Culture at BSM would not be the same if we were given uniforms. As a community of individuals, each with a unique style, we must be allowed to wear what we choose. Despite recent changes to the dress code and the resulting uproar, the student body needs to maintain the current dress code rather than institute a uniform policy.
Here at BSM, we use our rather liberal dress code to express our own identity and distinction. We are not all the same, and thus we should not dress the same. We feel comfortable in our school environment because of our freedom to choose our dress. With a change to uniforms, student culture would go from free-thinking and comfortable to rigid and strict. As a community where individuality is not only accepted but encouraged, the dress code a better reflection and portrayal of what we represent.
A dress code is also more economically beneficial to students. There are inexpensive options available that fall within the dress code, while uniform prices soar. In fact, uniform clothing can cost upwards of thirty dollars for shirts and forty-five dollars for pants. Personally, paying that much for clothes I do not want or appreciate seems outrageous. It would ultimately be more favorable to have students and parents spend their money on clothes the student can wear outside of school.
Most importantly, if there is no issue severe enough to prompt such a drastic change, I fail to see why we need to “fix” the dress code system with uniforms. The changes made this year are not a big deal, in fact, only one word was changed in the policy. This is not a big enough change to lead us to uniforms. The issues that we face as a dress-coded student body also afflict those with uniforms. Skirts are worn too short, pants too tight and midriffs remain exposed. Uniforms would not fix the problems the administration faces in dress code discipline. In fact, they may even intensify these issues.
Uniforms would most definitely not be a positive change for the BSM community. Rather than create a less-judgmental school setting, uniforms would spark controversy because of expense and limitation of student expression, and would ultimately change BSM’s diverse and vibrant culture. We are a student body of varied opinions and deserve to be expressed through the simple means of dress.
