Appearances Are Destructive

Summary
The article “Appearances Are Destructive” which was written by Mark Mathbane, who urged that dress codes can not only protect students from school violence but also promote students’ learning. Take Mark’s two sisters for example, Mark enrolled his sisters at the public school in America because the better educational environment than South Africa’s. However, students seem to pay more attention on their bodies than minds in many areas. So the dress styles of Mark’s sisters became mocks at school. This reason contributed to their desire to transfer to another school. The strong competition among students is often the expensive objects than their academic achievements. Teachers feel failures to teach because of those who care about their appearances disrupted the students who are willing to learn in such a disordered class. We can take parents as the results of this situations, they over pampered their children in luxuries. Parents who don’t have so much money to satisfy their children may be considered as uncaring and cruel.
When students are asked why they pay much attention on their daily dress, they always answered “it’s the cool thing to do,” and it not only gives them high status but also earns them more respect. Mark saw the argument by civil libertarians against dress codes as misleading, for dress codes were everywhere in our daily lives without harming freedoms, which demonstrated by flight attendants, employees of fast-food chains, military personnel and so on.
School dress codes can enhance a proper learning environment for students. It can also make students feel more neat, disciplined in learning because they don’t need to care about their dressing styles.
Response
No matter dress codes exist or not, it is students’ responsibilities to focus on schoolwork than appearances. Nowadays, students pay too much attention on their outlooks. When passing through the classroom, you can see almost each student all has a mirror in their hands. They paint their fingernails, comb their hair, shine their huge shoes, or even compare with the brands of jackets, caps, and jewelry. Although appearance is important, it is not suitable in the age of students. Teachers should act a role to instruct students how important a wisdom is, and one’s values lies not on looks but minds. As we know, a handsome boy often attracts a lot of girls. Similarly, even girls, who are beautiful, are more popular. But have you ever thought that if one day they lost their beauty, shall they still be attractive as before?
In my opinion, I agree with schools to have dress codes. Some may think dress codes infringe on the freedom of expression, but it has no influences on those who work as flight attendants, bus drivers, sports teams and so on. Dress code may restrict the way people wear, but on the other way, if people all wear the same, isn’t it represent they are the team, community, and organization. In conclusion, dress codes have their pros and cons, sometimes what you dress may not represent whole your personality.