Dress Code Drama

The dress code at The Governor’s Academy has definitely been redefined over the years and yet people still get upset about it. While it is slightly ambiguous, as I’ve been looking through student handbooks from the 1970s and on, I’ve realized that it could be a lot worse.

Starting in the early 70’s and ending in 1982, students were only allowed to wear shorts as a part of Classroom Dress after May 1. Even though it is unlikely to get a super hot day in March or April, if there was one back then the students would have to suffer through wearing pants that whole day. After 1982, however, there was no rule on when students could start wearing shorts, which I’m sure makes the boys who wear shorts even on the coldest winter days very happy.

From 1984 until the 90’s, students could not wear clothes that had the logo or name of another ISL school on it as a part of “informal dress” for the weekends and after school. This rule does make sense, but it’s not really something that people acknowledge nowadays. Maybe back then it was a problem, but currently I don’t see a problem with someone wearing a sweatshirt of another ISL school if, for example, their sibling goes there.

The early 90’s is when denim really started to have its moment, but unfortunately Govs did not let students enjoy this trend. The 1989-1990 student handbook states: “No denim of any sort below the waist is allowed; this includes shorts, slacks, skirts, and jumpers.” This would be equally as tough nowadays as it was then, since jean skirts are so popular amongst the female students.

Up until 1990, students had to be in classroom dress for all meals in the Dining Hall except for Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays. It is hard to imagine every student changing back into their clothes from earlier on in the school day after practices were over. This is something that I am very happy is no longer a rule.

Another major issue addressed in all of the dress codes has been shirts. Students get away with a lot having to do with shirts currently, but it was definitely stricter in past years. The handbooks from the 80’s and 90’s state that shirts with collars were required for all students. Our current handbook states that only a “dress shirt” is required, with that being defined as a blouse, polo, or collared shirt. We are lucky in that we don’t have a strictly enforced rule of having to wear collared shirts; while boys are encouraged to, girls have it a lot easier. This, however, creates problems when boys try to argue that girls have an easier dress code, which is technically true. Although the dress code is gender neutral, girls can still get away with wearing a t-shirt while boys get called out if their shirt does not have a collar. I think that the dress code is perfectly fine how it is now, but it is interesting to see what it has been like in the past and how the rules have been redefined.

The 1977 Student Handbook shows an early version of how students were allowed to dress. (above and below)

The current (2018-2019) Student Handbook Dress Code is quite different than earlier ones, stating "do's" and "do not's" for student's clothing.

The dress code from the 1985 Student Handbook shows two interesting rules; no ISL gear other than Govs, and Classroom Dress at all meals in the Dining Hall except for the weekend.