Here at the BPHS, there is a great amount of controversy constantly going on regarding the school dress code.

I interviewed a few students who had a lot to say about our high school’s dress code.

How does our school dress code make you feel?

“It makes me feel like my education isn’t important,” said sophomore Katelyn Smith.

Sophomore Hailey Means said: “It just irritates me. I have enough trouble figuring out what I want to wear in the morning, and to think that my body is more important than my school education is completely stupid.”

If you could pick one word about our school’s dress code policy, what would that one word be?

Smith said, “restricted.”

Means commented, “exaggerated or excessive.”

Sophomore student Bailey Sims said, “prejudiced.”

Do you think the school dress code is fair?

Smith said, “No, it’s basically all towards girls, not guys.”

Means said: “No, not at all. Guys get to wear their little Huf socks with their weed shoes, but I cannot even wear the same shorts that I would wear to a church event or out with my family, because I am a girl and my body is treated like an object.”

What do you wish our school would change about the dress code policy?

Smith said: “I wish that we would be able to wear a tank top or shorts without being sent to “time-out” and missing out on important classes. We should all be able to wear shorts because it’s hot in the school and half of the time we don’t have AC.”

Means commented: “If the school chooses to constantly call girls out on their shorts being too short, I think the guys that wear Huf Socks and all weed clothing should be also getting sent to “time-out.” I’ve never once seen a guy getting in trouble for his weed socks. Ever.”

Do you think it interferes with our education?

Smith answered, “Yes, it interferes whenever someone is wearing like shorts and a T-shirt, and they have to go into “time out,” and they don’t even get to go to class because of that.”

Means said: “Yes, and I’ve experienced it. I got dress-coded last year for wearing shorts and a hoodie, by a teacher who kept a tally of how many people she sent up to the office. I was told my outfit was, “too revealing.” Sorry, forgot that the boys were so distracted by my thighs, even though we all have the same ones. Also, I got dress-coded during my math class, which is one of my most important classes. I had to get sent up to the office.”

How do you feel about a student being sent to “time out” if he or she is violating the dress code? 

Smith said: “It doesn’t make any sense because they send us to “time out,” and we miss a whole period of the day all because, ‘boys are distracted.’ They should teach men how to respect women instead of seeing them as sexual objects.”

Means commented: “I refuse to miss out on my education or “simply just cover myself up,” due to the fact that the male students are distracted. I didn’t realize that my white shorts while I’m sitting down was such an influence on someone’s math. I see guys wearing nice shirts and shorts all the time but that never distracted me from two plus two. Girls should be able to show their legs or shoulders without the school acting like it’s something they’ve never seen before. We all have the same shoulders, but if a girl walks around with her’s, it’s seen as trashy or provocative. If a guy shows his shoulder to people it’s no big deal.”

After interviewing some students that attend BPHS, one can clearly see how the dress code effects them and their education.