Since 2012, Forsyth County’s dress code policies have drastically changed to suit new generations as they enter high school. The 2012-2013 policy detailed that baggy clothing, inappropriate piercings, and hair colors were prohibited. Since then, the dress code has become significantly more forgiving, with the only major policy being that all private parts must be covered.
Although the county’s dress code tends to be very lenient in its policies, it still raises questions about its impact on the learning environment.
Assistant Vice Principal Rebecca Parker was an AP Psychology teacher at Lambert for eight years. During this time, she witnessed clothing trends and how Forsyth County’s dress code affected them.
“I think since the dress code was more broader, I think there were more violations per se back when it was more strict,” Mrs. Parker stated. “However, I do think that because there was such a widespread neglect of the dress code by students, that would’ve reflected in write-ups and such.”
Senior Adeeya Bardiyar has been a part of the Forsyth County school system since kindergarten and enjoys the lack of strict policies at Lambert.
“I feel like expressing yourself never hurt anyone, and I know that most people at Lambert just wear pajamas anyway,” Bardiyar said.
Many feel that school dress codes tend to be more restrictive of girls’ attire than boys’. Rules about revealing or distracting clothes are frequently targeted towards female students. A study by Gitnux found that 54% of girls felt they were disproportionately affected by dress code enforcement compared to male students.
While Lambert has adopted a fairly relaxed dress code over the years, there are still some firm restrictions about messaging and graphics on clothing that promote drugs, alcohol, gang signs, nudity or hate speech.
These restrictions have been put into place to foster a safe learning environment without influences that could be disruptive to a student’s education.
Although dress codes have evolved over time to become more accepting of self-expression, finding a balance between allowing students to express themselves and upholding a distraction-free learning environment is crucial to promoting a positive educational experience for everyone involved.
