Ingleside High School. A place that claims to be an LGBT free zone but has bans on the boys wearing things the school board deems as feminine? Such as the “no dangly earring” rule (which really just targets boys for wearing an accessory that the school board has stereotypes about), boys getting dress coded for wearing makeup, skirts, etc... A school that god forbid anyone see more than a couple inches above the knee, or a mid-drift, or a shoulder, or a hole in your pants. Now even wearing a corset over a shirt is banned too? Not by the school board but Dr. Edlin because apparently young girls waists bother him so much... But not as much as boys rolling up their t-shirts to look like crop tops or even taking their shirt off completely in class? Because that’s okay right? Because “boys will boys”- right? The boys got back their sweat shorts after several complaints, meanwhile the girls are left the same dresscode as last year, if not even more revised now. It is 2021. Have you been to the mall? Crop tops and ripped jeans make up most of the affordable clothing options that us girls have. Our dress code should be revised to the way that we dress now. Students understand that the school says that it doesn’t want to look “trashy” but it doesn’t really matter how nice our school is when the neighborhoods in Ingleside that are an eyesore will present us with a certain reputation anyways.  Plus we’re teenagers. This is the time we have to try and find our identity, and most of us do that through our appearance, especially girls and LGBT students. Whether it’s a boy wearing a skirt, a girl dyeing her hair red, someone who’s questioning getting a septum piercing, who cares? If we want to experiment with our looks let us. How can a school dictate a personal choice someone does with their appearance? Their parent approved of it so why can’t school officials pay the same respect? I know that our school also continuously uses the excuse of, “The dress code is preparing you to wear what is appropriate in a work place.” Well it’s not work is it? There are several students who have jobs anyways. We’re well aware of what we can and can’t wear at work. Now, the other excuse is odd as well since our school always uses the phrase of being “college ready and prepared” or however it goes... but guess what? You can wear whatever you want at college because they understand that they are LEARNING and it’s unnecessary to provide specific rules on what they can and can’t wear. It is no one else’s fault but the person who can’t keep their eyes to themselves or control themselves around a girl wearing a crop top. If a boy is unable to contain himself despite what a girl is wearing how in the world are they gonna get used to reality? The excuses that the school uses for dress code are very much false and lack logic. The school board needs to revise our dress code immediately. We are asking that the following things be changed. 

- Off the shoulder blouses be allowed. Everyone knows women and young girls wear bras. Who cares if you can see it or not. Would you rather us not wear one instead?
- No more 2 inch or “dollar bill” skirt rule. Instead the finger tips rule should suffice.  Same with shorts. 
- Ripped jeans can be worn without leggings (as long as skin is protruding from the holes). 

- Shirts that expose mid drift be allowed. As long as undergarments aren’t showing (even when arms are lifted)
- The removal of the ban on piercings. It is no teacher NOR principal’s business on what a student chooses to pierce. 
- Boys are allowed to wear whatever kind of earrings they want. They can wear the same jewelry as the girls. No double standards. 
- Corsets that aren’t “Bustiers” are allowed to be worn over clothing. 
- Any hair color can be adorn. Because once again it’s not anyone’s business what someone decides to do with their appearance. 

If you’re a student, parent, or someone who advocates for the change of dress code and agree with the following please sign and share in order to make a change for the better.