The dress code at Central Middle School has been enforced strictly for as long as I remember. Girls and even boys are constantly burdened with having to tug at their shorts every once and a while, or stretch out their straps, in fear of getting dress coded. But let's think about this. I understand that the purpose of the dress code is to "not distract from the learning environment" or what not. But when we really think about it, will a girl sitting in class wearing a tank with one inch straps really distract anyone? We as teens get distracted by snow falling or animals outside the classroom window, but not a slightly exposed shoulder. So what if her shorts expose 3/4 of thigh? Believe me, no one will get distracted from learning the material in class by shorts that are not fingertip length. No one lacks so much common sense to come to school wearing nothing but a strapless bandeau and and swim bottoms. This might turn some heads. But no one is going to do that. School officials have absolutely nothing to worry about. I, personally, and I'm confident that I'm not alone in this boat, had to make extra stops to the clothing store to buy specific attire that satisfies the dress code. This is ridiculous. Kids should be able to express themselves without having to worry about getting publicly humiliated and sent down to change into some dirty track shorts. They should be able to wear ratted jean shorts even if they're not 10 inches down their leg. They should be able to wear a shirt bearing their favorite band's logo even if the straps are not 5 inches wide. Now obviously, if someone were to be so foolish as to go to class in completely inappropriate and exposing clothing, they should be asked to change into something more acceptable. I have gotten dress coded several times. Once for a tank top that was one finger short, and once for shorts that were a fingernail's length away. I was forced to put on a sweater and change into my gym shorts. This is absolutely silly. No one was distracted by my little bit of shoulder or thigh that my "inappropriate" clothing revealed. You need to think about this from a middle schooler's point of view. It's not right to enforce this dress code just because it seems "appropriate." In conclusion, this dress code is unnecessary. We should not have to get dressed every morning worrying about this law that does nothing except give us another reason to dislike school. We should not have to wait until summer to dress how we want. I refuse to be governed by the dress code. It's completely and utterly useless. Us teens deserve to wear what we want. If there comes a time when someone decides to go beyond these boundaries and clothe themselves in something entirely inappropriate, then obviously school officials have the right to ask them to change. But who has the nerve to do that? Barely anyone. So please, rethink the dress code. Think of all the inconveniences that were caused to students, when no damage would've been done had their clothing choices not been addressed. We have the right to express ourselves through or clothing, and if you don't lift this burden from us, we have no choice but to surrender and further suffer from this dress code.