Last week, parents and students received a phone call warning that there would be a “crackdown” on the school dress code. Little were they expecting for it to be so severe, despite past experiences.
I would start off by saying that the fault of this dysfunctional idea is not with the people who had the idea, nor with the people who carried it out, but simply the system itself. The chaotic system.
Though I did not receive a uniform violation myself, I will attempt to speak of what began this following Tuesday. The morning of Tuesday, Oct. 31, every first-block teacher inspected uniforms. IDs, belts, shirts and jackets were the focus of said crackdown. All IDs were to be visibly worn. otherwise — regardless of whether you had one or not — you were sent to the cafeteria. Belts were expected to be worn by everyone, even those whom you could not see their waists as they were wearing a jacket. Many teachers forced their students to lift up their jackets in order to check. Others however, were expected to tell the truth. Those who were truthful and claimed not to be wearing a belt were sent to the cafeteria.
A student, a friend of mine, happened to tell the truth of her missing belt — though everyday but that day she’d worn a belt. In a fit to get out the door she’d forgotten it. She was assigned detention.
Apparently, the school policy on jackets is a lot more strict than we know. Sweaters are banned, however sweatshirts and cardigans are allowed. If wearing a hoodie, one may wear a school-colored T-shirt underneath, however, and jacket that does not have a hood is required to have a colored shirt under it.
Any students who did not follow these guidelines were taken from their first-block class and forced to wait in line for judgment on their attire. Some students received after-school detention, while others were given a warning and a pass in class. Hoodies and shirts were distributed to students who were lacking them and first block was pulled out of their schedule. Again, students were checked in second, third and fourth block where they were pulled from class and sent to the cafeteria.
A crackdown on the school uniform I do not mind. A system that is contradictory, time wasteful and disorderly is improper of the school system. In the future, I hope we can carry out our policies from the beginning of the year in our usual fashion.
Annie Blakeley is a sophomore at Richmond Senior High School, is a band and chorus student and a member of First United Methodist Church in Hamlet.