A hot topic of conversation for years has been issues regarding the student dress code. However, it is obvious that the guideline defining dress standards in the Middleburgh High School Student Handbook and Code of Conduct is not strict enough. The current relaxed policy is entirely too negligent in addresses an array of apparel. In fact, it is immoral and socially degrading. The present approach still allows the inappropriate exposition of shoulders, backs, bellies, hands, necks, legs, and arms. Clearly any policy that does not directly address the possibility of provocative displays of the said body parts only aids in promoting promiscuity and unethical living. The views of conservative individuals such as hall-monitor substitute Doris Spickerman are unfortunately few and far between. During an interview with Mrs. Spickerman when asked about her opinion regarding problems in student dress she responded, "Too much skin, I believe in covering the subject". Studies have shown that in various places a reduction in the amount of skin showing perfectly correlates with decreased crime, violence, oppression, and insubordination. This relationship was observed in its prime in the schools of Kabul, Afghanistan for several decades. Students graduating out of their superior educational system have been seen to celebrate peace and equality more than most in that region of the world.
Too often the First Amendment is used to defend tasteless expressions of thought and opinion. These abuses undermine the intent of this provision and nullify the Constitution. The Supreme Court has already set a precedent that there are certain situations were civil liberties might be limited. The school community is a very delicate environment and the uninhibited instruction of the students should be the main priority. Therefore, any demonstration of distracting behavior, such as the insidious display of elbows, should be vehemently forbidden.
The solution to this problem is to no doubt enforce a more rigid policy relating to the issue of student attire. To avoid dilemmas of trying to regulate the code it would be much easier to simply implement a protocol of mandating the covering of the entire student body. |
