My name is Gypsy Lopez a student at Fulton High School in Knoxville, Tennessee. Along with many of my peers, I feel our unique identities and expressions are being stifled by the current dress code policy which mandates academy color-based uniforms. We believe our school is a place for learning, personal development, and individual expression - and this restrictive dress code interferes with that continuous growth. 

Academy color-based uniforms are not common in schools across the country. A study by the National Center for Education Statistics showed that in the 2015-2016 school year, only 21.5% of public schools required uniforms. Furthermore, less than 5% tied uniforms to specific tracks or academies within the school, like Fulton High does (National Center for Education Statistics, 2016). Our school stands out nationally - but not in the good way we would hope for.

We appreciate the intent to foster a sense of academy spirit and collective identity, but we believe it limits more than it gives. As young adults, developing our personal style is an important part of our emotional growth and sense of individuality. Promoting conformity over personal expression can impact our self-esteem and limit our self-expression.

Our act against the dress code is more seen as “not wanting to follow rules” but its way more than that!! Fulton’s community and the area its in is a majority of low income backgrounds. Not saying this applies to everyone at fulton but it does for a vast majority including myself. For some it might be harder to find the right color or the right shade of the color to be in dress-code. Or might not have the available recourses to keep track of said clothes. I know that the school supplies academy dress code clothing but honestly to some this might feel humiliating or uncomfortable. Students feel subjected by the fact that they’re receiving harsh punishments because of the new regulations set in place. I know everything takes time but this needs to be acted on ASAP. It wouldn’t be fair to this years group of seniors if the academy colors were removed a year later as they have been going through this for 4 whole years. This type of colored dresscode has been set in place for years, I know this because my mother once attended fulton and it didnt start with specific colored dresscode untill after she graduated in 1999. My brother as well also attended fulton and had to comply with the same thing with button ups and khakis as well as the colors from 2016-2019. Its my belief that if we dont act now to get this changed it never will!! So much has done by other students in the past to bring awareness to serious situations and they have been overlooked. But we are the new voices of our generation and we must use that!!

Therefore, we urge the administration at Fulton High School to revisit its dress code policy, remove the academy color rule, and instead promote a dress code that respects both the learning environment and student individuality. Please, sign and support this petition.