There’s an elephant in the room, and it’s about time to speak about it. The dress code has been a controversial topic, and it needs to be reviewed. It hasn’t been reviewed in about ten years, according to curriculum generalist Paul Gessner, and the dress code doesn’t fit with modern fashion.

We often hear students complain about the dress code, typically girls. Female violators are usually sent to administration for disobeying the fingertip rule, meaning their fingertips go past the length of their skirts or shorts. The fingertip rule is an inaccurate form of enforcement because different girls have different body types: Some girls have longer arms or shorter arms, some may have meatier arms and some may have skinnier arms. Using this system to say that someone’s clothing is inappropriate or not is very biased and unfair.

What’s inappropriate about a tank top with straps that aren’t two inches wide? What is so unbecoming about shorts that are a few inches away from our fingertips? We constantly hear teachers say that it’s a distraction when girls dress inappropriately. They fail to understand that it is also a boy’s responsibility to control his hormones.  

The MPS dress code states, “Rules concerning dress may be established by individual schools only when they relate to a specific educational, health or safety purpose.”

“I don’t think that our dress code complies with the MPS dress code,” English teacher Amy Daroszeski said. “What does a spaghetti strapped tank top have to do with education, health or safety?” 

A tank top or camisole does not disturb the learning process, it does not put anybody’s health at risk and it definitely does not put anyone in danger. So there is absolutely no point in telling students that they cannot wear it. 

The purpose of the dress code, according to underfill administrator Diane Johnson-Horton, is to assure that students leave here knowing what’s appropriate and what’s not appropriate. If that is the case, then why isn’t staff required to follow the dress code? 

“By contract, staff members are not obligated to follow the dress code,” Gessner said. 

So isn’t that a double-standard, to say that students have to follow the dress code though those who enforce it don’t have to? It seems pretty hypocritical.