Dublin High’s Dress Code: A Brief Synopsis

The 2017-2018 school year is well underway, with both students and faculty settling into the hum of the routine. With a new school year comes a change in the weather, as the months of August and September are a transition from the heat-filled summer days to the cooler fall and winter days. The students of Dublin High are expected to adhere to the school’s dress code, which delineates the appropriate outfits for students when on campus. The dress code, found in the DHS student planner or on this website (https://www.dublin.k12.ca.us/dhs), is  enforced to provide a safe educational space for students.

 

Pupils must dress appropriately for educational activities in which they will participate so as not to endanger health, safety, or welfare of themselves or of others. The list of dress “Do’s and Don’ts” has thirteen main points, as stated in the Gael Force Guide: :

  • Dresses, skirts and shorts MUST BE MID THIGH OR LONGER, regardless of leggings and nylons.
  • Shoes must be worn at all times. No slippers are allowed.
  • No pajamas or pajama pants (excluding senior pajama pants) may be worn to school.
  • Clothing, grooming, accessories, and jewelry shall be free of writing, pictures, symbols or any other insignia that are crude, vulgar, profane, obscene, libelous, slanderous, or sexually suggestive. Clothing, grooming, accessories, and jewelry that degrade any cultural, religious, or ethnic values or that advocate racial, ethnic or religious prejudice or discrimination, or that promote sex, the use of tobacco, drugs or alcohol or any unlawful act, are prohibited.
  • Hats, caps and other head coverings shall NOT be worn in classrooms, except for valid medical reasons, authorized in writing by physician, or for religious reasons, authorized in writing by the parent.
  • Dark glasses may not be worn indoors, except for valid medical reasons, authorized in writing by a physician.
  • Blankets may not be worn or wrapped around students. During inclement weather, coats, jackets, sweatshirts, and or sweaters should be worn.
  • Clothing must be sufficient to conceal undergarments at all times. Clothing, apparel, or attire that fails to provide adequate coverage of the body, including but not limited to see-through or fishnet fabrics, bare midriffs, tube tops, low-cut tops, or tattered or torn clothing are prohibited. Tank top straps must be 2 inches.
  • Pants must be worn at the waist.
  • Any clothing which could be used as a weapon are subject to administrative discretion.
  • Gang-related apparel is prohibited, including but not limited to, bandanas, or other symbols, emblems or insignia.
  • Pupils shall not display any materials which so incite others to create a danger or the commission of unlawful acts on school grounds, disrupt the school process or violate district or school site policies or rules.
  • During the swim unit in Physical Education class, students are to wear one-piece swimsuits.

When asked about how the dress code is being implemented at  Dublin High School, several students voiced their opinions. Some students, such as sophomore Satya Kethineni, have remained impartial on the dress code. “People should have the right to dress freely, but honestly I don’t care,” he said.

 

Others, like sophomore Milly Prashar, voiced their strong opposition against the dress code. “[It’s] fair game in print, but executed unfairly upon women,” said Prashar.“We come to learn and certain attire requirements need to be met as we are an academic institute, but campus supervisors need to implement it justly and reasonably among all genders at DHS.”

 

Will this dress code prove to be just the thing to improve academic excellence in Dublin High, or will it be a deteriorating factor to the unity of the school? This is just one thought DHS has to consider.