Should schools have dress codes for dances?

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Apr 8, 2003 by Brooke Niemeyer, Cody Rogers

Many high school juniors and seniors have been hitting the tanning beds, perusing fashion magazines and dreaming about the "perfect" prom night for weeks, even months.

To young women, the most important part is finding that elegant dress that will get everyone's eyes on them as they enter a room. Many of these dresses feature spaghetti straps, low backs, and cropped tops. However, some parents and principals have objected, saying school dress codes ought to be in effect at any school- sponsored activity.

The majority of high schools don't have a specific dress code for dances, besides saying that the fashion should be "appropriate." Cyprus High, for example, is under the Granite District code which says that dresses must be modest, clean, and safe. Most styles of dresses are allowed at schools such as Taylorsville, Cottonwood, Granite, and Kearns -- although Kearns administrators say the top can't be cut too low and the skirt can't be too short.

It doesn't really matter what religion you belong to, or what school you attend, people have their own ideas of what is appropriate for a dance. So, with the special night drawing near, we asked teens about their feelings on dress codes. The responses were about as attention-grabbing as the females want their dresses to be.

"I think there should be a dress code for school dances, because you don't want people to look all bad. I think that girls should wear pretty, modest dresses. I don't think they should allow things like tube tops." -- Chris Jones, junior, West Jordan High

"I don't agree with the dress code in school, let alone at dances. I think people should wear what they feel right about wearing." -- Kim Adams, senior, Cottonwood High School

"I think there should be a dress code at dances so people don't come half-dressed." -- Kim Walsh, junior, Skyline High School

"I definately think there should be some sort of a dress code. I'm not exactly sure what it should be, but people should just be able to tell when their outfit goes from good taste to trashy. I'm personally not offended by the strappy things so I don't know. I think it would be hard to draw the line." -- Ellie Billings, Skyline

"I don't think there should be a dress code for high school dances. High school dances are a time when you should be able to wear what you want and have that freedom. If the dances are at the high school, then maybe they could have a dress code, but if the dances are at another place, like prom is at the Capitol, then I think there shouldn't be a dress code." -- Kristi Stanley, junior, West Jordan

"I think there should be a dress code for the high school dances, but it should only be for things like midriffs and stuff like that, because it's really hard to find a dress that would follow our strict dress codes that our high school has. If that was the case, everyone would be in the same dress. School dances are a time to show off your own taste, and just be really personalized, and one of a kind, and unique, so having a strict dress code is not appropriate. But with your midriffs showing and stuff like that, I think that it would be a good idea to have one." -- Mallory Blackmore, junior, West Jordan

"I don't think that there should be one because most people are normally smart enough to decide what is right and what is wrong to wear at a school activity. I think that we should wear nice things, and I also think that it's not a bad thing if girls wear spagetti straps. It's OK to wear whatever you'd like as long as the length is appropriate and their clothes aren't overly revealing. There isn't a dress code out in the real world, so why should there be one in school?" -- Silvia Mourao, junior, Cottonwood

Brooke Neimeyer is a junior at Cottonwood High School, Cody Rogers is a junior at West Jordan High School and Brinn Bagley is a senior at Skyline High School. If you are a Utah high school student and would like to comment on this topic, send an e-mail to pulse@desnews.com or write to the Deseret News, P.O. Box 1257, Salt Lake City, UT 84110, Attention: Susan Whitney.