High school students walk out over dress code

Have you heard about the students who walked out of class in protest of the dress code being enforced at Homecoming?  You can read it here if you haven't. 

At first I was interested in this because I used to teach high school. . . and then I looked closer and realized I used to teach AT THIS high school!  So, my thoughts:

I don't think it's a modesty issue.  Regardless of what you believe about modesty, the administration still has the right to make rules regarding the styles of clothing the students can wear to the dance.  Notice I didn't say "dresses" because the boys should be dressed according to the standards as well, it's just that I haven't see a lot of backless suits or dress shirts.  I'm sure they have rules about pants being at the waist, but sagging pants isn't really the style at Bingham right now, so probably not an issue. 

But, like I said, they can make the rules what ever they want (you know, with in reason).  And they announced those rules and tried to make sure that everyone knew them.  How do I know this?  Because I worked there and I know how they do.  But I also know that a lot of kids don't pay attention to things they don't care about, and rules usually fall into that category. 

Add to that, that in the past Bingham hasn't been the best at enforcing the dress code at dances.  I know this because I would be the ticket taker, someone would walk in wearing a strapless dress (against the rules that year) and we were told to let it slide.  They're going to wear what they want, and we don't want to turn people away after they paid for tickets.  Enforcing a dress code is hard!

Why enforce it this year?  This is the first dance of the year and along with that a new student body president and vice presidents.  They have a lot of say in this kind of thing.  Also, there may be new admins (I don't know personally) Maybe they're trying to start off on the right foot.  Or maybe dresses have been an issue in the past and they've decided to take a stand this year.  But what ever the reason, they've decided to really enforce it this year.

It sucks, I'm sure, to not get to go to a dance you were really looking forward to.  It also sucks to tell someone they can't go into a dance and to face that wrath.  I guess I'm saying, I'm on the side of the admin here.  If it's been done differently in the past, doesn't mean it has to be done that way for all of time.  And if going to the dance is that important to a student, they need to follow the rules.  Dress code, not going drunk, not fighting, dancing appropriately etc. . . all of the rules.