Follow the School Dress Code?

     Everybody knows that people today judge you by what you wear. It gives them the first impression of you. I believe, you've heard before that your shoes have to be always tidy or people can say that you're messy, lazy or slovenly (and all that only by your shoes). But perhaps you've just overslept and couldn't find time for cleaning your shoes. Or maybe you just don't like to do it. But that's how people today define you. You are what you wear.
     So, what do you usually wear? You know that it depends on the day, event and so on. And you're right. If you work in a bank, for example, you just can't go there wearing your favourite Aloha shirt because it's not appropriate for this kind of job. Have you ever seen that people who work in a bank wear something unusual? Neither have I. It means that banks have some dress codes and clothes like casual shirts or even jeans violate it.  Nobody cares whether you feel comfortable in it or not. But there are dress codes also for students. And, the question is: Is it necessary have dress codes in schools?
    I live in Russia and study in a pedagogical university in Tula. And I can't say that we have a dress code here because people dress as they want. There are no strict rules about it. I wear same casual clothes at home and in the university. So, I don't have any problems with it. But, it's not the same for schools. Male students have to wear red knitted waistcoats with symbols of their schools and also black pants. It doesn't seem too hard to follow the rule. But according to words of students, sometimes it's not as easy as it seems to wear these waistcoats.
    "You know, it's just impossible to wear it, especially in May, when it's boiling hot outside." says my friend Andrei, who is a school student. "And it's prohibited to take vest off. Some of my classmates can't even breathe and it distracts them from studies. But nobody cares about it. "All students should follow these rules" that's what teachers usually say.
     Once, he has been noticed without this vest. And what do you think? Teachers called his parents. Yes. It's so stupid.
     It should be mentioned that when I was in school, there was no dress code then. We didn't have problems with clothes at all. So, I don't understand what the purpose of all these school uniforms is. They just prevent self expression of students. Ok, maybe if we let students wear what they want, some of them will dress absolutely inappropriately. But I think that parents will care about it and won't allow them to do it. And what about teachers? They spend so much time discussing how bad you are because you've forgotten your red vest at home, although, teachers could explain something new and useful to students.
     Dress code makes sense when you're working but not when you're studying. One of my friends works in a hotel now and I've asked him about his clothes.
    "Of course, we have a dress code and I think it's necessary to have it for professions like mine. As for me, I should represent my hotel by what I wear. I should show all guests that this hotel is a prestigious place and they can trust me. I don't think that casual outfit like jeans and sneakers will help me with it." said Egor.
    That's true, but not for schools. What we can show by all these vests? That we are from School №71? That's ridiculous.
    For example, in the UK school uniforms shame girls because they're so "provocative". Even teachers say so. And, sometimes, these costumes lead to sexism, because it's girls with their dresses who distract boys from studies. But again, what should they do? Should they just sit at home because their skirts are too short? That's interesting, that they can't go to school in jeans. In this case, they will violate the dress code. But usually nobody cares when male students break the rules.
    So, do we really need these dress codes in schools if they distract students and lead to gender inequality and injustice? Some parents say that their children don't spend their time in the morning choosing what to wear. And also it's so good for poor families, because school uniform is not so expensive. You buy this costume and your child will wear it all year round. But they don't think that if their child messes up his vest, they will have to buy a new one. They have no alternatives.
    And, of course, parents often don't want to know what their children think about it. It seems sometimes that parents go to schools but not their children.
     So, as for me, I think that first of all, students should feel comfortable in their clothes. And as I see, it's impossible with such school uniforms. Many students complain about school uniforms. If they don't like it, maybe it's time to change?