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Dress Code

Dress code refers to the mode in which different individuals wear clothes and the different types of clothes that they wear. In the modern society, there are different ways in which people dress. Individuals in the modern life have various methods of wearing clothes, thanks to the various designs of clothes that have come up in the recent times. However, there have been heated debates about clothing, most of which revolve around the varied modes of dressing. In addition, there has been contention and a heated debate as to the impact of dressing codes on students’ performance, as well as how students should be dressed. Debates pertaining to the school dressing code mainly revolve around the question as to whether students should be allowed to have unique dress codes, or rather uniforms. Of course, there are variations in the views of individuals on the issue. One of the key or principal reasons as to why many people have different dressing codes is to make a fashion statement.

Thesis statement: Students should not be required to have a unique dressing code or uniforms.

In the modern society, many people like keeping tabs with the fashion trends especially as far as clothing are concerned. This is because they have an inner desire to be unique, which pushes them to follow up on developments in the fashion world. It is worth noting that this happens in almost every place including offices, schools, and even the streets. In quite a large number of countries, students are not required to have a certain uniform, rather they are allowed to attend classes in any clothing. Research shows that competition, in such schools, mainly revolves around attire rather than studies (Hamilton, 36). This is because almost every student strives to flaunt their expensive clothes and gain the attention of others. This affects the students’ performance in class since they end up concentrating on the dressing codes at the expense of their class work (Hamilton, 38). In addition, research has shown that schools where students are required to have a certain uniform have few cases of discrimination. This is because their dressing code introduces an element of uniformity, in which case they are equal as far as their mode of dressing is concerned. This eliminates any inferiority complex pertaining to dressing codes.

Nevertheless, I still do not think that these are enough reasons to impose uniforms on students. First, I believe that if students set certain academic goals and focussed on achieving them, then their dressing codes will not have any negative impact on their class performance. It is worth noting that students who give full concentration to their school work without any consideration pertaining to as to their colleagues’ dressing code, have high chances of succeeding in their class work (Hamilton, 56). On the other hand, students who concentrate on dressing code at the expense of their class work may end up failing. In essence, it is imperative that student get their priorities right and choose whether to focus on their academic goals or dressing codes. As much as clothing is a fundamental human need, fashion is a reflection of a want. As long as one focuses on achieving his or her academic goals, he, or she can achieve them regardless of their dressing code (Hamilton, 59). Students can always turn their attention to fashion once they have achieved their academic goals. In essence, getting the students to prioritize appropriately is the key thing.

In addition, uniforms restrict students as far as expressing their personality. In the contemporary human society, many people would not like to be demeaned. This is especially as concerning their dressing code. In essence, most young people and students strive to show their personality using their dressing code. In essence, it would be wrong or inappropriate to require the students to wear uniforms against their wishes. If such a rule were to be imposed, it should be proposed by the students themselves rather than the school administration or the government. In this case, the idea of putting on uniform should come from the students rather than the government or the school administration. Blokland also explains that fashion is extremely crucial and that it makes people look smart all the time (162). The students always want to be smart and that is why they should be chose their mode of dressing as they deem fit.

Third, the government and the school administration will not be instructing the students on their dressing codes once they leave the institutions of learning. When they become adults, they will wear what they like. In this case, preventing them from wearing it now will not make any difference to their future lives. It is worth noting that young individuals are quite close to each other as far as relating with one another is concerned. In essence, they have valuable lessons to learn from each other as far as dressing code is concerned. These lessons would be hindered in case students’ dressing code is limited to school uniforms.

In conclusion, it is imperative that the requirement that students wear school uniform is not implemented. Evidently, as much as research has clearly shown that students who take their studies in schools where they are not required to have uniforms may be competing on their mode of dressing rather than academics, students have a choice as to the issues to which they focus their minds. In essence, it is imperative that parents and school administration embarks on guiding the students on how to prioritize on the right things; academics, rather than the dressing codes. Guiding them on how to prioritize would allow them to realize that everyone is advantaged in one way or another. This is especially in cases where students are not well dressed compensate on their downside by excelling in academics. When parents and school administration guide the students appropriately, the well-dressed students who look down on their not-so-well-dressed counterparts would realize that still they are at a loss. In fact, it would hammer the fact that dressing code does not matter when compared to the zeal that they put in their academic excellence since they are in school for academic excellence not to show their excellence in following fashion trends. Such guidance would also cement the fact that dressing code would not make an individual fail in his or her class work, especially if he or she focuses on academic excellence and pays no attention to dressing codes (Hamilton, 39). It is also noteworthy that most young people and students would like to show their personality in many ways, especially their mode of dressing. In essence, limiting their dressing codes to uniforms robs them of an opportunity to reveal or express their personalities.

Work Cited

Blokland, Tessa. Dress code: Interior design for fashion shops. Amsterdam: Frame Publishers, Indiana University, (2006). Print.

Hamilton, Jill. Dress Codes in Schools. New York: Gale, 2008. Print