Among the numerous changes within Chamblee this year, the dress code, or lack thereof, has had quite a positive impact on the student body, with many expressing a common theme of comfort and progress. 

From the beginning of the school year, the administrative talk about any kind of dress code has been minimal to none. 

“I think this is a really positive step; people should be able to wear what they want and not have their bodies’ policed,” said senior Jamie King (‘22).

In such a stress-inducing environment, students are finding school much less frustrating without the infamous dress code. 

“I also feel a lot less overwhelmed in the morning picking my outfit, because I’m not gonna be worried about a teacher or administrator staring me down,” said junior Anna Zhai (‘23).

Left and right, students, particularly female students, have similar experiences with being troubled for their clothing in school, emphasizing the importance of an equal learning environment.

“When you send a female student home for what she’s wearing, you’re essentially telling her that males’ learning is more important than hers because it distracts them,” said junior Millie Gotsch (‘23). “It’s really important to create a comfortable environment where students can feel comfortable learning.”

These experiences aren’t isolated, and many have felt that they were wrongfully targeted by teachers and administrators.

“I’ve been dress coded for wearing leggings; I really don’t understand how it affects others, and if anything, it impacts me and my learning,” said Gotsch. “I’ve had some incidents with wearing tank tops, even though they were up to dress code standards, like the 3-finger rule.”

One student, in particular, was previously targeted by a teacher multiple times because of her height. 

“There were other girls in the class who were wearing the same shorts but she only called me out because I was taller and the same shorts appeared shorter on me,” said senior Eleanor Altwarg (‘22). 

Along with the constant mention of her shorts, Altwarg was also humiliated by her teacher, and her learning time was often compromised.

“There was one time she put me in front of the class and used me as an example of what not to wear,” said Altwarg. “She would also send me down to the office almost every day just because I felt more comfortable wearing shorts in 90 degree weather.”

Many students are also assuming that this year’s lack of policy may have something to do with the bigger picture of in-person school during a pandemic. 

“I feel like the administration is more concerned about people wearing a mask this year more than anything else. There are definitely bigger things to care about than the dress code,” said Zhai. 

Not only has this lack of policy helped students be able to wear most clothing they desire, but it has also eliminated the risk of having less learning time because of it.

“When there was a policy, there were way more issues revolving around dress code,” said Zhai. “People were getting sent home and parents were getting called for no reason.”

However, this newly found freedom is a privilege, and no one is quite sure about its longevity for future Chamblee students.

“I think that they will probably move back into making it more strict after this year,” said Gotsch. “I think that’s mainly just because COVID has had an impact on it; my hope is that they keep it the way it is.”

Despite this, students will not go down without a fight if this lack of policy reverts to its old ways.

“You could compare it to the American Revolution: once this freedom is given, it’s gonna be close to impossible to completely strip it away,” said Zhai.