Current Issues
Topic 3 - Dress Code
David Hernandez P:4
The Broken Bow Public Schools dress code policy, revised in 2020, outlines rules for
student dress that apply to all genders, such as shorts, skirts, or fingertip dresses;
limitations regarding visible holes in jeans and pants; and sleepwear bans.
Broken Bow High School dress code
Based on a Facebook post from 2020, BBHS prohibits certain attire including
shorts, skirts, or dresses shorter than fingertip length, jeans with holes above
fingertip length, leggings worn as the only leg covering, athletic tights or bike
shorts, pajamas, and blankets worn instead of outerwear. A recent Facebook
comment also mentioned restrictions on tank top strap width, crop tops, and
see-through clothing.
Official dress code policy:
A 2020 Facebook post from Broken Bow High School (BBHS) outlined changes to
the student dress code. Key prohibitions mentioned included:
● Shorts, skirts, or dresses shorter than the student's extended fingertips when
arms are relaxed.
● Jeans or pants with holes above fingertip length.
● Leggings or tights worn as the only leg covering (items over them must meet
length requirements).
● Athletic tights (shorts) or bike shorts.
● Pajamas, sleepwear, and house shoes.
● Blankets worn as jackets.
The dress code varies by district, school, city, state and/or country, according to
Student Handbook 25-26. states that: Notwithstanding these specific limitations on
dress codes, this policy allows dress codes to regulate characteristics associated with
race, national origin, or religion in the following circumstances:
Specific Limitations on Dress Codes:
Except as provided in the Health and Safety Standard below, the specific dress
codes enacted pursuant to this policy may not:
● Target, disproportionately impact, discriminate, or be applied in a discriminatory
manner against any students on the basis of race, religion, sex, disability, or
national origin;
● Prohibit a student from wearing attire associated with race, national origin, or
religion (including religious attire, natural and protective hairstyles, adornments or
other such characteristics); or
● Require a student’s hair be permanently or temporarily altered.
Is it fair between men and women?Based on public information and general
trends, the fairness of the Broken Bow dress code between men and women is a
complex issue. While specific examples of unfair enforcement are anecdotal,
national studies and analyses by organizations like the ACLU highlight how similar
policies can lead to biased outcomes.
A potential common dress code:
If a statewide policy were implemented, it would likely align with modern,
student-centered principles.
● Focus on prohibitions, not prescriptions: It would prohibit specific items
that are unsafe or contain hate speech, rather than regulating specific
clothing types like straps or hemlines.
● Gender-neutral terms: It would use gender-neutral language that applies
to all students, eliminating rules that target attire typically worn by girls.
● Student collaboration: Policies would be developed with student and
community
● input to ensure they reflect local values while remaining fair and inclusive.
-My proposal for a serious dress code, red shirt and black pants for boys, and red
blouse, black pants/skirt for girls.
-Something that would be good in the dress code would be that every Friday or a
specific day a week come freely dressed in a personal outfit, without inappropriate
messages of course.
And allow the use of hoodies. The hoodies are comfortable, plus for the winter season they
help a lot to maintain the temperature so as not to die from hypothermia, another thing is
that they are cool.
Caps should be accepted in schools only if they do not incite hatred or verbal violence or
signs, and because there are also people who feel safe wearing them.