by Mjrinella

Created on: June 04, 2008   Last Updated: June 07, 2008

It felt like a prison. Everyone walked dully in the halls, sapped of any life that may have been previously there. I tried to make out my friends, but they were lost in a sea of red, white, or blue. Tan pants surrounded every which corner you turned; there was no color in this school. There was no personality.

That was my elementary experience with dress codes. I went to a strict private school that had very specific requirements regarding how you dress, and they enforced them. I distinctly recall one time in first grade, when a corner of my shirt wasn't totally tucked in, the principal approached me. He was a stiff and serious man; he was in the marines, and he opted to run this school like the army. If you greeted him in the hall, he would drag you off to his office for talking in the halls.

He gave me a sinister look, one that deeply hurt me at that young age. I recall crying once I arrived home. After a moment's pause, he snapped, "Your shirt's not tucked in."
I hesitated, not knowing how to respond to that. There was no way to lie, and no way to deny it. I just looked in horror at the little corner that was slightly untucked. I looked up at him again, but quickly diverted my gaze when I saw his menacing look. You could tell he enjoyed this.

Shortly after, he threatened to give me a pink slip and a trip to his office. In first grade. I was devastated. I'm the type of person that always plays by the rules, and follows them accordingly. To get in trouble is shocking for me; at a younger age I didn't take it very well.

And so, at that age, I realized something. Dress codes are horrible. Every day when you walk into a classroom, you are greeted not by individuals, but a group of the same color. Everywhere you turn, you can't find an ounce of individuality.
The classroom itself is a boring place without any color. To implement dress codes is to take away the freedom of expression to students, as clothes are a great way to express yourself. Everything is so uniform. Everyone is so uniform. It felt almost like a prison; everyone dressed the same. Don't encourage anyone to think their special. Because each child is just a dirty criminal, they deserve no rights.

Everyone is entitled to free speech. However, how people speak is totally different. People find their voice in arts, writing, and even fashion. If you take that away from them, then they won't be able to succeed. I recall one rather pretty girl joined our school; she fell apart quickly because of the dress codes.

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