In my school we have recently gotten a “dress code”, but not just a regular one where you have few boundaries but a very strict one. In the “dress code” if you do not wear it then you go through many punishments. The first offence is a call home. Then you get I.S.S. which is In School Suspension until a parent can bring you the correct attire. The third offence is detention and I.S.S. The forth offence is O.O.S. which is Out Of School Suspension. My friends and I feel that they worry more about what we wear instead of our safety and education. We also feel that they have taken the “dress code” too far.
At first the “dress code” was created to lower bullying and make sure kids don’t get left out, but ever since the “dress code” started those things have been happening more and more. Children get bullied more now than they ever have because they wear “dress code”. They get made fun of for following rules and being “goody-two shoes”. Also now children feel more left out then ever did. They feel left out because if they don’t wear the “dress code” then they cannot participate in school activities and get punished while others get to have fun. We think the “dress code” is one of the worst things to happen to J.M.M.S
Most of the children at J.M.M.S. don’t wear anything inappropriate or offensive and get good grades and focus on our studies but still J.M.M.S. only worries about what we wear. They don’t focus on what is more important, like our education. They are too busy fussing about what is put on our bodies than about what is put into our brains and to me that is unacceptable. The J.M.M.S. students try to focus on their work but are too distracted because they have to worry about if they are going to get in trouble for respectfully standing up for what they believe is right. Children are taught today that they have a voice and should use it as long as it’s in a constructive manner but now they are taking that voice away and making us feel powerless and voiceless. They are trying to make us feel that we can’t stand up for what we feel is right and if we do we will always get punished.
I don’t know about your child, but I work very hard and do many things to help my community. I volunteer at Hope Alliance Inc., which is a non-profit organization that cares for and rehabilitates special needs felines, and I served as a mentor for special needs children while attending Momauguin School. I even received the President’s Award for Academic Excellence in the fifth grade. I am very proud of these accomplishments and do not believe that I deserve special privileges but I also don’t believe that I should be punished for exercising my rights which the constitution of the United States guarantees me.
From what I recall my principal said to me “You’re the kind of student that I want to put in front of the school board and use as an example for other students if only you were in correct attire.” and all I could think is “Why should what I wear matter if you feel that I can be an example for others and help your school?” I get A’s, I help my community, I help others, and I could help you, but you’re still only worried about what I wear. Now I want you to ask yourself if that’s the kind of person you would want to run our school and is this setting a good example for our generation?
