On May 21, 1999, Heather Wells and many of her classmates protested against their school's dress code. Part of that dress code was a rule against body piercings. After gathering hundreds of signatures on a petition and passing out stacks of flyers, the students led a demonstration by wearing tank tops to school, which was another item banned by the ordinance. They had the support of a large part of the community, and stood their ground to defend their right to choose. The result? Administration barely listened to their arguments and then suspended the students who had participated in the protest.
Other students and parents have tried to fight school dress codes, only to be turned down by the courts in most cases. Was it all a waste of time and effort? No. Big changes don't happen overnight, but getting the attention of the public and your school administration can spearhead the process. But don't start handing out flyers and gathering petitions just yet. If you really want to be an activist, there are some important things you need to know.
Facing the Consequences
The first thing you need to realize, if you plan to protest your school's dress code, is that there are going to be consequences. You can't hold a demonstration against your school and expect to get away with it. You might get detention, suspension, possibly even expulsion. If you are not prepared to face whatever repercussions come as a result of your efforts, you are not the right person for the job.
Having Your Parent's Support
If you're about to get yourself in a whole world of trouble with your school, I would strongly suggest that you have the support of your parents. They need to be fully aware of what you are doing, and have your back 100%. The voice of an adult will speak louder than your own, anyway. And it's very difficult to continue a protest when you're grounded to your room, so it's a good idea to make sure you have support at home.
Don't Start What You Can't Finish
Once you decide to begin the effort of a school protest, you must follow through. You already have one major strike against you - school administrators probably think you're just a bored, irresponsible kid trying to make some waves. If you quit in the middle of it all, that is only going to prove their assumption. This is not some kind of popularity stunt. You have put yourself in a position of political activist - if you are not prepared to assume the responsibility, then don't start. Making a laughing stock of your school and fellow students does not help your cause.
Think you're ready to stand up and fight for your rights? Not so fast. There is still more you need to know - the first is being fully informed of your constitutional rights. We'll discuss that in the next article.
Next Page > Knowing Your Constitutional Rights
