With these past few weeks back to school being the hottest of the year, I’ve been itching to wear one of my several tank tops to savor the hot weather. But, as the dress code states, I’m not allowed to, because I would be exposing my shoulders. I know I’m not the only one that despises this rule; over these past couple of weeks, I’ve heard dozens of people in the hallways complain about how they were stopped by administration and forced to cover their shoulders.

I understand that the school does not want students to dress inappropriately or in a way that would paint a bad impression, but I don’t think that showing some of your shoulder would portray someone in a negative way. I definitely don’t think that it would distract the learning environment to the point of disruption. I personally have never heard anyone seriously say that they cannot concentrate because someone’s shoulders were not completely covered. Further proving my point is the fact that on the Blue Valley homepage, the back to school article features a photo of a girl wearing a dress that is totally appropriate in my opinion, with her shoulders exposed.

If the school is so worried with the look of a skimpy tank top strap, they could enforce a rule similar to the rule that they use for shorts. For example, they could have a rule stating that the strap of your tank top must be thicker than your pointer and middle fingers. Personally, I think that if your tank top enforces all other school dress code rules (not too tight, doesn’t have a neckline that is too provocative, doesn’t show the midriff, etc.) except the shoulder rule, then it is one hundred percent appropriate and OK to wear it in a public school.