DR. WALLACE: Our high school does not have a dress code. Basically, we can wear anything we want to school. The only glitch is that the principal can send you home to change clothes if it's decided that a student's clothes are "disruptive to the educational process."

I think it is unfair that one person can decide if your clothes are a disruption. Why is it that the principal is the one to make this decision? Wouldn't it be better if a committee of students and teachers decided what was and wasn't appropriate school attire? We can't all wear the same uniforms like Tom Brady or Mookie Betts! — Anonymous, Boston

ANONYMOUS: The principal is responsible for seeing that educational goals at your school are achieved in a smooth, orderly manner. The principal should indeed be the one to determine if student attire is acceptable in the classroom and on campus. He or she is getting paid to make these kinds of decisions and has given this topic a lot of thought. The great majority of high school students are properly dressed, making it unnecessary to introduce a mandatory dress code. I trust you and your fellow students will still have a great deal of flexibility to show your own individual styles while keeping within the bounds of what is acceptable at your school. And, yes, even baseball or football players at your school must wear clothes that stay within the rules when they compete in after-school sports programs. Rules at school are normal, and they prepare students for the next steps in their lives. When you and your fellow classmates head out into the working world someday, you'll all likely find attire rules in your workplaces as well.

MOTHER'S FRIEND WAS OUT OF LINE

DR. WALLACE: My family moved to Las Vegas several months ago. One of the girls at my new school and I have become pretty good friends. We have a lot of common and spend a lot of time together. In the time we have spent together, my friend has done nothing to make me think she has a bad reputation.

Yesterday, she was at my house. We were helping my mother bake cookies when one of my mother's new friends stopped by. After my friend went home, my mom's friend told my mom that she knows my new friend's mother and said this girl comes from a very troubled family. She said my friend's mother has been arrested for shoplifting, her dad has a DUI violation and her brother is selling drugs.

Now my mother is paranoid and wants me to stop seeing this girl — immediately. I don't know anything about my friend's family because I've never been to her house. But I do know that my friend is a sweet and kind young lady.

Please tell my mother not to listen to gossip and to judge my friend on her character, not on the supposed character of her family. — Anonymous, Las Vegas

ANONYMOUS: Your mother's friend was out of line, and your mother would be making a serious mistake if she stopped you from being friends with this girl based on the alleged shortcomings of her family. The only true way to evaluate human beings is by the content of their character coupled with their actions. I hope Mom realizes how unfair she's being and reconsiders.

SHE FLIRTS WITH HIM

DR. WALLACE: I have made friends at my school with a certain girl, but it's getting difficult to be her friend because she is devious and is always telling lies. I want to remain her friend, but I'm not sure that I will.

When I like a certain boy, she automatically starts flirting with him. It's like she was born to make my life miserable. What can I do to get her to stop hurting me? — Anonymous, via email

ANONYMOUS: The best way to get this false friend to stop hurting you is to stop hanging around with her. She is probably incapable of acting like a real friend and instead twists friendship until it feels more like having an enemy. She may enjoy spending time with you, but you do not need her.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: at Pixabay