This previous week, it was brought to the attention of both students and parents at New Trier High School that the student dress, one that is supposed to encourage "adolescents to develop their own style of dress" (Tim Dohrer, principal of the school) has been taken advantage of, and by doing so has tainted the learning environment. Students and parents were notified both in advisory discussions and via email. The administration addressed the problems caused by girls with "low jeans, short skirts, short shorts, crop tops, strapless or backless shirts, see-through tights, and revealing tank tops that...are inappropriate for an educational setting" (Dohrer). The scandalous attire worn by the students of New Trier even made WGN News and the Chicago Tribune.
Although the administration has a valid point in its complaint on promiscuous dress and the repercussions of it, our culture in many ways has embraced this right of individual and unique dress. The appeal of American culture to many is the ability to make choices. Ranging from freedom of speech to the right to bear arms to the freedom of religion, many are probably wondering why kids can't wear the clothes that are sold to them in department stores. Provocative dress is also endorsed and even glorified today in pop culture. Sexualized women and what they wear is broadcasted daily in commercials, movies, and magazines.
While I don't approve or encourage dressing in this manner, I don't believe everyone should be penalized for the actions of a select few attending the school. I feel it's a right to wear the clothes you choose and a responsibility to dress appropriately in an educational environment. I find attire to be a defining characteristic of a person and a great way to express yourself as an individual. Hopefully, more students will be able to both express themselves through their dress while making sure they are not becoming a distraction in the classroom setting.
Wow donna! Very well structured and researched.
ReplyDeleteI am undoubtedly impressed with the compassion you display throughout this work. Bravo, I definitely feel enlightened.
Dons-
ReplyDeleteI laughed when i saw this title- in case you were wondering. Firstly because it's clever, and secondly because you are notorious for dressing uniquely. (I say that as a friend, so I hope you and everyone else takes it that way)
Anyway, I found this post really interesting because it got me thinking about a lot of American values that are pre-programmed, if you will, into our minds. People are always saying "cover up- you're hanging out!", but why is physical exposure frowned upon in the first place? There are plenty of cultures with women that freely expose their breasts and none of them are tagged as "inappropriate". I'm not saying that I agree with slutty (excuse my french) clothing, but that's only because I've grown up with the "dress to tease not to please" mentality. The question I'm wondering is why? Why has "slutty" always been bad to begin with?
I personally thought that the most surprising part of your post was the reactions that these letters and advisory discussions are evoking. I think it is so interesting that we as Americans learned and believed so early on that we should have a freedom to everything and anything. What the school is asking for in their letter really isn't that ridiculous, they really didn't put in any rigid rules, they never gave us a minimum skirt length or a maximum midriff showing value. They just said they want modesty for the sake of everyone and to limit distractions. Immediately the reaction from not only us students, but parents, and apparently even some journalist from the Chicago Tribune was that the school is cutting off our freedom.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.glogster.com/media/1/3/44/56/3445688.jpg&imgrefurl=http://nic26jes.glogster.com/right-to-bear-arms/&h=267&w=294&sz=15&tbnid=WxAVn8fZ5eRtsM:&tbnh=83&tbnw=91&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dthe%2Bright%2Bto%2Bbear%2Barms%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=the+right+to+bear+arms&docid=xhTrUI1bM6ySsM&sa=X&ei=a5ZuTtG9NdCFsALh0MDjBA&ved=0CEgQ9QEwBA&dur=250
ReplyDeleteFirst off, hats off to your title, very clever, I did laugh a little after reading the article and understanding that you were not talking about guns. I think you really hit it spot on without being very generic in what you said above. My question to you though is, do you think that New Trier will eventually impose strict dress code regulations on things like how short is too short? And furthermore, at what point is the administration "cutting off our freedom" and not just explaining that modesty is a good thing? What is the line?
ReplyDeleteI think Naomi and Sheridan came up with good points--the administration didn't necessarily create a dress code, but just gave advice to students to dress modestly. Despite this, the student body felt attacked and almost offended that the school had the nerve to give their opinions on the clothes we wear. I believe that this statement made by New Trier was an attempt to keep things from getting even FURTHER out of control. They will probably see how the students react to the announcement, and then decide from there whether or not to strictly enforce a dress code.
ReplyDeleteDonna- I could not agree with you more on this issue. Clothing has been expressing personality and individuality for centuries. Also, I find it unfair that the school just came out with the dress code during the school year instead of before. I find this unfair because I, as well as many other students, went back-to-school shopping without knowing of these guidelines. Therefore, I have wasted my money on clothes that I cannot wear to school. If I ,and others, had known about these guidelines before, we could have bought more school appropriate clothes.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I feel that a good amount of us girls feel more comfortable in "sluttier" clothing because that is what is in style in society today. No girl is going to wear completely out of style bermuda shorts to please school rules. Hopefully after the cold season, certain girls will mature enough to know not to dress like prostitutes at school, and those who never seriously violated the dress code will have their freedom again.