By Arianna Avita-Gutierrez & Emanuel Nader

Granada Hills Charter (GHC) has several policies, including those related to dress codes, that have been in place for many years. These policies, while well-intentioned, raise important questions about their impact and student well-being.

A common thread that runs through many GHC policies is the lack of empathy for low-income families. This raises the question of whether GHC’s policies inadvertently perpetuate classism within the school.

Classism can be defined as “prejudice against or favoritism toward people based on their social class.”

This idea is pervasive in American society, with stigmas surrounding thrift clothing, fast foods, and other items associated with the lower class. But, to a certain extent, GHC itself also contributes to a classist environment for its students.

Consider the hat policy, for instance, which restricts the wearing of any non-GHC-related headwear. This policy not only forces students to purchase new beanies and hats to avoid detention but also erases individuality. This is insensitive to students who may not be able to afford GHC apparel.

“I got dress coded for wearing a simple black beanie,” senior John Talontino said. “I had a really bad haircut at the time, and having to spend a bunch of money on a GHC beanie is not fair.”

According to the GHC parent-student handbook, “Confiscated hats will be kept until the end of the semester or returned to a parent for a 1-hour detention. In cold weather, the same rules apply. Students may purchase an official GHC hat or beanie in the Student Store.”

This punishment is disproportionately harsh, considering beanies and hats serve the practical purpose of keeping students warm or protecting them from UV rays. This policy places an undue burden on students and their hardworking parents, particularly those who cannot afford to spend money on $20 beanies or $30 hats or take time off work to retrieve confiscated apparel. This is in contrast to an $8.99 plain black beanie from Walmart.

This is a very real issue for many students on campus. According to the 2022-2023 school profile, at least 53 percent of students are socioeconomically disadvantaged, making it difficult for many to afford these expenses.

“I was so shocked when they told me my mom has to leave work and come to school in a small period, or else my phone would have to stay overnight at school; it’s such an unreasonable policy,” senior Natchanond Watanaharuetai said.

Many GHC students work minimum-wage jobs to cover essential expenses, such as food and transportation. However, when GHC enforces unfair prices and policies, students have no choice but to spend substantial sums.

“I work at Universal Studios Hollywood, and I get paid minimum wage,” Talontino said. “After taxes, I make about 90-110 dollars a day. Working those eight hours to see such little money come into my bank account made me realize how valuable money is, and I barely spend money now despite spending at least 16 hours working every weekend. Spending money on expensive things like Homecoming tickets always makes me think how this really costs me this amount of hours of my time.”

Although policies like the cell phone and dress code policies help maintain safety and focused environments, as phones and improper attire can be distractions, it is essential to recognize the impracticality of being so limited and forcing parents to retrieve confiscated items.

Rather than enforcing policies that disproportionately burden more than half of the student population, GHC should explore ways to be more sensitive to students’ financial situations. This could involve introducing financial aid and fundraisers to support students who cannot afford GHC apparel. This approach ensures that low-income students are not unfairly impacted by GHC policies and fosters a more inclusive and equitable environment.