“By the way you dress, it is a key part to one’s character,” said junior Jake Thimons when asked what dressing up for school means to him.

At BPHS, the student body is not required to wear uniforms or dress a certain way. However, students are not allowed to wear clothing that is too revealing and/or portrays any graphic content or profanity.

According to greatschools.com, making students wear uniforms is violating a student’s right to freedom of expression. The clothes we wear show what we like, believe, and represent. At Bethel Park, some bleed Black Hawk colors with their clothing choices. Others rep their favorite colleges and sports teams to show who they support. There is even the occasional wear of a nice shirt and tie, maybe because of a big game that is happening that night or even just out of spite. On the other hand, most prefer the comfortable route while learning in class.

Junior Mike Conaboy said, “When I’m wearing some sweats and a comfy shirt, I feel like it’s easier for me to learn.”

On the other hand, galegroup.com says, “Many school officials believe that dress codes can lead to greater discipline and lessen the chance of violence and crime among students.”

This can be true in some aspects, such as in a school with a high crime rate and student issues, but here at Bethel Park that really is not an issue. At BPHS, we have a great environment where every student has an equal opportunity to learn, and does not have to worry about dressing a certain way to class.