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School Censorship - Fighting Back

Part 4: Taking a Stand - What You Can and Can't Do

By , About.com Guide

If you want to get the attention of school officials and try to make changes about your dress code, there are some things you can do. And then there are things that you should not do. Let's take a look at both.

Attend a School Board Meeting
Address your concerns in a responsible and mature manner. Request that the school's dress code be evaluated for fairness, and give legitimate reasons why you feel it should be changed. Be firm and speak loudly, but don't lose your temper. If you have several students and parents to attend the meeting and back you up, this will help your voice to be heard.

Start a Petition
Maybe your school officials really think that you are in the minority and that most students like the dress code the way it is. The only way you're going to prove that the majority of the school is on your side is by getting petitions. Understand that teachers may need to stay politically neutral and may not sign your petition, but it never hurts to ask. You'll need signatures of around (at least) 75% of the student body to get the attention of the board.

Stage a Demonstration
Notice that it says demonstration, not riot. Demonstrations and pickets are a way to be heard without sound. If people start getting loud and obnoxious, or start fighting and being disrespectful, it only proves that you (the students) can't handle freedom of expression. You can make your point much clearer if you can prove this is not all just an act of rebellion or a way to skip a day of school.

Climb the Ladder
If all other attempts have failed, start climbing the ladder of authority. Everyone (even the principal) has a boss they have to answer to - go as high as you need to if you feel they will listen more readily than ground level administrators. If not, you can go as far as the ACLU, which has a history of helping students and their families fight for equality.

Accepting Defeat
When all else fails, there comes a time when a mature and responsible person must accept defeat and move on. You have to go to school and it's only for a few years. It's really not the end of the world if you have to adhere to a dress code or wear a uniform for a short time. When you get home, you can throw the uniform on the floor. When you graduate, you can burn it. But don't waste your time fighting a losing battle.

Once you enter the workforce, you'll no doubt encounter the same problems again. The main point of school is getting an education. Sometimes the best education is experience, so if you feel the need to take a political stance, then by all means do so. But learn from the experience and be ready to walk away when it's over, and get on with your life.

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