Summer break has ended and thus marks the start of another year at PVHS. Like with any other new school year, discoveries, academic achievements, and long-lasting friendships will be made for many. However, this school year also features a new type of development. A development that so far this year has not sat well with the students and that is the implementation of new policies. One policy, in particular, has seemingly garnered more scrutiny than all the others. This, of course, is the Dress Code Policy.  

But why is the Dress Code Policy being so heavily scrutinized this year? Why has the development and enforcement of this policy caused such backlash? Hungry for answers, we’ve decided to ask the students of PVHS their opinions of the revamped Dress Code Policy.  

Seventy students shared their views, and we noticed a shared response; these guidelines can work, but the way they are enforced is heavily “flawed” and “unbalanced.” Here are some of their answers (a majority are kept anonymous as requested): 

Have you or someone you know been dress coded and why? 

Over 60 students interviewed have been dress coded, seen someone get dress coded, or even both, all of which happened during the three weeks at the beginning of our school year. Needless to say, that ratio is high and very concerning, especially in that manner of time. As to why? Well, one keyword continuously pops up, and that has to do with “femininity.” According to student interviews, the females have been “victimized” and “targeted for looking more feminine,” causing outrage.

How do you think the administration can fix the recent drama? 

This question featured many mixed responses and suggestions, but some were more prominent and demanded. However, many students believe that the Dress Code Policy is good enough and should continue to regulate the school. Still, they should also balance out the enforcement of this policy because “if there’s no real balance, how could [we] possibly support it?” Another fix recommended by the students revolved around lowering the intensity of the dress code and focusing more on the other policies because there are “bigger problems than showing your shoulder skin.”

Do you have anything else to say about the Dress Code Policy? 

Like the second question, there were many responses to this, both serious and purely comical. One half of that spectrum, the serious half, suggests that “we should be able to express and wear as we want, and not to be controlled by someone else.” On the other end of the spectrum, many of them comment, “lighten up” or “[The school] has such a large administration. How have they not found a compromise yet?” 

Of course, these are just a few voices of PVHS on the improved Dress Code Policy. The administration should respond to a large mix of suggestions, comments, and opinions for the students to be insured and informed. Hopefully, as the school year continues to develop, the administration will ultimately modify these guidelines to fit the needs of the students and the staff.