Last month, the Middle School had Field Day, a highly anticipated event amongst the students. However, every event like this comes with rules, including a dress code. Whether it was no racerbacks or making sure to wear close-toed shoes, the Middle School faculty certainly did not forget to remind us of the dress code in the days leading up to Field Day. The Field Day dress code brought mild conflict to the Middle School, and while I believe some rules are fair, others were not.,
I find it reasonable that all students should wear close-toed shoes. This rule makes sense because most events that students participate in include running, so wearing sandals or crocs would be impractical, even dangerous. The regular dress code includes this rule as well, and we have never had dress code issues with this.
However, not every rule made sense. Students were also not allowed to wear strapless, racerback, or spaghetti-strap tops. Prohibiting strapless and spaghetti strap tops on Field Day makes sense, but prohibiting racerback tops did not. First off, the common reasons for schools to restrict these tank tops are that they are “distracting” in a classroom or that private school students should dress more modestly. However, since we are not in a learning environment during Field Day, neither of those arguments apply. We should have been allowed to wear racerbacks. Moreover, this rule only applies to female students, and they should have the freedom to wear tank tops for one day of the year.
The rule prohibiting face and body glitter is fair, due to the fact that glitter makes cleanup tough. None of the Westminster faculty should be expected to clean up after us on Field Day. Moreover, glitter is bad for the environment. Many types of glitter are made of microplastics, which can harm the environment when washed away. Glitter can also be a mild skin irritant to students with sensitive skin, especially in the heat of the sun.
However, I don’t think the rule against face and body paint should be enforced. Unlike glitter, body and face paint does not shed or fall everywhere on the floors. Paint is a school-spirit boost with bright colors and designs that make teams feel more united and excited. Students can also be fun and creative with it, and it helps teams stand out. Eyeblack provides a simple team look and gives a sporty, uniform appearance. It is quick to apply, doesn’t cover much, and is easy to wash off—perfect for Field Day.
The last two rules split my opinion—prohibiting feather boas makes sense, while prohibiting plastic leis does not. Plastic leis are fun and festive, and there are leis in all colors, red through blue. They are easy to find and buy and help to identify what color team you’re on. They are also shareable; if people had no clothing in their color, they can wear a lei instead. Unlike real flowers, plastic leis can be kept and reused for future events. The leis wouldn’t cause a mess around school and are festive and colorful, the perfect thing for field day.
Feather boas on the other hand, are the complete opposite. Although they are lightweight and can be cute, they are uncomfortable, messy, and easily damaged. The feathers fall off easily, especially with movement, creating cleanup issues. Moreover, in warm weather, they can feel hot and uncomfortable around the neck and are impractical during running, relays, or individual activities. There is also a major hazard with loose feathers as they can get in eyes or be distracting during activities. On top of all of that, they create a major cleanup burden as well. Our campus may end up with feathers stuck on fields, floors, and equipment, so overall I think this rule is completely fair.
Field Day is supposed to be a fun, competitive day, not a day to be worried about being dress-coded. If what students are wearing does not negatively impact the other students or faculty, I think it should be allowed. Some of the rules and guidelines are fair, and some not, but I believe that the Middle School faculty should consider being more lenient with dress code on Field Day next year.