Is the outfit you’re wearing in violation of the dress code? If your outfit doesn’t match the standards set in place by the Fargo Public School District, then what? These are some of the questions you might be asking yourself after learning of the change in the dress code.
The student board, Two people from each Fargo Public School consisting of two boys and six girls, were able to put their two cents into the dress code for the whole District, though the final decision fell on the school board. “ The change in the dress code came about as a result of problems and complaints from all around. The code basically up to each teacher’s discretion,” said Jaden Zander. The most notable change in the code is that it essentially does away with stating what you can’t wear and instead informs you on what you can wear by reading “The following is expected at all times: Clothing with opaque fabric that covers the student’s entire chest, sides of body, and midriff, and undergarments must be worn.Pants/Jeans or the equivalent (i.e., skirt, sweatpants, leggings, dress, or shorts) long enough to cover the student’s private areas must be worn. Pants/Jeans or the equivalent should be secured not to reveal undergarments. Footwear must be worn. Clothing advertising or promoting the use of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, drug paraphernalia, guns, weapons, gang affiliation or depiction of violence may not be worn. Vulgar clothing of any kind may not be worn.” as opposed to listing things such as short shorts, tube tops, halter tops, spaghetti strap tops, etc.
The dress code now features procedures to follow when violated, “ Alternative clothing, if available at school in the student’s possession, to be dressed according to policy for the remainder of the day. Parent or guardian may be contacted to bring alternative clothing for the student to wear for the remainder of the day. Be provided with temporary school clothing, if available in an appropriate size for the student, to be dressed according to policy for the remainder of the day.
One of many young women who are unhappy with the District dress code is Treasure Amiot, “I’ve been dress coded three times while here at North, one of which for wearing a long shirt that went past my shorts, the teacher said she couldn’t see my shorts. I believe girls should be able to wear what they want.”
Additionally, the newer dress code defines vulgar as, “ Pictures, images, words, silhouettes of individuals, or sayings that depict sexually suggestive expressions or actions, profanity, obscenity, drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, or which degrade the integrity of individual groups. Senior, Eden Hauge agrees with the definition of vulgar as she says,“ We should know better than to wear clothes which could be construed as bawdy or clothing relating to illegal substances.” Whether or not you feel the dress code is up to your standards, it can be argued that it is now more clear and concise in what it is demanding of the students.
