Ask any student the place to avoid when they are out of uniform and they will tell you: avoid the third floor. The majority of the hallways are a free-for-all when it comes to bending the uniform rules. While this is great for rule breakers, the disparity of uniform rule enforcement combined with random crackdowns only makes teachers, and therefore the administration, look inconsistent.
Once in a while the administration will express concern about students defying the dress code. Right before winter break multiple detentions will be written out for unsuspecting students who don’t seem to care about uniform rules with break around the corner. Events like these prompt groans, complaints, and “why nows.”
The disparity between teachers and the administration for the enforcement of uniform rules only confuses students. The point of uniform rules is to prepare students for the real world where rules must be followed and appearances are key. This message to students is lost when the enforcement of these rules is not consistent.
“I think everybody has their own enforcement of the dress code as far as how much attention they give it,” Social Studies teacher Jake Hollin said. Hollin gained a reputation in the last year as a teacher who sticks to the uniform code. He could have been seen standing in the hallway with his pad of detention slips in one hand, a pen in the other, and an observant set of eyes scanning the hallways.
Not every teacher needs to stand in the hallway eyeing every student from leather shoes to proper haircut. However, simply looking at students during class can expose many misdemeanors. Teachers are quick to tell a student her socks are the wrong color or he needs to wear his sports coat to class but they don’t seem to get tired of reminding students of the rules. Teachers who don’t want to waste class time writing out a detention slip should stick with the three strikes system. If a teacher has to talk to one student three times for breaking the rules then they should get a detention.
The administration creates and distributes handbooks yet fails to be a beacon to teachers when it comes to rule enforcement. Sporadic calls for school wide rule enforcement only make students question the administration. In the 2010-2011 school year, an assembly was held to warn students of crackdowns on uniform rules due to an apparent influx of violations that weren’t being punished.
Immediately students were questioning the timing of the announcement. This was followed by a month or two of students in tip top uniform shape and then a decline to the norm. If the administration wants to be taken seriously huge announcements do not need to be made. An increase in uniform detentions will get the point across just as well.
In life, there is no warning of an impending rule crackdown. Crackdowns aren’t even necessary. What is necessary is consistency in enforcing the rules. If uniform regulation truly is a priority then the administration should make clear to teachers that rule breakers should be punished.
Ask an administrator or dean about why uniform rules are necessary. Responses would range from rules prepare for reality and uniforms make the school look good. The rules are there to prepare us for the rules that must be followed in the real world. In the real world people are not given detentions for every mistake but the administration has to show consistency. If uniforms are supposed to make the school look good and make students look clean then students must be forced to adhere to these rules.
The administration needs to communicate with teachers about the results that they want instead of resorting to sporadic crackdowns on the students. A three-strike system should be put in place by teachers so that students are impelled to follow the rules. To keep consistency amongst teachers communication between them has to be promoted. Consistency is key when dealing with students who work to evade the rules.
Chioma Iheoma is an Opinion Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com