Students cannot be careless when making the ever-important decision about what to wear, even if they are half asleep. According to the Staples Handbook dress policy, “The school system requires that attire be safe, appropriate to the activity, and not distracting or disruptive of the educational program.”

Essentially, as the handbook highlights, no bra straps hanging out of T-shirts, or pants sagging down to boys’ knees allowing a full view of their boxers.

“We try to be balanced and reasonable,” Assistant Principal James Farnen said. In one instance, Farnen said a student was wearing a T-shirt that said a phrase like “make gay legal”.

He feels that Staples is pretty tolerant and this specific case “didn’t even raise an eyebrow,” Farnen said.

Although, sometimes certain dress is flat out inappropriate. “Kids will push the policy,” Farnen said. “Any shirt that promotes illegal activity is unacceptable.”

There have been a few cases where students have come to school in shirts with references to marijuana or alcohol and in these instances, students have been asked to change into another shirt.

In his 12 years at Staples, Assistant Principal Richard Franzis has yet to suspend a student for violations of the Dress Policy.

“Kids are fairly compliant and can recognize what is inappropriate,” Franzis said.

There is a general consensus among teachers that appropriate dress is not a major issue among students.

Holly Sulzycki, English teacher, agrees and believes for the most part people at Staples have good intentions.

As long as clothing doesn’t infringe on a students education,

“We as a school respect different styles,” Sulzycki said.

She hopes that students are dressing “for their own fashion interests and not to seek attention from others.”

In order to be school appropriate, students’ wardrobe must fall into two categories, safe and appropriate for school.

The majority of Staples students do so already.

However, a great deal of the Dress Policy falls into the hands of personal opinion.

“It is always going to be a matter of judgment,” math teacher, Trudy Denton said.

The dress code almost comes as second nature to students at Staples.

“I think the dress code is so lenient that most students fall within the code,” said Jordan Glick ‘11, “You don’t find students trying to break it.”

Some students have never even heard of the dress code and don’t think it’s necessary in the first place.

“It’s common knowledge,” Ella Hirten ‘11 said.

Students have an idea in their mind of what’s right from wrong and will tend to realize when they are pushing the limit.