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PLATTSBURGH, NY (WCAX) – Plattsburgh high school students who walked across the graduation stage on Friday to receive their diplomas left a legacy that transcends their classroom work. Three Plattsburgh students this week planned a senior protest in less than 24 hours in hopes of changing the high school’s dress code policy.
“I texted the senior class group chat and everyone seemed disappointed by the idea,” said Alex Suarez, a PHS senior. Suarez and other students said they were fed up with getting a dress code by school administrators for wearing clothes that were deemed too revealing. Those who violate the policy are given a T-shirt to wear over their clothes for the day. If they refuse, they are sent home for the day. Suarez said students felt the policy was not applied equally to everyone. There are many inconsistencies in the dress code that we have in school.
just people who have more curves or just a different body type, you are treated very differently, says senior Isobel Bond. You can’t control your body type and I don’t think it will interfere with your education.
To protest the policy, all students come to school in clothes that violate the dress code. They want to send a message that the policy is out of date. it’s problematic for any part of our body — our thighs or our stomach — to bother, says senior Olivia Kenney.
At first, they were all met with T-shirts at the door by the principal, but during the first period, student ambassadors were called to the office where they had a meeting to talk about the changes they wanted to see. “We all agree that there are boundaries that need to be set,” Kenney said.
He said school officials told them they had considered changing the dress code, including not requiring strap thickness for tank tops and changing the length requirements of shorts. The new dress code applies for the remainder of the school year. That’s still more limiting than we’d recommend, Kenney said.
Seniors say they have now passed the baton to the junior class to keep districts accountable and make further changes. “Even if it doesn’t apply to our senior year, I am delighted that we are paving the way for these future students,” Suarez said.
A lesson for these students to speak up and stand up for what they believe. “I think it’s a great example that even young people who are told they can’t do something, can do something,” Bond said.
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