Dive Brief:

• A Texas school district has decided to loosen its dress code after over 150 students were suspended in May for dress-violations.  
• Under the changes, Duncanville Independent School District will no longer require shirts to be tucked in and collared or for belts to be worn with pants.  
• Critics of the old system complained it was irregularly enforced, leading to situations like the day in May when more than 150 suspensions were dolled out.    

Dive Insight:

More important than a uniform is regular enforcement of a rule. When administrators create rules that they do not enforce, it sends a signal to students that other rules can be broken as well. In the case of Duncanville, it would appear that the school did not enforce its dress code, so students took liberties that over time got out of control— ultimately leading to frustration amongst staff and irrational behavior like suspending 150 students at once at the end of the school year. Perhaps a more lax dress code will make it easier for the district to monitor and maintain an environment where students don't believe rules are to be followed at their own discretion.