Dying of a gunshot from a student who smuggled a weapon in his beltless baggy pants does unequivocally prevent one from receiving an education. Ms. Davis's philosophy would make it okay for students to decide to attend school in a bikini if they so choose. Schools must establish rules and enforce them if they expect to teach students anything. Strict dress codes do teach students to revere school as an institution. I sympathize with Ms. Davis's plight.
Students do consider their dress a means of personal expression.
But educators enforce rigid dress standards because they must. If dress codes are the only affordable way to fight school violence, I say we send 'em in wetsuits. I was allowed to opt my children out of the Cy-Fair code, but several parents, who submitted identical beliefs to mine, were not. I believe they knew that I would litigate the matter if it came down to it, and the other parents wouldn't. I requested an exemption for several reasons.