I am an average student. I go to school early to finish up work left in my locker. I sit in the hall, I see many students walk by every morning. I go to class see all sorts of kids, from my debate to social studies, and my AP English to yearbook class. Four different classes a day, many ways to travel through the halls, and still by the end of the year I can’t tell you if I really know all the 3,000+ students at my school. I can’t speak for all of them, and that is why this is important. This serves as their voice reaching out, to prove how the new dress code has been warped to complete unreasonable standards in less than 4 months time.

The fact is, in comparison to the previous dress code (2010-2011) to the newly established code (2011-2012), the differences are staggering. One of the few similarities is that they share the same fiscal year.  The new code was discussed and voted upon by a CIT boar established within Franklin High School. The committee includes various teachers and administration, 2 student representetives, and an unknown number of parents of former/currect student. They changed the previous dress code (2010-2011) to the newly established code (2011-2012). This code reflects only the opinion of a very small amount of people who do have a say. This process of decision making not only left out a majority of staff but also the students and PARENT’S of the students.

The word ‘parents’ is in all caps because they are the ones who go out into the world, separate from EPISD or are employees of the school district, and make money to support not only their children at Franklin High School, but possibly their children at middle schools and elementary schools in the area. They must buy clothing to meet up to the rules and regulations at every school for each child. That is something that, as parents, they knew they would one day need to do. And without questioning the rules last year, the 2010-2011 dress code was followed when buying clothes, and those parents lived up to their responsibilities. They bought each of their children clothing to fit the standards given to them by the schools.

When buying their children clothing throughout the school year, they did so with their money with what they deemed appropriate for their child while still parallel with the rules of Franklin High School. To simplify a few things, the new code blindsided everyone who has to live by them. Some parents, as much as they tried to live up to the responsibility, cannot repeat the same action the next year. Some families cannot spend hundreds of dollars to recreate a wardrobe for their child.

In reasonable context, a shoulder is not considered chaste, nor inappropriate in modern society. Neither is knee length, which many will argue as ‘unnecessary.’ For girls attire, layering is a basic way of dressing. Tank tops with button ups, sweaters, and blouses are something that we will do when getting dressed our entire lives. Not to mention the fact that requirements are still met, as the shoulders are covered appropriately. Mid-thigh is how basic skirts at stores are sold; from their basic lines, business casual, and complete business attire. In has been socially accepted for decades, so why has it suddenly turned taboo? We are not employees of EPISD, we are their students. Even that being said, it seems that employs are granted more freedom than the students. We still dress from the basic lines, and sometimes from the business casual for special occasions. It is difficult to find proper clothing unless we just wear Capri pants and jeans everyday (which isn’t a solution either. Another local high school has decided to go that route in their student dress code. That is a reason why our dress code was changed.)

Franklin is a high school. We went through the daunting years of uniforms in middle school to encase our identities and help bridge the gap between the different economical standings of students and their families. We know who we are now. We should have the right to show it, following reasonable, society acceptable standards. Added to the fact that the recent changes are not only uncalled for, but unreasonable; you simply can’t enforce a revision of someone’s entire wardrobe. It is truly far more disruptive to have “dress code checks regularly by administration, staff and security,” followed by any student who has violated the dress code terms in that class being removed to go to the office, and possibly put into In School Suspension for the day rather than exposing a shoulder. THEY are now taking away from our time to learn.

If the rules were reasonable and broken, then that is the students own doing. However, clothes that even a business professional would wear at work to be banned from a public high school is wrong, unjust. Those same business professionals/parents are the ones paying taxes that are going into that school.

In the article on the Franklin site, they state the following, “Taking advantage of the educational opportunities available at Franklin High School requires commitment on the part of students, teachers, parents, and administrators.” 

The new dress code is as follows;
Full article Posted on the Franklin site through EPISD
http://franklin.episd.org/news/article/136

Tops

• All tops (shirts, blouses, t-shirts, etc.) worn at Franklin High School must have sleeves covering the shoulder whether worn over or under another garment at all times (except clothing part of a school sanctioned uniform).
• All shirts must not be low cut, see-through or revealing.
• All tops must be worn to cover the midriff completely.

Bottoms

• Shorts, skirts or dresses worn at Franklin High School must be to the knee or longer (except for school sanctioned uniforms), even if they are worn with leggings.
• All pants/jeans must be worn at the waist. No underwear or skin should be showing at any time.
• No pajama pants may be worn.
• Leggings may not be worn as pants, and when worn must be covered by a dress, shorts, or skirt that is knee-length or longer.

Shoes

• Shoes must be worn at all times on the Franklin Campus.
• No slippers are allowed as shoes, unless a special day is declared by the Student Council.

Head coverings

• No head coverings of any kind may be worn inside the building. This applies to both girls and boys. (Head coverings based on religious beliefs will be allowed.)

Miscellaneous

• Revealing or excessively tight fitting garments are prohibited.
• Sunglasses may not be worn inside the building.
• Any clothing or jewelry displaying words or pictures that are lewd, vulgar, obscene, profane or offensive may not be worn.
• Any clothing, jewelry, or tattoos that advertise or promote illegal drugs, alcohol, tobacco products, violence, gang affiliation, or racist ideas may not be worn.
• Bandanas may not be worn or showing at any time.
• Clothing, piercings, and/or general appearance which might constitute a health or safety hazard are prohibited.

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To show you the changes that were made, here is the dress code from a year ago. It went something along the lines of this;

Tops

• All tops (shirts, blouses, t-shirts, etc.) worn at Franklin High School must have sleeves covering the shoulder
(But we could wear a tank top with a sweater, button up, blouse, ect. over it... That has been changed to All clothing which is over the mid section of your body must have sleeves. No undershirts even if them not having straps goes unseen.)
• All tops must be worn to cover the midriff completely.

Bottoms

• Shorts, skirts or dresses worn at Franklin High School must reach beyond your finger tips when arms are extended straight down towards the floor (except for school sanctioned uniforms).
• All pants/jeans must be worn at the waist. No underwear or skin should be showing at any time.
• No pajama pants may be worn.
• Leggings may not be worn as pants, and when worn must be covered by a dress, shorts, or skirt that is to length described above.

Shoes

• Shoes must be worn at all times on the Franklin Campus.
• No slippers are allowed as shoes, unless a special day is declared by the Student Council.

Head coverings

• No head coverings of any kind may be worn inside the building. This applies to both girls and boys. (Head coverings based on religious beliefs will be allowed.)

Miscellaneous

• Sunglasses may not be worn inside the building.
• Any clothing or jewelry displaying words or pictures that are lewd, vulgar, obscene, profane or offensive may not be worn.
• Any clothing, jewelry, or tattoos that advertise or promote illegal drugs, alcohol, tobacco products, violence, gang affiliation, or racist ideas may not be worn.
• Bandanas may not be worn or showing at any time.

There are changes between the two dress codes that are more than length of skirts, shorts, and dress and the way that tops may be worn. There are things in miscellaneous and additional rules at the end of their new dress code such as;
"THE FRANKLIN ADMINISTRATION RESERVES THE RIGHT TO PROHIBIT OTHER ITEMS OR DRESS NOT SPECIFICALLY LISTED IN THE CODE IF THESE ITEMS ARE CONSIDERED INAPPROPRIATE OR DETRIMENTAL TO THE EDUCATION PROCESS." (Which they found necessary to put in all caps.)

Please look at the article on the website, and take every side that could be told from this.