Collared shirts, well-groomed hair, a belt around the waist at all times—the dress code is an integral part of life at Brophy, and students are well familiar with the expectations placed on their outfits while on campus.
Clothing has always been an important medium of expression, allowing those of all ages and backgrounds to communicate things about themselves that words and actions can’t quite capture. High school students understand this better than anyone, as emphasis on clothing that brings out self-confidence has weaved its way into the social media landscape and broader youth culture.
That being said, it’s time to consider that the Brophy dress code is acting as an impediment to student self-expression, and, by extension, their ability to be comfortable with their own identity.
Dean of Student Formation Dr. Brian Johnson isn’t so convinced, pointing to the various areas in which he believes the rules allow for personalization.
“I think there are certain liberties that people can take. You know, people can wear their favorite color, their favorite style, their favorite brand—we just can’t really go off the deep end. I don’t think it’s anything too restricting,” said Dr. Johnson.
Yet this forces us to consider a few questions: how much expression can one really encapsulate in a measly shirt logo smaller than their fist? In a neatly ironed, solid blue polo shirt? In pants baggy enough to make an attempt at a statement but just tight enough to avoid unwanted attention from the Dean’s Office? Regardless of how lenient faculty claim the dress code is, the fact of the matter is that there is a limited amount of options one really has when it comes to stylizing their outfit beyond a superficial manner.
As for the merit of the dress code, Dr. Johnson says that he thinks it helps to prepare students for success and prevent Broncos from letting a lax outfit reflect on their academic and behavioral performances.
“If Brophy had a free dress policy, some problems I think would arise would be people coming in wearing pajamas, not taking care of their hair, not grooming themselves,” said Dr. Johnson. “And what I’ve learned is, when you come to school like that, you perform like that. So if you feel super comfortable, like you’re just hanging out and chilling, that’s how you’re going to behave in class.”
Mr. William Liu, Assistant Principal for Student Life at Seattle Prep, says that students take advantage of the school’s lax dress code to personalize their outfits, though there are seasonal constraints that force them to dress more “chill”.
“I do believe that students appreciate the flexibility in the dress code as a way of expressing themselves and their unique identities,” said Mr. Liu. “However, it’s important to note that the weather in Seattle, especially the cold and rain during the winter and spring seasons, limits the options for attire, which is why they tend to lean towards the comfortable and warm.”
Furthermore, Mr. Liu says he has no indication to believe that Seattle Prep’s loose outfit restrictions are causing an uptick in disruptive classroom behavior.
“I don’t have enough data on dress code affecting performance in the classroom and behavior, but many students would say that they appreciate feeling comfortable in all learning environments.”
Ultimately, this article isn’t meant to convince faculty to do away with the dress code, but rather to lessen restrictions in order to allow students to be themselves and make Brophy a more inclusive environment.
Even small, incremental changes can yield a positive outcome on the student body and its ability to be expressive with their appearance. Permitting Broncos to wear jeans, removing the ban on dyed hair, allowing baggy clothing, allowing clothing with unique, eccentric designs—tiny alterations like these would prove to make a big difference in how students communicate their own identities and feel comfortable in their own skin.
At the very least, it’s worth considering, and the Dean’s Office should reevaluate the dress code in favor of a policy more conducive to student individuality and self-expression.