By Claire Burnett, The Current Co-Editor-in-Chief
Snow, ice and sleet are rolling in as the coldest winter months approach. With these frigid temperatures, one would expect to see more students dressing appropriately for the weather, but gone are the days of wearing a winter coat or jacket to school.
Despite the freezing weather, why aren’t many students wearing coats to school? The number one reason is the inconvenience caused by the large puffy jackets. Unless requested, upperclassmen are not assigned lockers and many underclassmen choose not to use theirs since they are far away from their first period class. Without quick access to a storage place, students are forced to stuff their coats in their backpacks or carry them around all day.
Many other students rationalize not wearing a coat by saying that they only have to be outside for a short period of time to walk to their car and then from their car to the warm school building. Some opt to brave the cold weather for a few minutes to have the rest of the day in warmth and free of a bulky coat.
Another reason for the lack of coats is the prevalence of sweatshirts and sweatpants in current fashion trends. These garments are thick and cozy, which can be a fitting replacement for a winter coat. When many students wear their uniform of a sweatshirt and sweatpants, they see no reason to wear a winter coat, as they are already warm enough.
When a majority of students choose not to wear coats to school, it can make others, even people who want to wear a coat, not wear one. People don’t like feeling out of place at school and wearing a large coat can set them apart from their peers.
However, not all students abide by the stigma of not wearing coats to school. Despite the strong case for not wearing coats, many students value their warmth and comfort and continue to dress appropriately for the weather. Will these students be the trailblazers that inspire the rest of the school to dress for the bitter weather?