An Argument for SMOD

     Imagine what it would be like to get 15 more minutes of sleep each morning.  Wouldn't it be grand?  If your school had a Standard Mode of Dress (SMOD), this could be your reality.  You may be asking, what is a SMOD and how will that allow me to get more sleep and why should a student want to have it?

     Basically, SMOD is a set of guidelines for acceptable dress at a school.  The guidelines vary depending on the school and/or school district.  Some SMOD guidelines are more specific than others.  Some school districts require that a polo have no more than 3 buttons and are one of five colors, whereas another school district may not specify the number of buttons or colors.  Many districts don't limit SMOD, in that students can "dress up" what they wear with accessories (scarves, belts, etc.).  If a student's clothing options are limited to certain guidelines, theoretically, they could potentially get more sleep because they won't spend as much time thinking about and trying on clothes for school.

     There are many reasons students should have a SMOD.

• Safety - When all students are dressed similarlly, it makes it difficult for someone to come in off the street and pose as a students.
• Appropriate Dress - Students learn how to dress.  Without SMOD, some students never learn what appropriate dress looks like.
• Equalizers - When a student's attire looks like everyone else's, the focus isn't on a brand of clothing, it is on whatever they should be studying at school.
• Economical - Local retailers carry SMOD clothing at affordable prices so that all students can afford to have the appropriate clothing.  Students that can't afford the SMOD are helped out by school officials and local agencies.

     Although there are several benefits, students are always going to be upset that they can't "express themselves."  Hopefully through wearing SMOD, students will one day look back and realize that wearing SMOD wasn't the worst part of their life.  Many professions require their employees to follow certain guidelines for their dress.