At Dover High School, ripped jeans have always been a non-negotiable “NO.” However, this year, that has completely changed along with some other dress code updates. Times and norms within the Dover community have changed and as a result, so has our school’s dress code. The Dover City Schools administration as well as a private discussion group are to thank for this. In the words of our principal, Mrs. Grafe, “Change takes time, and you can’t do it without research and reflection.”
In addition to the change of now allowing ripped jeans below the thigh, some other alterations have also been included in the 2023-2024 dress code. Those include:
- Unnatural hair color is now permitted, as long as it isn’t outrageous.
- Small nose hoops are now allowed in addition to nose studs.
While many students appeared to be happy about the dress code updates, there is still the question of “why now?” Students have been attempting to protest the ripped jeans rule for years, so why the sudden change? When Mr. Ayers and Mrs. Grafe were asked this, this is what they had to say: “Everything we do, we reflect on and review each year. Changes occurred this year because we took a look at society and current norms.” As society has grown more accustomed to these style trends, so has Dover High School.
Common norms in the “greater working force” have evolved and so has the world as a whole. In response, the new adaptations to the dress code are just a small example of this. However, Dover is still the strong community that we always have been, even if times and current norms have changed.
