Prior to the start of the new school year, the school board approved dress code changes for all high schoolers in Bryan ISD. The changes include the ability to wear athletic wear and students are now allowed to have nose rings and spacers.

For many years, school dress code has created conflict among students, parents, teachers, and administrators. Growing up in Bryan, I’ve always had to follow the dress code policy, and if I don’t comply I have to fix it or suffer the consequences such as getting sent to SAC or even getting sent home. While I believe there should be some type of dress code for students such as not being allowed to wear a bathing suit to school, gang related clothing, or any article of clothing that promotes the use of drugs and alcohol many constraints within the dress code policy should be eliminated.

SAC, suspension, phone calls home, having to change clothes, referrals, and so many more things are consequences of the two words we all hate to hear, dress code.

There have been many changes in the general rules around this school, with the dress code being one of the most significant. The constant nagging of teachers for students to tuck in their shirts in the hallways and the dozens of students sent to SAC for an unshaven face. Seeing students being told to remove their headphones or lose them. While these rules had good intentions, they led to all the wrong results.

Students may not start classes until August 22, but for new Superintendent Thomas Wallis, preparing for the school year began on July 1. Wallis, the former Superintendent of Palestine ISD, began reading about the new Superentindent’s job in mid-Spring, as it appeared in postings on Texas Education websites, but hadn’t initially considered applying for the position.

At a meeting on June 13, the School Board approved a new dress code policy that requires shorts and skirts to extend to the top of the knee, male students to be clean-shaven with tucked-in shirts and prohibits athletic shorts and pants outside of approved activity, among other changes.