At Southern Lehigh this year, the administration has started enforcing the dress code more strictly to ensure students dress appropriately. But does the dress code restrict too much? While I completely agree that a dress code should be implemented, the rule on shorts seems too severe.
I think we can all agree that if your skirt looks like you squeezed into one leg of your tights, or if we can see through your shirt, it’s inappropriate for school, arguably for anywhere, but the rule on shorts is more subjective. While I do think that some shorts are too short to be worn in school, mid thigh seems a bit long. Somewhere in between would be appropriate.
I’ll start with my weakest point: style. While it probably doesn’t weigh in much on the minds of those who make the rules, style is a big factor in students’ apparel choices. With the new dress code in place and the weather getting warmer, girls now have to wear mid-length shorts, which only look normal on people who are pediatric or geriatric.
This means that girls have to man up and commit the fashion faux pas, or wear dresses or skirts that look more normal when longer. While this seems perfectly fine for those who didn’t already have their school wardrobe, replacing these items can get pricy.
When you break it down, there are five days in a school week. Since we wear something different each day, that’s five dresses, skirts, or shorts. Since we don’t want to wear the same outfits every week, we’ll need ten different outfits for good measure. Averaging the cost of a sundress or a pair of bermuda shorts at Target, not a popular, more expensive store like Aero or Hollister, is around 24 dollars. The lowest possible cost for a dress code appropriate wardrobe, for those who have to start from scratch, is around 240 dollars. This could get even more costly if you go to the more trendy stores.
Personally, I only own two dresses and a skirt and not 240 dollars to spend on a new wardrobe. It also seems a waste to replace my perfectly fine wardrobe when I know there are plenty of people who can’t afford the clothes I already have.
Many other girls I spoke with agreed the rule on shorts is too strict and feel the administration should relax the rules a bit.
“I think it’s irrational because hardly any stores that sell clothing for people under 30 sell mid-thigh shorts, so unless you have short thighs, that’s absurd,” junior Rachael Christman said. “I understand shorts can be too short, but if they are a reasonable length, you’re fine.”
The majority of the girls here are reasonable as well; we know that too short is unacceptable and can recognize when it goes too far.
“[Mid-thigh] doesn’t look good on everyone,” junior Gemma Malone said. “I think as long as they cover the places they need to cover, they’re fine.”
The girls here understand the school needs a dress code in place; we just want a little more freedom.
“[The Dress Code] is good because girls are more modest, but I think they’re being too strict about it,” junior Casey Comfort said.
Now that I’ve made my point, what can we do to solve this problem?
A rule on shorts definitely needs to be in place. I’ve seen shorts so short the pockets hang out, and we can see way more of the person than we wanted to, but mid thigh is still too long. A good compromise may be if the rule was changed to one-third thigh length shorts. This way people would be covered up, and students would be able to wear the shorts they already have.
While I know rules are rules and we have to follow them, I hope the administration takes our plea in mind and alters the dress code rule on shorts.
