PRO: Dress Down Days provide school spirit and help student morale
Dress Down Days are always a highlight of each quarter that many students look forward to.
With the sternly-enforced dress code, Dress Down Days serve as a day of comfort. There is no better feeling than seeing a Dress Down Day on the school calendar and counting down the days until being able to be comfortable in school. The feeling of coming to school without having to wear the uniform is one of pure tranquility.
A Dress Down Day can also serve as a reward system for students. In the past, students who made honors were rewarded with a free Dress Down Day. Having a Dress Down Day like this in the future would push students to do their best academically.
By keeping up grades, attending school, and being a well-rounded JC Patriot, students would get to have a Dress Down Day to look forward to.
Dress Down Days serve as fundraisers for each grade level. Each grade level receives one Dress Down Day each year.
The price of dressing down is $3 per person, directly benefiting the sponsoring class. Each Dress Down Day can raise over $1000 for the class. The funds are put to use in various ways and are used to curb the cost of future class events.
A very popular way for students to showcase personality is through style. With the dress code, showing off their identity to their peers is hard to do.
With Dress Down Days placed sporadically throughout the calendar school year, it allows students to express themselves through their attire. For example, students could showcase their love of a specific band through a t-shirt and be able to connect with fellow students on similarities.
During the school year partial Dress Down Days also occur. Patriots can accessorize their normal dress code attire with colors, beads, socks, and headbands that go with the theme. Earlier this year, the SGA hosted multiple partial dress-down days including a celebration for the Orioles, Ravens, and Saint Patrick’s Day. Even the Ugly Christmas Sweater Day was popular.
These special days are free of charge. This allows students to celebrate their community and holidays throughout the year.
Speaking of pride, Dress Down Days insinuate school pride. Not many surrounding private schools partake in Dress Down Days. By scheduling them in the school year like we do, these days serve as an incentive for school spirit. Students can take pride in the uniqueness of these special occasions, fueling overall school spirit.
While conforming to dress code serves as an equalizer for the student body, a few Dress Down Days scheduled throughout the year will not do any harm. If anything, implementing Dress Down Days throughout the school year will bring more benefits into the lives of our students. – Ella Campbell
CON: Unnecessary distractions come from Dress Down Days for students
Although Dress Down Days are fun and give students a break or breather from the uniforms, when students can wear casual clothing, it can create a more relaxed atmosphere that may not be conducive to a focused learning environment.
Dressing more formally can help students develop a sense of responsibility and respect for their education. They can become more organized in a formal manner. Dressing formally makes it easier for students to find an outfit for school rather than stress and become overwhelmed with trying to find the perfect outfit.
In addition, Dress Down Days can be a possible distraction to students along with peer pressure. When students can wear their clothes, it opens the door for fashion trends and social scale to influence the school environment.
This can lead to distractions to students and may also cause students to focus more on their appearance as they compare themselves to other individuals, rather than on school and studies.
It creates a sense of barring for students who cannot afford a certain type of designer clothing.
Students may argue that Dress Down Days allow them to be more comfortable and allow them to be individuals. However, in a professional world, they will not always get this.
While maintaining a uniform or certain dress code helps prepare students for a more professional world and workplace, there are specific uniform and dress expectations for certain jobs.
Experiencing this now gives students a sense of what is to be expected in the real world when given a dress code by a certain job or career they pursue.
By having a dress code, students can learn the importance of presenting themselves professionally and in an appropriate manner.
Another aspect is the bullying or social pressure. When students can wear their own clothes, it makes room for judgments based on fashion choices, causing them to become insecure. It can contribute to a negative social environment at school, where students may feel pressured to fit in or face criticism for their clothing choices.
A dress code can help mitigate these issues by promoting equality and reducing the emphasis on outward appearance.
When everyone is dressed in a uniform, there is a sense of unity or belonging. Uniforms help students with their school community, which can enhance school spirit and pride. These are important aspects of a positive educational experience.
Even though Dress Down Days have some benefits, it’s important to remember the negative consequences that are also caused by dress downs. Maintaining a uniform can promote discipline and professionalism. – Lexi Bartenfelder