The enforcement of dress code has left students and even some teachers confused.

“The dress code is no different than what it’s been for years,” Warkentine said. “Why this year they have chosen to really emphasize it, I’m not sure.”

But Warkentine noted that there’s another issue.

“I’m not sure how we go about teaching males to ignore what’s being worn,” he said.

The dress code targets females.

“I mean, if you look at the list of things they were going to enforce, most of them apply primarily to the girls in the school, and I’m not sure that that’s fair,” Warkentine said. “… It just seems that there’s some inequity there, all the burden is primarily placed on one gender.”

Teacher Alexis Golden agreed.

“While I can see that they tried to change the verbiage to seem more gender neutral, I do feel like the dress code in general is a little harder for girls to adhere to, particularly with shirt length and things like that,” she said.

Principal Tim Hamblin has put the pressure of handling violations on administrators, so teachers only need to turn in a referral that will be addressed by principals.

“I’ve heard that there are some teachers who kind of shame students if they’re not adhering to the dress code,” Golden said. “… What I don’t think is acceptable is if students are breaking the dress code and teachers choose to shame them or call them out or make them feel bad in front of the class because ultimately, that’s what’s causing a learning distraction, not what the student is wearing.”

The enforcement actually first began last school year.

“It wasn’t enforced until at least last year from what I was aware of, and then there was an initiative this year to start enforcing it,” teacher Golden said.