In high school, students deserve more rights to their freedom. If students had more rights it would be easier to keep them under control in school.
Students should have more freedom when it comes to dress codes because they are often too strict and target small, harmless clothing rather than truly disruptive attire like wearing shorts too short or very short crop tops. Many students get dress-coded for things like the length of their sleeves, minor rips in their jeans or wearing hats in class, issues that are harmless to students’ education. These small infractions can make students feel singled out and uncomfortable, which is unfair when their clothing doesn’t harm anyone. Relaxing the dress code would allow students to express themselves, feel more comfortable in school and focus on what really matters: their education.
Students deserve more say in what they do, especially as they are being prepared for adulthood. Schools and parents often expect students to act responsibly and think independently, yet policies sometimes contradict this by requiring parental permission for simple activities, like watching a movie in class. If teens are soon to be trusted with major life choices and responsibilities, it makes sense to start to build that trust now. Allowing students more autonomy in decision making would help them develop confidence, critical thinking and the practical skills needed for the future. These opportunities only send mixed messages about what it truly means to grow up.
Schools should give students more freedom of speech rights because being able to express different thoughts and opinions is essential for learning and growth. For example, saying what they think, and instead of getting in trouble, being able to be professional on their own and make their own decisions, because they need that mindset for future professional jobs. By supporting open and respectful dialogue on their own, they will learn more and learn to be more appropriate in professional settings.
