As summer comes to an end, more and more student prepare for the winter with warmer clothing, jackets, and pants. But in the past few weeks, this preparation as led to the repeated violation of the dress code.

At Kent, the dress code for boys includes a blazer, tie, collared shirt, slacks or dress pants, socks, and shoes in good repair. However, the dress code for girls is much more lenient. In this way, the dress code is unfair in that it is more strict for boys.

As sixth former Callie Celestin ‘17 says, “I think the dress code is a little lenient for girls, and a little strict for guys. Girls can get away with leggings and a sweatshirt and a Barbour.”  This is the attitude shared by many of Kent’s students, who don’t see why girls should be allowed to dress more freely.

The dress code exists “to get not only the students, but also the faculty, to be able to mimic real life… in a job, there is a way to dress, and in a school, there is a proper way to dress”, according to Mr. Seye.The dress code helps teach students the right way to act according to their dress, thereby preparing them for college and beyond. Additionally, the dress code helps create a sense of school atmosphere and cohesion.

Mr. Seye adds that “each school has a different way of doing it. We have our way of saying, this is how we present ourselves. Once we have that, we have our own culture, and we have to stick with it.”  The dress code has been around for “many, many years”, and so accordingly we should treat it with the respect it deserves as an integral part of the school.

Although there has been some discussion among students to reduce the dress code, this may only serve to harm the school culture rather than help it.  Tying your tie and putting on a dress shirt in the morning takes no more than five minutes, but requires attention to detail and sharpness. In this way, it insures a sense of purpose and instills discipline. Additionally, it creates an atmosphere of professionalism that would be diminished if the dress code were substantially reduced.

The problem of dress code has gotten worse this year, and Mr. Seye has created a “dress code committee” to help enforce and adjust the dress code if needed and agreed on, most likely to be implemented next year if at all.

In order to maintain the integrity of the school culture and attitude of professionalism and hard work, the dress code should be respected and maintained. What takes just a few minutes extra every morning adds up in the character that it builds and prepares students for the real world. One can’t expect the world around them to adapt to their comforts, and, accordingly, students should spend time not thinking about how to dodge Mr. Seye between classes but rather spend that same time in making sure they respect the history and culture that Kent has established through the dress code.