School Dress Codes v. The First Amendment Essay - 1685 Words

America was founded on popular sovereignty and individual freedoms. What do Americans do when the freedoms given to them from birth are restricted or taken away from them? They fight! Throughout time the government has attempted to take away our civil liberties because they viewed them to be for the greater good. One huge government failure was the attempted prohibition of alcohol. It is well known that alcohol can be very dangerous and it should be restricted. However, the government went too far when it tried to take it away completely and just like their rebellious founders the American population just found ways around the law. Similarily, Carroll High School and other schools throughout the nation are severely restricting the†¦show more content†¦If one young lady can wear shorts with a â€Å"four inch inseam† or a skirt â€Å"no more than three inches from the center of the kneecap† (Carroll High School Student Handbook 2010-2011 17) then why can’t the same girl wear a pair of jeans with a small hole in them below the kneecap? All eyes are turned towards the girl sporting the classy dress and no one even notices the small hole located in the shinbone area. The strict dress codes do teach the students to dress in a respectable manner that will be necessary in future job efforts, however high school students are not at work. A majority of students have jobs and comply to the job related dress code because they are being paid to do so however, they are not being paid at school and simply want to be able to express themselves while in the public eyes of their peers. The administration is exercising all of their power to prevent the wearing of what they believe to be as inappropriate clothes, when in reality it is not. The prominent reason behind the various overdone school rules regarding dress is the loose power that administrators have been given. They have been â€Å"reserve[d] the right to determine if a clothing item or ac cessory is appropriate for school† (Carroll High School Student Handbook 2010-2011 18). The officials at school are using their own personal opinions to judge the students’ dress. Since styles change as time goes on, the generation in control and theShow MoreRelatedEssay on Arguments for School Dress Codes820 Words   |  4 PagesPresident Bill Clintons State of the Union address in January of 1996, more and more public schools are implementing dress codes and uniform policies in their schools. As a result, there has been an increase in legal controversies dealing with the issue. The reason that dress codes are not conclusively enforced is due to the application of the First Amendment to juveniles in the public school setting. The First Amendment states that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibitingRead MoreArgument Against School Uniforms Should Not Be Banned1556 Words   |  7 PagesArgument Against School Uniforms My disagreement against school dress code is that public schools should not make the student go to school uniforms. Students should be able to wear any appropriate clothing they want to wear. School uniforms are not the way to be unsuccessful in education. School uniforms are a waste of time to have in a public school system. Teachers should make the students go home and change into school appropriate clothes. Public schools should give students a chance on what theyRead MoreEssay on The Dress Code Fix1594 Words   |  7 PagesCan a Dress Code Fix It Dress codes regulate what can be worn in certain places, such as schools and facilities. These codes are controversial where ever they are enforced. People tend to think that the government does not have the power to tell them they cannot wear certain articles of clothing and the fact that some schools do it can throw people into a fit. Some people believe that dress codes stifle personal expression, that a dress code is the same thing as a uniform. Many people do not rememberRead MoreMemorandum Of Law In Support Of . Defendant’S Motion To1163 Words   |  5 Pagesconduct does not constitute expression and the Board of Education of the Town of Douglassville’s (â€Å"Douglassville†) dress code is constitutional. 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Cases that have cause an impact in society and have changedRead MoreCensorship Cases in America1404 Words   |  6 Pagesand create a strong social pressure to force the government or schools to remove the content. The information introduced in schools can contradict the ideas and values taught at home. Therefore parents become offended and request for the information to be censored. In an effort for schools to maintain order and discipline throughout, they may censor within reason. The First Amendment rights cannot be fully enforced in public schools since they may cause disruption. This causes such controversy andRead MoreCensorship in Schools Today788 Words   |  3 Pagescensorship occurs at schools. It occurs in libraries, classrooms, and even in student publications. Even though censorship can occur to a certain extent at schools, students’ First Amendment rights are still protected at school. The First Amendment protects freedom of expression, speech, press, religion, and assembly. Students are allowed to express themselves freely at school as long as they do not affect the education and as long as it is not an activity supported by the school system. Many censorshipRead MorePersuasive Essay On Dress Code711 Words   |  3 PagesDress code is a controversial subject in a lot of schools. Dress code is a set of rules put into place to promote school safety and encourage a positive learning atmosphere where students are not distracted by their peers’ outfit choices (Daniels). This set of rules allegedly is put into place to stop the sexualizing of women by keeping them from wearing â€Å"suggestive clothing,† but what is suggestive clothing? Who defines what clothes are seen as â€Å"suggestive?† Dress code does more harm than good forRead MoreSchool Dress Code In Schools1915 Words   |  8 PagesSchool dress code has been an issue in public schools for a number of years. Many schools around our country are starting school dress codes to deal with many different issues in our schools. When trying to find research on the topic of school dress codes impact on student achievement, it was very limited. The rese arch that we will be looking at will discuss the history of school dress codes and legal issues that arose from it. We will also look at other studies that discuss the main reasonsRead MoreShould School Dress Code Be Enforced? Public Schools?1285 Words   |  6 Pages To some, arguing over student dress code seems trivial and useless. To others, it goes deeper than that. Dress code might seem like the typical â€Å"first world problem†, but to the average high school student, gaining the freedom ‘no dress code’ grants is incredible. The fact of the matter is, the rigid enforcement of student dress code has gone too far in today s society and dehumanizes us as citizens. Although school dress code attempts to promote modesty and protection, it also reinforces gender