The Byron Center Dress Code is unfair to its students. As a female attending Byron Center Public Schools, I view the dress code as sexist and against my first amendment right of freedom of expression. With the people mostly affected by the dress code being the highschoolers, we are also the people trying to learn who we are and what better way to do that then expression through our clothing. The Byron Center Staff has agreed that fashion is ever-changing, yet they don't change their dress code. 

One part of the dress code that really upsets me is "tops must cover the shoulders" I feel like we all have been told that shoulders are "too distracting" but why is that? by saying shoulders are distracting is sexualizing teenage girls, the same ones that teachers say the school is a safe place for.

The dress code also states that "leggings/yoga pants need to be paired with a long shirt to cover the thigh area" The point of leggings and all pants for that matter is to keep up warm during cold weather, to say our thighs must be covered is saying that they are sexualized and are distracting to the learning process to others, yet boys with they same body parts aren't asked the same, this rule targets women and sexualizes us. Why should we have to cover our thighs while wearing leggings if we don't have to while wearing shorts.

Lightening up the dress code wouldn't interrupt the educational process, nor would it change the reason we go to school, however it would change the way we view school as the students, if we had the choice to express ourselves further we would get more done and feel more comfortable and confident doing it.

*Most quotes in this come directly from the Byron Center Dress Code