Dress Code Out of Hand

The Marion County Board of Education has issued that at the begining of the 2001-2002 school year all of Marion County will be affected by a change in the dress code. Being a student at North Marion High School, this is a concern to me. I strongly believe the way a person dresses is how they express themselves. The dress code issued already prevents us from wearing shorts, unless they are 2 inches below the fingertips. Being a girl, this is almost impossible. As if this is not enough, next year's dress code prevents all students from wearing any shorts. The weather at the begining of the school year and the end of the school year is entirely too hot to cover our bodies completely. Not only is the school board regulating what we wear, buut they are also forbidding any hair or make-up that is considered to be offensive. The way you wear your hair, the way you do your make-up, and the way you dress are all expressions of individuality. I understand that there is a certain point where the dress code must be enforced, but stripping students completely from our individuality is un-American. I believe school officials are entirely too concerned with the way we appear at school rather than how we perform at school. If officials would put our minds before our bodies, there would be much less conflict concerning this issue. It is time to give us the freedom we deserve as Americans.