Prairie High School, like most high schools, has regulations and rules. From phones, to bullying, to drug usage, it does its job to limit or block the usage or doing of things that distract/disrupt learning or cause harm to students and staff. A specific and controversial thing it covers is clothing. Where does it draw the line?
The battle ground handbook, which covers both Prairie and Battle Ground High School, specifically talks about clothes with symbols of “gangs and hate groups” or clothing that brings “A material or substantial disruption of the education progress. It specifically mentions prohibiting sexual, drug, or hateful related showings on clothing. It also defines how revealing clothing can be on campuses, blocking the showing of underclothing and other regions. It defends clothing used by certain religions or groups as well. Whether or not these guidelines are properly followed or enforced is up to debate. But an interesting question is, what do both teachers and students think about these rules? Do they feel like they are reasonable? Do both sides believe these guidelines are followed?
Most students aren’t very aware of the dress code. “I didn’t even know there was a dress code,” Sophomore Lucy Kartchner says in regards to her opinions of the dress code. “so I don’t really have any strong feelings about it.”
Prairies dress code is not discussed much in expectation presentations, assemblies, or announcements, likely because it isn’t commonly broken. What clothing people wear is already a standard in society or lives, and the desire to break the rule isn’t common.
Despite this, there are some instances of the rule being broken. “I’ve mostly seen if they’re wearing inappropriate writing or like text on the shirts,” Science Teacher Kelsie Kendrick says in regards to her sightings of students in trouble over clothing. “Not really revealing clothing as much.”
Overall, Prairie’s dress code has the same rules and standards most other schools or public areas have. It’s not a major talking point or concern because there is not a big enough group of students breaking it. The rule of dress code is a small but important rule to have.
