Dress code

A growing problem for some school districts is appropriate school attire. And now one Southeast Missouri public school district is making a move to address the issue.

The Scott City School Board approved a standardized dress code last month. This week the school's Committee to Study Student Dress Codes developed three recommendations to be presented to the board Wednesday.

The more strict recommendation would require shirts to be plain or solid colors, with logos no bigger than a quarter. Khaki or blue plants, capris and shorts would be acceptable options for pants. The more flexible option would allow students to wear jeans and pattern design shirts, with logos allowed to be larger than a quarter.

Scott City would not be the only public school district moving toward a standardized dress code or school uniform. A few other Missouri school districts have also implemented some school attire policy.

This move by the school district has not come without controversy. Some argue this is an attack on individual liberties. Others believe the requirements would be a financial hardship. Still, others believe a uniform option would be a financial savings, preventing parents from spending too much money on clothes that are meant to be a status symbol.

Regardless of the school's decision, there are some positives to take away from this situation.

1) Schools should, and currently do, have individual control over whether they implement more stringent dress codes or uniforms. Local control is usually a positive policy.

2) The issue of inappropriate dress has been brought to the forefront of local attention. Hopefully other schools will use this opportunity to determine whether their own policies are being enforced.

Students have enough distractions and societal pressures. If school dress attire is becoming an obstacle to learning, schools should take an appropriate action.