultfinders not to tell them what to wear but rather teach boys not to stare at them. Female activist defending gender rights across the country have amazingly been in support of free wear and severally echoed the same sentiments. This is a clear indication of how the societal morals are on the verge of extinction. No sane person can justify and/or rationalize the habit of rooming a female student unless the purpose of a school changes and the latter becomes a place for showcasing feminine mystique. The free style dress code has diverted the main attention of school members to immoral habits, luring young people into illicit and pernicious premarital relationships. To a large extent, the habits have compromised the standards of education in most of the learning institutions.
Finally, the uniform school dress code helps foster discipline standards among the members of school communities. Uniform enhances the mood of formality in the students, making them take their endeavors seriously. School dress code also makes it easier for teachers and other school workers to serve students better. Studies have once revealed that students who wear free outfits are more likely to be disruptive as compared to those who are in uniform. It means that uniform has an effect even on one’s conscience. While in uniform, students feel much more committed to their school responsibilities but when in free wear clothing, learners tend to feel and take their school responsibilities casually. Another good example is the police forces, where the uniform is part of discipline that officers embrace. Due to dress code, police forces earn the reputation of the most disciplined entities and it helps officers to be easily identified while in the field. Other entities in various sectors also have a specific dress code. For example members of Congress and House of Commons cannot be allowed within the premises in outfits other than the officially agreed upon dress code, same as bankers, engineers, medics, clerics, to mention but a few. It is hard to imagine that uniform is such a bad thing for students when indeed many adults in respectable positions spend virtually three quarters of their active lives in specific dress codes. To harmonize school behaviors, institutions should seriously consider reintroducing official dress codes for students.
Conclusion
In conclusion, following the aforementioned reasons, the enforcement of school dress code is the only way that would enable schools in the US restore sanity and uplift the dwindling educational standards. Although the US has held a record for having remarkable literacy levels for long, it is feared that unless remedial steps are urgently taken, the trend will drop with time. One of the ways through which order can be instilled in learning institutions especially elementary and in high school is by enforcing school dress codes.
