Just mandate uniforms

The changes that the student government has brought to the Mercersburg dress code have caused controversy among the student body. We were promised that a completely new closet would not be necessary. However, over the summer, I regularly found myself in stores searching for clothes that would actually fit the new dress code. Logos can't be larger than a quarter, no hoodies whatsoever, no embroidery, and absolutely no screen printing. Even a nice polo that has a slightly larger logo might be deemed illegal. The new rules have destroyed my entire closet, as most of my clothes incorporate at least one of the unauthorized elements listed. Many students are being cited daily for being slightly out of line. It is almost impossible to follow the dress code entirely with what most stores sell today. Therefore, the dress code needs to be re-evaluated to incorporate students’ opinions.

A much simpler solution, though many may disagree, is a uniform. Uniforms ensure that every student follows the dress code while preventing students from spending an unnecessarily large amount of money on items that they are highly unlikely to wear outside the school day. 

Many preparatory schools require uniforms to ensure that every student looks their best and to show that the school day is in session. Our new dress code has added nothing but confusion and inconvenience. In addition to the dress code’s added restrictions, it has not achieved the stated purpose of making us more businesslike during class. Instead of strictly enforcing a dress code that is still casual, a required uniform would ensure each student is properly attired and reduce the time spent searching for an outfit. Additionally, visitors will be able to tell when classes are in session. 

The only drawback to uniforms is the idea of individuality. (The current dress code already hinders individuality to a certain extent, as many people express themselves with graphic T-shirts, large screen printing, embroidery, etc.) Apparently, the student government feared that uniforms would completely restrain individual expression. However, if we were to implement a uniform system, simply adding dress-down days and allowing the accessorization of the uniforms would address this concern. For example, allowing students to wear whatever they want on Fridays would give them the opportunity to dress however they like without a uniform, and enabling them to add pins or other items to their uniforms would also allow for individuality. 

Overall, the upsides of having uniforms during the school day heavily outweigh the drawbacks. Many students have spoken out about liking the idea of uniforms, yet they are dismissed as “unrealistic” or “not what Mercersburg is about.” However, the implementation of uniforms, instead of having vague details, would be beneficial given the principles behind the current dress code.