Boots Case

When students come to my school, they come with the knowledge that a close watch will be kept on the correctness of their uniforms. They know that even their socks must match exactly (even if they won't even be showing). Their attempts to be even minutely attractive are stripped away like their social life. But while the basic rules of the uniforms are fairly easy to follow, and are at least relatively understandable, more are being implemented that are just pointless. For over a decade, these extra rules were not in place and, obviously, the school didn't shut down, and things ran just fine.

The worst of these extraneous rules is the dreaded "Boot Rule". All of a sudden, if a student is seen wearing winter boots, it is the end of the world. Apparently, the rule began because a certain person with certain administrative power simply didn't prefer the style. According to that person, it was too much of a "fashion statement". These boots, which, literally no one else considers a fashion statement, have been blacklisted. Wearing them causes nearly the same reaction as wearing no uniform at all. Students don't wear them because of a desire to be fashionable. In fact, most don't even necessarily like how the boots look; they just wear them because they are warm, and keep the bottom of their pants from getting drenched. Because of this rule, students have to wear shoes meant for summer while walking through several feet of snow. The public reason for the enforcement of this rule was that they looked "sloppy" and "unprofessional". So why, then, are faculty members permitted to wear them? (And yes, some do).

If it is really necessary to prohibit this style of boot for the sake of appearing professional, then that's exactly what should be done: prohibit that style. Not all boots look the same. There are plenty of types to buy that are completely different from the style in question, but the rule encompasses all boots, of any color, from any store, bought at any time, worn by anyone. It wouldn't be ideal, but it would most likely relieve some of the anger held by the students if, at the very least, a single type of boot was legal to wear.

The rule has become such an annoyance to the students that the topic is now discussed regularly in conversation among them. Petitions against it have been discussed, even. The point of uniforms is that they are supposed to keep students from being distracted by clothing, but this rule is doing the opposite. By not allowing them, students get distracted by the conversations which come up during class concerning the rule, and how badly it needs to be fixed. It has also diminished the range of uniform clothes that are practical to wear during the winter. It's hard enough to wear skirts when it's below freezing outside, but it was at least bearable with the boots. The problem is that most of the students purchased