Why Students Should Be Allowed to Wear Moeller Branded Sweatshirts

Photo courtesy of Moellerspiritshop.org.

 At Moeller, hooded sweatshirts, even Moeller branded ones, are not permitted under the standard dress code guidelines. I think this policy should be changed so that students can wear Moeller branded hoodies as part of the daily dress code, not just on blue and gold days. Other brands of hooded sweatshirts could still be prohibited, but wearing Moeller sweatshirts would provide a way for students to show school spirit every day.

One of the big concerns among faculty is that students wearing the hoods would be hidden from view, possibly even falling asleep in class or wearing earbuds without being seen. Being at Moeller for four years now, I have seen countless students sleeping in class without hoodies on. Still, it could be written into the dress code that students are not permitted to wear their hoods in class. Being caught wearing a hood during class could simply count as any other dress code violation.

There are lots of ways that allowing Moeller branded sweatshirts could benefit both students and the school. First, the Moeller Spirt Shop has different varieties of colors and styles of hoodies for people to come in and buy. Allowing students to wear them during school will increase sales and bring more money to the spirit shop. After all, if we change the dress code so that ONLY Moeller sweatshirts are allowed, then one of the main sources for purchase of Moeller sweatshirts would be the spirit shop. This change would also allow the student-run business class to sell sweatshirts and expand their product line.

Students would also benefit from the change because studies show that a sense of comfort for a student correlates with improved mental health. Creating another way for a student to feel more relaxed could help his overall mental health. Additionally, allowing the comfort of Moeller sweatshirts could help to create a more positive and comfortable learning environment. Furthermore, by allowing students to wear sweatshirts, more students will wear them on a regular basis outside of school, increasing advertising and publicity for the school.

Also, during winter temperatures can reach chilling levels, and students get cold in class. Without lockers, it’s hard to carry a coat around all day, but hooded sweatshirts could be easily placed in a backpack when not needed. And when a student does need a little extra warmth, a sweatshirt could help. Students can struggle to focus if they aren’t in a temperature-friendly environment. An example of this is in the science wing, for it is constantly freezing in the classrooms, and every student notices it. A quarter zip doesn’t have enough warmth inside of it to keep the student warm. The negatives that come with that are that a student is not going to be as focused if they are feeling cold and uncomfortable.

In conclusion, if this policy were put in place, I don’t think big problems would result from it. Moeller branded hooded sweatshirts could be a practical and comfortable clothing option for students while still adhering to school dress codes. Let's embrace the benefits of hoodies and find a balance between personal expression and following the rules.