Dress code should apply to teachers, too

This is in response to the letter “Bullard High was right to send home girl with nose piercing” by Patti Gray (May 31).

While I do agree that rules are good to have and that many schools are designed to be a safe and positive atmosphere, how does a small nose piercing suddenly turn that environment into an unsafe and negative one?

First, a school is not the same as a workplace. Schools are public institutions offered as a service to the residing community members. Secondly, if parents agree with their child’s attire, then the issue should end there.

Finally, if schools are going to enforce the dress code, it should be done daily, and must apply to everyone, including faculty. For example, why is it OK for a staff member to have a nose piercing, but a student cannot, even with parental support?

High school is supposed to prepare students for college, in academics and for adult life. By limiting a student’s independence on such trivial matters, we essentially reject their independence and ask them to conform to the status quo.

This story was originally published June 10, 2017 at 3:52 PM with the headline "Dress code should apply to teachers, too."