Dress For Success
By Austin Brush
Posted May 22, 2015
Certain items of apparel which are deemed inappropriate by the staff at AHS are not allowed and considered to be against our school’s dress code. There are many different items that are included in this list: Tube tops, halter tops, spaghetti straps, muscle shirts, shirts with only one sleeve (come on, that is popular...), and low cut shirts are all the specified shirts that are excluded from wearability in Aitkin High School, and it is left very widely to discretion. As far as pants go, there are also shorts, skirts, or pants that have holes, all of these above the mid thigh, stretch pants without other covering, and this list goes on…
Wait a minute… Why would we allow some of these to be worn on a constant basis if they are against dress code? Basically, if your clothing shows skin anyone could sexualize, or the staff deem it unacceptable (such as bandanas and hats), you shall be asked to change. If it is distracting, then they will have you remove it. This doesn’t always happen though. Some people come to school often wearing these items and seem to have no issue.
After interviewing different people about dress code, most staff had fairly similar opinions, such as, when asked “Would you say any of these (items against dress code) are appropriate in a school setting?” Mr. Richters replied, “In moderation, certain items (can go along) with others. (We must) keep professionalism among students.” After being asked “Do you think we should start cracking down on code, or just allow students to wear them as they like?” He also replied, “(We should) consistently hold (students) accountable,” and sometimes it just misses his “radar.” “Students shouldn’t be allowed to wear whatever.”
The teachers basically agree with each other, like Mr. May who said, “If the filling comes out of a bismarck, it is still a bismarck, but it gets messy!” When asked “Do you think we should start cracking down on code, or just allow students to wear them as they like?” He replied, “Only if it is across the board.” Some teachers are also afraid of sexism, and how the student will react if approached by a staff member of the opposite sex.
Mrs.DelZoppo (DZ) said, “Nothing is worse than sleeveless guys with their pits showing,” but she also said that sometimes the teachers don’t notice it. When asked “Why do you think most staff allow it (inappropriate dress) to go unreported?” DZ replied “(Sometimes we) Totally miss it, the bell rings, I get into teaching, focus on the students’ focus, and the material. We are soft on making them go down to the office… Seventh-graders aren’t bad, but it gets worse as they progress.” (Now that isn’t meaning juniors and seniors are super relaxed).
Even students agree with these thoughts, like when asked “Would you say these are appropriate in a school setting?” Mr. Matt King said, “No, it shows too much skin, then the boys get happy!” He also agreed that the dress code should be cracked down on. For the most part, the staff (including Mr. Pederson, Mrs. Blake, etc.) agree that students should dress properly, and be ready for a career which may have a different dress code, but there probably will be one. The rules are all here for our benefit. Basically, just keep your personal appendages to yourself, and create less distraction for the opposite (or same) sex.
Posted May 22, 2015
Certain items of apparel which are deemed inappropriate by the staff at AHS are not allowed and considered to be against our school’s dress code. There are many different items that are included in this list: Tube tops, halter tops, spaghetti straps, muscle shirts, shirts with only one sleeve (come on, that is popular...), and low cut shirts are all the specified shirts that are excluded from wearability in Aitkin High School, and it is left very widely to discretion. As far as pants go, there are also shorts, skirts, or pants that have holes, all of these above the mid thigh, stretch pants without other covering, and this list goes on…
Wait a minute… Why would we allow some of these to be worn on a constant basis if they are against dress code? Basically, if your clothing shows skin anyone could sexualize, or the staff deem it unacceptable (such as bandanas and hats), you shall be asked to change. If it is distracting, then they will have you remove it. This doesn’t always happen though. Some people come to school often wearing these items and seem to have no issue.
After interviewing different people about dress code, most staff had fairly similar opinions, such as, when asked “Would you say any of these (items against dress code) are appropriate in a school setting?” Mr. Richters replied, “In moderation, certain items (can go along) with others. (We must) keep professionalism among students.” After being asked “Do you think we should start cracking down on code, or just allow students to wear them as they like?” He also replied, “(We should) consistently hold (students) accountable,” and sometimes it just misses his “radar.” “Students shouldn’t be allowed to wear whatever.”
The teachers basically agree with each other, like Mr. May who said, “If the filling comes out of a bismarck, it is still a bismarck, but it gets messy!” When asked “Do you think we should start cracking down on code, or just allow students to wear them as they like?” He replied, “Only if it is across the board.” Some teachers are also afraid of sexism, and how the student will react if approached by a staff member of the opposite sex.
Mrs.DelZoppo (DZ) said, “Nothing is worse than sleeveless guys with their pits showing,” but she also said that sometimes the teachers don’t notice it. When asked “Why do you think most staff allow it (inappropriate dress) to go unreported?” DZ replied “(Sometimes we) Totally miss it, the bell rings, I get into teaching, focus on the students’ focus, and the material. We are soft on making them go down to the office… Seventh-graders aren’t bad, but it gets worse as they progress.” (Now that isn’t meaning juniors and seniors are super relaxed).
Even students agree with these thoughts, like when asked “Would you say these are appropriate in a school setting?” Mr. Matt King said, “No, it shows too much skin, then the boys get happy!” He also agreed that the dress code should be cracked down on. For the most part, the staff (including Mr. Pederson, Mrs. Blake, etc.) agree that students should dress properly, and be ready for a career which may have a different dress code, but there probably will be one. The rules are all here for our benefit. Basically, just keep your personal appendages to yourself, and create less distraction for the opposite (or same) sex.