Dress Code and Alexi Halket

If you haven't been reading or listening to the news lately, 18 years old Alexi Halket is a high school student in Etobicoke who got into trouble this week with the principal because of what she was wearing to class that day. According to the principal, Alexi violated the school's dress code by wearing a halter-style top that showed her midriff, along with a skirt that an inch or so above her knees. This was a girl that had never gotten into trouble at school for anything, and had never seen the principal's office, until this day.

She decided to take it to Facebook and post about her issue, saying that the teachers were being too judgmental on showing some skin. She has gotten a lot of support from her peers, and there was a rally fighting for the right to wear whatever girls wanted. If boys at school are allowed to go shirtless during gym class, or swimming, then girls can wear tops that show some skin.

TDSB has said her attire was inappropriate for school.

I'll play the devil's advocate. Girl, put some clothes on. Some proper clothes that cover your midriff.

I grew up in the TDSB and in the 18 years (or 14 years if you don't include the first 4 years of life) of attending public school and high school, I can tell you that covering up is important. If a girl had went to school with a tank top that barely fit over her breasts, she would get the strangest stares from peers and teachers. The initial thought is, is she going in for a porno audition? This isn't a fashion show my dear.

You go to school to learn various subjects to prepare you for university, which will lead to your career. You go to school to learn and prepare for the real world. True, people may not care about what you wear to class, but please have some decency to cover yourself up. If you show up with your midriff showing, then might as well go to class naked. What's the point of teasing your peers (or whoever you're trying to show off to) when you can just bare it all and go naked. Oh right, dress code.

These days, it seems like it's all about entitlement. Which is pretty sad. Because I am a woman, I am entitled to do this and that. Because it's my body, I can wear whatever I want. If a guy creeps on me, then he's a creep, I better call the cops. Seriously? What the heck.

If you want to wear a bra looking top because you want to, then you can do it off school grounds. But schools have dress codes and rules for a reason. To sustain some order so chaos does not ensue. It's purely a learning environment that involves everyone from all types of backgrounds. And everyone should be learning in an environment that is not distracting or disturbing to others. I agree with both the principal and the TDSB that her sense of fashion and choice of wardrobe was inappropriate for school grounds.

If you are to raise a generation to prepare them for their future careers and education, it all starts with something as basic as wardrobe. Would you want to lead a generation that "Yes, wearing a bra top with booty shorts" is appropriate to go to your first job interview? Or better yet, go to work in that attire? Maybe in a strip club sure. If you're working in the hospital, government, schools, business buildings etc., then no. Dress according to what the company says. And that's the thing. Companies all have dress codes. If you don't abide by it, you could be penalized or worst, fired. Do we really want to raise a generation to bend the rules and risk their careers? Because they manage to bend the rules at school, then might as well bend the rules when they have a career?

You might think why the hell is this my business? You're right, it isn't. But when we all have kids someday or deal with kids, it will become your business, and mine as well. Might as well start now. We all have an obligation to pass on to the next generation the rights and wrongs. Following the codes and learning about consequences when they aren't followed.

I want to also ask, where were the parents? Do they not see what she wears before she leaves the house? If my mother saw me wear that to school, she would yell until I got changed. And probably skin me alive. Parents also have a huge role. If you don't teach kids what is appropriate or inappropriate to wear to school, they won't know. They will think anything is fine. Or they can play the rebellious game and test parents' patience but as parents, they have also got to stand up and point out that it's inappropriate for school purposes. If I saw my daughter wearing that to school, she would get beaten with a bamboo stick. Then I'd tell her to wear something more appropriate. Really, who is she trying to impress? Why do you need to impress people by wearing half a cloth when you should be concentrating on learning and studying?

I believe part of the problem is also how social media is so involved in our lives these days. You might have seen stories on different levels where one guy complained something happened at work and decided to share it on social media for help. And then get many responses supporting him or vice versa. A girl decides to share her story of being abused online by perpetrators, and drove her to becoming suicidal. Many people poured their support to her and vowed to find out who were the culprits behind the abuse. Now, a girl who gets scolded for not wearing enough clothes at school gets in trouble, she becomes unhappy and then decides to post it all over social media to get attention and pity. Boo frikkin hoo. Sorry girl, but you don't have my vote on this.

My verdict? Follow the dress code. Follow the rules. Focus on finishing school and finding your career. When you are not doing any of those, you can wear whatever you want or not wear anything at all. Whatever suits your boat. There will always be a time and place that you can wear whatever you want, or lack of (eg. going out with your friends, clubbing, partying). But while you're still in school, follow the rules. It will also reflect a lot on your personality. So if you want to succeed in life, you better have some self-discipline.

In the words of Coco Chanel herself: "Be classy. Anything but trashy."