school dress codes

[xzvrw2]

I don't know where this would go under so I put it here.

My school is putting in a new dress code. All I know of it now is for the boys and that is kahkis collered shirt tucked in with a belt and no denim. So far all of my peers are mad that they are doing this. The only thing I am mad at is that they are announcing it so late in the summer. People already whent school shoping and spent all this money on clothes that they can't wear. I was just ondering if any of the schools of the other students of FIRST have this kind of dress code and what are your feelings on it.


Stevie

[mechanicalbrain]

That might have something to do with this movie! :D
http://www.big-boys.com/articles/baggyclothes.html

[xzvrw2]

See none of that would get in because we have metal dectors.

[sciguy125]

Dress code!? Try a uniform for 9 years. Then, a dress code in high school. The high school dress code wasn't as strict as yours, but seems to be getting worse every year. I liked to look at the new rules and see which ones my were incited by my friends.

[663.keith]

our school has a dress code similar to yours that has been in place for several years. I feel that a dress code has some bad parts to it, but has some other factors that make it acceptable. A dress code ensures that people dress in a way that makes the school appear much nicer, but it takes away peoples desire to express their own individuality.

I know that In our school, our dress code was about as strict as yours, but over time, the faculty realized that students could dress in ways that they wanted, that still kept the school appearing very nice. Recently, our school has allowed people to wear t-shirts, and even allow students to wear jeans on Fridays. overall, I feel that not too much sacrifice is needed to be made in order to properly follow a school dress code.

I do not think a dress code is a bad as people make them out to be.

[mechanicalbrain]

WOW! I didn't expect so many people to have a dress code. Our school has no dress code at all. It doesn't matter though because even if they did have a dress code because many of the student at our school have things like piercings, tattoos, and dyed hair (and yet our school ranks very highly somehow). Part of the reason we don't have anything like that is that kids in our county go to school board meeting and regularly speak at them.

[xzvrw2]

See my school has a problem with fights. Some times they are about what kids wear. So I think that those fights will cut back because of the dress code. And our administration isn't all that great so there is a lot of problems with that. One instance of that is there is this song called white tee, it started a new fashion trend, for lack of better words, and everyone started wearing white tees. The administration thought that every one was in a gang because of the white tees so they now we cannot wear white tees to school. I think that it is the administrations fault as well as the students and the parents.

[Billfred]

Irmo High School, my alma mater, had a far less restrictive dress code. Shirts with shoulders and enough material to cover the stomach region (and no drugs/alcohol/suggestive content), shorts/skirts that were fingertip length, and no flip-flops. (Whether the dress code was actually enforced or not is an entirely different issue.)

If you think it's unfair, take it to the administration and state the best case you can for a more relaxed dress code. Make sure you point out both the advantages and the disadvantages, should you take that route.

[Joe Matt]

I don't know where this would go under so I put it here.

My school is putting in a new dress code. All I know of it now is for the boys and that is kahkis collered shirt tucked in with a belt and no denim. So far all of my peers are mad that they are doing this. The only thing I am mad at is that they are announcing it so late in the summer. People already whent school shoping and spent all this money on clothes that they can't wear. I was just ondering if any of the schools of the other students of FIRST have this kind of dress code and what are your feelings on it.


Stevie

Public or private? In my own view, a public school has no right to limmit beyond a reasonable amount dress. IMHO kahki and collard shirt tucked in with belt is way BEYOND a reasonabale amount. There will be people who say this is good, that gang violence will drop and such. Well, most gang activity happens when people talk to eachother, so why not make everyone be silent between classess? Howabout keeping hands in their pockets to prevent gang signs? What point do we stop to keep people "safe" and "protected"?

Thank god I'm out of public education, it's a real mess.

[David Kelly]

If you don't like dress codes in school now, you'd better begin to get used to it. When you begin your career and start working, you will most likely have some sort of dress code that you must adhere to. If you don't like it, you don't go to HR or your boss and cry about it because the chances of you getting fired will be pretty high.


There are much more important things to worry about in school than what the dress code says....

[Madison]

If you don't like dress codes in school now, you'd better begin to get used to it. When you begin your career and start working, you will most likely have some sort of dress code that you must adhere to. If you don't like it, you don't go to HR or your boss and cry about it because the chances of you getting fired will be pretty high.

My company has no dress code beyond this warning -- "don't make the mistake of dressing like a slob and find yourself being introduced to shareholders, bankers, or a local auto dealer." Viva la dotcom revolution!

Also, kids -- if you make a complaint about company policy to anyone; whether they be your boss, your human resources department, or a coworker and you are subsequently fired for such complaint, your employer has violated the law. They cannot take retaliatory action against you for questioning policy, though you can be fired for violating it.

Besides, in a lot of ways, school dress codes do not mirror accepted standards of dress in business. School dress codes are often implemented so students will not be judged by appearance -- whether that appearance include designer labels or gang colors (or both!) whereas in business, we're taught the opposite -- that those dressed in suits, ties, and such are 'professional' or 'respectable'.

For those who're keeping track at home:

It's not a good idea to respect someone for wearing Prada. It's baseless.
It is a good idea to respect someone wearing an ugly tie that doesn't match their ugly shirt. They're a professional and fight for good each day from within their cubicle walls. Well, all except the guys from Enron.

So, yeah, I think this is all a bit silly, if you can't tell. Know your rights!

[mechanicalbrain]

Public or private? In my own view, a public school has no right to limmit beyond a reasonable amount dress. IMHO kahki and collard shirt tucked in with belt is way BEYOND a reasonabale amount. There will be people who say this is good, that gang violence will drop and such. Well, most gang activity happens when people talk to eachother, so why not make everyone be silent between classess? Howabout keeping hands in their pockets to prevent gang signs? What point do we stop to keep people "safe" and "protected"?

Thank god I'm out of public education, it's a real mess.
Heh you mean it as a joke but its been done. One of the schools near us, i wanna say Rachel Carson, has this type of thing. My friend came from this public school and says that the school is separated into cubbies (by grade and then further more by i think last name) they are only allowed to talk to kids in their cubby and only during their break (in which you cant leave the cubby). And before and after school their is no talking in the halls. I have heard this from a couple people from the school, some say their really strict about this some say its not to bad but still i thank god i go to Oakton. :D

[xzvrw2]

I am in a public school. Pontiac Northern High School.

prohibited items
1. sweatshirts
2.denim of any kind except on fridays
3.hats and things like them
4.tight fitting, baggy, oversized, or cutout itme
5.sheer, halter strapless, tank tops, muscleshirts, spaghetti straps
6.sweat sutis, jogging attire, loungewear, sleepwear, electronic clothing
7.no flipflops house shoes high heels
8.overcoats, gloves, hats must be stored in lockers
9.sleeveless jerseys and sleeveless shirts
10.all shirts must be long enough to be tucked in: a plain belt buckle muct be worn
11.shorts must be knee length
12.no boots, except in winter months. must be black or dark brown
13.jewelry may be worn in moderation

young men's dresscode
shirt:collared dress shirt, long or short sleeved as weather dictates (white, light blue, navy blue pin stripe)

knit shirt: collared polo, turtleneck, mock turtleneck (white, navy blue school color)

vest: white, navey blue, black, school color; must be worn with a collared shirt

shirts must be tucked in at all times

sweater/suit jacket/ blazer: white, navy blue, black, school color

ties: must be a solid color

pants: khaki, navy blue, black, charcoal gray (pants must be worn at the waist and with a visible black or brown plain buckle/no embellishments)

shorts: must be knee lenght and only worn as weather dictates

socks: must be over the ankle, a solid color and worn at all times

shoes: dress shoes which are cut below the ankle. dress shoes are difined as tie shoes having full front, back, and sides/ solid black or brown (NO TENNIS SHOES)

jewelry: may be worn as long it is not large, bulty, flashy or distracting, as determined by building administration

hair: hair styles are color shall not be a disraction. hair should be neat, clean, trimmed, combed/braided and well grommed at all times.

facial hair: neat and trimmed at all times

no denim (pants or jacket) maybe worn except on fridays

young ladies dress code

blouse: collared blouse (white, light blue), long or short sleeved as weather dictates; must be long enough to remain tucked in when arms raised above head

knit shirt: collared, polo, turtleneck, mock turtleneck(white, navy blue, black, school color)

vest: white, navy blue, school color (must be worn with a collared blouse)

sweater/blazer: white, navy blue, black, school color

slacks: khaki, navy blue, black, charcoal gray (slacks must be worn at the waist and with a visible black or brown plain buckle/no embellishments)

skirts: khaki, navy blue, black, charcoal gray (skirts cannot have slits and no shorts may be work underneath the skirts; skirts may not be more than two inches above the knee.)

shorts: must be knee length and worn only as weather dictates

socks: must be over the ankle, a solid color and worn at all times

shoes: dress shoes which are cut below the ankle. dress shoes are difined as tie shoes having full front, back, and sides/ solid black or brown (NO TENNIS SHOES)

jewelry: may be worn as long it is not large, bulty, flashy or distracting, as determined by building administration

hair: hair styles are color shall not be a disraction. hair should be neat, clean, trimmed, combed/braided and well grommed at all times.

no denim (pants or jacket) maybe worn except on fridays

thats the dress code now

[sanddrag]

I think the tucked in shirt thing is too much. I almost never wear a tucked in shirt. I hate it. My HS make use wear plain color collared shirts with no large logos or printing. No jeans or cordoroy. Cargo shorts and pants were acceptable, but not excessively baggy. They did not require the shirt to be tucked in.


I preferred this dress code much better than not having one where everyone would be wearing Sean John jeans (twice the size they should be too) and a white T shirt if there was no dress code.

[xzvrw2]

See what people dont under stand is that we had a dress code. It was just never enforced.

[spears312]

The schools in my county have always had a loose dress code, restraining of corase anything suggestive and inappropriate. This year they made things more strict like requiring girls shorts to be longer, no sleeveless shirts for the guys, and no low pants, etc. Nothing that really effects me, since I wear jeans and polos half the time (and my heatwave stuff the other half it would seem some weeks :yikes: ). I just hope I can get through my senior year (next year) without uniforms, because I had to wear them from like, Kindergarten to 8th grade, and I really don't want to go back :ahh: .

[dubious elise]

Sounds just like grade school to me! I went to a parochial school from Kindergarten through 8th grade where, like your high school, there were few, if any, restrictions as to what we could wear. Just before 4th grade began, we too had a "dress code" sicced on us. Naturally, the students were resistant, especially the junior high kids. It actually started out surprisingly lax; khaki's and navy pants all the time with plaid dresses/skirts for girls and shorts in the early fall. We got 4 colors of shirts (red, white, navy, and green) whether they were polos, buttondowns, turtlenecks, or sweaters. We were also promised at least 1 "out of uniform day" per month.

That all went down the tubes as our school realized that things they hadn't expected (lowrise pants, JNCO-like khakis, bell bottomed khakis, cargo pants, trashy Abercrombie-esque "fatigued" pants, etc) also fell quite nicely into their own categories. Brand-related disputes would still break out in the junior high when kids were picked on for wearing Land's End uniforms vs. something pieced together from American Eagle and Banana Republic. As children's clothing became more grunge-like and risque (read: midriff tops for 8 year olds, shredded jeans, etc), our out of uniform days were restricted to a student's own birthday and the occasional holiday (yes, the Friday before a big Packers game was a holiday, as long as you wore something green or gold...).

Now, the students are restricted to wearing only what is sold by a specific uniform company to keep things totally and completely fair. I never really had a problem with the concept of uniforms. There was just something about wearing a 100% polyester shirt/pants combo on the bus ride home on that one abnormally hot spring day that never sat well with me.

Either way, aside from the fact that it ususally just adds up to be another, oftentimes unnecessary, expense for a lot of families, if your school is having such problems with attire disputes, this is an option that has been shown to work in many instances. I'd say give it a chance.

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

I've never been in a situation with a strict dress code like that, but my school enforces very strictly shirts that show any cleavage, and shirts with inappropriate advertising of any sort.

Many teachers have the "labcoat". It's a really ugly lab jacket that you have to put on if they don't approve of what you're wearing. When the teacher whose 1st and 5th hour classes disect pigs brings up the concept, students obey.

I personally don't really float either way. I think there's a lot more to a school or a person than what they wear, and while individualism in clothing is important, you are honestly only in school for maybe 7 hours or 9 or 10 with ECs. Deal with it, everyone is doing it in your school. You'll have to do it when you're in the working world, just like David said.

[JoeXIII'007]

Hmmm... that dress code of xzvrw2's school is indeed a bit strict. I wouldn't like it at all. BUT, I would like to see what would happen if a dress code like that was enforced at my school for just one year. Heh heh heh :D That'd be interesting. Currently though, we've had a great principal who has actually enforced the exisiting dress code, and it has worked really REALLY well. Has anyone in the Pontiac district contacted the board or some section of the school to try and work something out?

[Bcahn836]

Personally I don't think a school has the authority to tell its students what they can or cannot wear, and make them only wear uniforms. I can see restricting a student from wearing any thing offensive, too "showing" or some thing like that but to tell a student they can't wear jeans or something like that is just lunacy.
I remember one year my school was trying to pull the whole uniform thing a few weeks before school started and it never worked so they made it optional for the students, now some followed the suggested guide lines but much of the school didn't and the ones who wore the uniform didn't get laughed at too much.
But that is just my opinion. . .

[wilshire]

I am not so sure they can pull that strict of a uniform policy at a public school. Public schools are supposedly for the public. Now they have to pay even more money to buy appropriate attire? that in my opinion is ridculous for a public school.
I agree with all of my school policies with no offensive content/drug display/showing of cleavage for shirts pants skirts or shorts. and girls can have shorts and or skirts being no higher than fingertip length. I used to go to a Catholic shool where the basic attire you were allowed to where was blue shorts or blue pants with a white collared shirt with a navy blue sweatshirt if you felt like it. Girls could where the navy blue shorts or a green plaid skirt with a white collared shirt.
anyways dress has neverbeen an issue with me because I always wear shorts or jeans with a polo. You can never go wrong with the polo :cool:

[Bharat Nain]

Either way, aside from the fact that it ususally just adds up to be another, oftentimes unnecessary, expense for a lot of families, if your school is having such problems with attire disputes, this is an option that has been shown to work in many instances. I'd say give it a chance.
Actually, uniforms might actually save money for some. Instead of spending money on too many sets of clothes for school, they will be limited. As far as my view goes on uniforms, I am not one who would enjoy wearing a uniform to school everyday. I feel the students should be given some freedom as far as what they want to wear. Ofcourse I understand the rules they impose.

[mechanicalbrain]

School uniforms are very often custom made for schools and as i understand it very pricey. I wonder about the actual benefit to school uniforms. For example in my school their really isnt any such thing as gang violence. Before you say that its that i come from a "good" neighborhood ide like to say i also went to school in DC (not the good part) and we didn't really see any gang violence in school their either. The little that was present deffinitely wouldn't be stopped by clothing. It reminds me of a popular quote by Murphy "It is impossible to make anything foolproof because fools are so ingenious". I hate to say it but you can remove all the visual hate you want but kids will keep on finding new ways to hate (yeah i know im pretty pesimistic just calling on experience). Its sad to see but to me school uniforms are like metal detectors at airports kind of pointless.

[sanddrag]

After seeing the video posted earlier in this thread, I wish there was a metal detector in ever door anyone walked through in any place. That was just plain scary. That many guns, and all different kinds and sizes, and you'd never know until it was too late.

[mechanicalbrain]

After seeing the video posted earlier in this thread, I wish there was a metal detector in ever door anyone walked through in any place. That was just plain scary. That many guns, and all different kinds and sizes, and you'd never know until it was too late.
Yeah i still can't tell if that was a joke or something seriously put together by parents. Sanddrag, every time you see a guy walking funny your going to wonder whether the guy has a rifle in his pants. :D However if you insist on security you can always get a MET-1 metal detector ( take a look (http://www.supercircuits.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3939)) for only $149!

[xzvrw2]

We don't have school uniforms. Its is a dress code. We can go out and buy the $15 pair of khakis from k-mart. It doesn't have to be the $40 pair of pants from some uniform catalog. I don't know if you know what kind of school Northern is, but it is an urban school so there is a big problem with guys sagging thier pants down to their ankles, girls wearing these shirts and skirts that would make a hooker tell her to go put some clothes on. We have had a dress code since my dad has went to that school 20 years ago. They just don't enforce it. I think that this dress code will fail but that is just my opiion. The school board telling the principal of the school that there is a dress code 3 weeks before school is very bad. The told the parents at the same time they told the principal, 3 weeks before school starts. I can see the whole, "We spent all this money on clothes already I can't afford to spend more monsy," here is a thought, take those clothes back. I garuntee that most of those clothes are the reason why this school is going to a strict dress code. Then the parents say, "I want my baby to look good," to me, dressing like a hooker doesn't look good. "I didn't buy my baby his $150 air force ones, his auntee did," Tell his "auntee" to go out and buy him some khakis and a nice shirt. The only problems I have with this is the colors they chose. I got to this other school called GMTS (General Motors Technical Academy) and the students there have to dress up in business casual, just like the engineers do. We are not limited to the colors we have to wear so I have like brown pants, yellow shirts, green shirts, and stuff like that. I could have worn them to both school and GMTA. But the colors day that I cannot. That is just rong. Also right now I have a mohawk. It says that hair cannot be distracting. Would my hair count as a distraction? I hope not. Also it was stupid to tell us this with 3 weeks before school. The school board has done this kind of thing forever.


Stevie

[Mike]

no shorts may be work underneath the skirts
I'm assuming you meant to say worn there. Now this confuses me, if anything shorts help the dress code. No... erm... "show" if a girl falls or something like that. Sounds like they didn't think this through enough. Get a ton of kids and go to a Board of Education meeting. If you get enough people I think they'll definitely repeal this.

[xzvrw2]

I just typed it they way tey had it on the paper they gave us. So any typos are on them. It is the board of education that is bringing this on not the principal.

[mechanicalbrain]

It is the board of education that is bringing this on not the principal.
Get kids to show up and speak out. You wouldn't believe some of the things our board tried to pull that would probably have worked if kids hadn't stepped in and said something.

[xzvrw2]

My school board isn't the best school board. They look out for them selves. Half of them their kids dont even go to pontiac schools. One of the members don;t even live in pontiac, they live in lake orion.

[mechanicalbrain]

Yep i know the feeling that inspires but get kids to stand up and pressure them. I think more kids should take part in their schools decision making process.

[ahecht]

My middle school had a strict dress code. You had to wear navy blue pants or shorts (shorts had to be above the knee), and you had to wear a waffle-weave white polo shirt, tucked in. Sweatshirts were allowed, but they had to be the grey ones with the school's logo on them. After two years, they started allowing t-shirts, but you could only wear the special white t-shirts with the school's logo on them. If you violated the uniform, you had to wear your PE uniform all day (which is not fun).

From there I went to a high school with absolutely no dress code whatsoever. The school was founded on the principle of not restricting the students in any way, so the administration couldn't do anything clothing wise as long as you were dressed legally (i.e. no nudity, profanity, or exposed genitalia). When a girl was sent home for wearing a see-through top, it created a huge controvery.

Funny story: when the class that graduated last year was in 7th grade, they quickly got the nickname "the naked grade," because the girls had a reputation for wearing as little as they could get away with (and this nickname was started by the administration). Because the administration couldn't do anything via the dress code, they turned all the thermostats down to 60 degrees which, in Los Angeles at least, is when all the girls break out their heavy jackets and gloves. Within a few weeks, the problem was solved.

[KarenH]

My 2 cents:

One problem with uniforms is that most of the "school uniforms" I've seen in stores are very cheap quality--thin white shirts you can see through, and poor workmanship. Ugh!

On the other hand, I once saw a photo of a group of school children in India. They were all in uniforms. I was surprised at a certain optical effect: because all the clothes were the same, I found myself focusing on their faces. They weren't a group of kids; they were individuals!

Supposedly, most American kids oppose uniforms because wearing uniforms will take away their individuality. Yet, when left to choose their own outfits, woe to anyone who wears something different from the "cool" brand or the "in" ugliness! In other words, they all have to dress according to the "cool" code, anyway!

So, I think the real issue is that students don't want the authorities telling them what to wear. I wonder, what would happen if the school board told the students they HAD to wear ratty, baggy jeans with skimpy T-shirts sporting nasty slogans? :ahh:

By the way, I've known some people who are involved with prison chaplaincy programs in California. They told me that if you visit someone in a California prison, you mustn't wear blue jeans. Why? Because blue jeans are part of the California prison uniform, and visitors aren't allowed to dress like prisoners!

[KTorak]

My school has a dress code, but its never enforced well. The basic no low rise pants, no baggy stuff, etc. Personally, I wouldn't mine wearing a uniform. I typically wear jean and a polo or a dress shirt with nice shoes. I do have a nice assortment of t-shirts I wear a few times a week also. In the warmer months, I wear tan colored shorts and what not with tennis shoes.

[Joe Matt]

My school has a dress code, but its never enforced well. The basic no low rise pants, no baggy stuff, etc. Personally, I wouldn't mine wearing a uniform. I typically wear jean and a polo or a dress shirt with nice shoes. I do have a nice assortment of t-shirts I wear a few times a week also. In the warmer months, I wear tan colored shorts and what not with tennis shoes.

My old school had a dress code, and it was bascially that, but there is a difference between having a somewhat laxed dress code and having to wear khaki's and tucked in collard shirt every day....

[looneylin]

Our dress code is sooo strict! I go to an All Girls Catholic school so we have our uniforms n stuff. But recently they've gotten soo strict that the school administration yells at us for having white socks with a lil color on the rim of it!

It's like we're anarchists if we have a lil picture of a butterfly on our socks! lol

[c-squared_2006]

It's interesting what everyone has to say on the school dress codes. I liked what KarenH remarked, it gave another perspective on things.

Personally, my high school has been a bit lose with dress codes. I think that clothing should not define the individual but rather the other way around, but the clothing shouldn't be too risky. I can see where the arguement that school dress codes do hinder creativity came from, however when I'm able to tell the color of someone's under clothing, it's a bit disturbing.

[Amanda Morrison]

My former high school (the one that AndrewMorrison attends now) is pretty renowned for overbearing administration, especially with students' appearances. Back when I was still in the middle school there, I can still remember seeing the principal's office overflowing with HS kids, sitting on the floor, out in the hallways, everywhere - all of them with dyed, sprayed, spiked, or mohawked hair. MTV profiled us back in the day as a result. (Eventually, after kids would spray their hair before school to get out of class and the school got a lot of bad publicity, 'creative hair' was allowed but not encouraged.)

I can't say that I was ever targeted, and I was an... interesting and creative dresser for many years. Soon after I left, the school banned the color pink, fearing it was a gang color. Most recently, hooded sweatshirts were not allowed. The students had very little warning, and had the sweatshirts and sweaters taken away from them before they were allowed to proceed to class. The school confiscated them, telling parents they could come pick them up or the students could reclaim them at the end of the school year.

A few students and parents protested. Overall, it did little good and the rule stayed. The school's air conditioning is falling apart, so many classrooms without windows are very cold, others are very hot. A few students complained of being cold when winter came. Again, it did nothing and the administration kept the same attitude.

When I heard about this, I was pretty ticked, knowing the track record of the school. But my logic is this - I no longer attend the high school, and if enough of an outcry was heard about the new restrictions, the administration would probably take another look at the situation. Instead, when only a few spoke out, it appeared to the school that the rule was accepted by most of the students and parents.

Moral of the story: If you want something, fight for it.

[xzvrw2]

We have fought for other things but nothing has been done. We had half the school sign a petition to get us off lock down (no one can enter or leave the room unless escorted by a hall monitor during class, even if you have to use the bathroom like so bad that you are about to explode.). teachers abused this saying that kids couldn't even leave wen they were called down to the office. Nothing was done even after there was a protest down at the school board. In my opinion the Pontiac school board doesn't care.

[santosh]

See my school has a problem with fights. Some times they are about what kids wear. So I think that those fights will cut back because of the dress code. And our administration isn't all that great so there is a lot of problems with that. One instance of that is there is this song called white tee, it started a new fashion trend, for lack of better words, and everyone started wearing white tees. The administration thought that every one was in a gang because of the white tees so they now we cannot wear white tees to school. I think that it is the administrations fault as well as the students and the parents.

I felt that last part of that was hilarious partly becasue of coincidence, and just becasue it is funny.I am from Atlanta, that song was started in Atlanta, and I never knew that it got out of the state of Georgia. And I was listening to the song when I was reading that post. We had the same issue with that till the officials finally hear the song, but it was funny seeing everyone walk downt the halls in white tee's.

I had to wear a uniform at my 3rd elementary School and a strict collar shirt tucked into a khaki pant dress code at my first elementary school.

I personally don't believe that strict dress codes accomplish anything. it has the point where it puts evryone on the same playing level and no one will feel less fortunate because everyone is wearing the same thing. I myself haven't heard anyone complaining that they felt less fortunate because others had more expensive clothes than they do. And if not that point, you can still sag with khaki's.

I think that your school officials will have more trouble with this new policy than without it.

[xzvrw2]

Well up here, the teen night clubs have white tee night.

[Adam Richards]

I can't say that I was ever targeted, and I was an... interesting and creative dresser for many years. Soon after I left, the school banned the color pink, fearing it was a gang color. Most recently, hooded sweatshirts were not allowed. The students had very little warning, and had the sweatshirts and sweaters taken away from them before they were allowed to proceed to class. The school confiscated them, telling parents they could come pick them up or the students could reclaim them at the end of the school year.
They banned the color PINK?! Ouch... I guess 233 would have a bit of a problem if they were ever going near your school.

[KathieK]

Many companies have a dress code, whether "official" or just expected behavior on the part of their employees. I am from the "post-hippy" high school era of patched embroidered jeans and boots (the ****-kicker kind, your parents will know) and admittedly enjoy a more relaxed dress code where I work. But I also know that if the occasion warrants it, or the next job requires it, I'll wear what is dictated to me to wear. That's the way it is.

[mechanicalbrain]

This post is going to be two parts. One: Yes and this has been mentioned but after thinking about it fact is that that is a job and you work at the company willingly. When you get a job you agree to the rules of the company (and I'm amazed how far these rules go especially in terms of privacy). I understand it also if you go to a private school because you have to willingly go their and agree to the rules in place at the school. However a uniform mandate in a public school seems a little too far (however i know some people differ in opinion and i fully respect that). Unless their is a clear safety or educational hazard as their is with certain clothing that is appropriately banned i don't see why a uniform should be enforced. The truth is i have no problem with uniforms if its necessary, but every reason i have heard so far has failed to justify such a step to me. In my opinion the freedom of clothing has nothing to do with individuality, look at how many kids wear brand names (theirs even ones for people who claim to be antisocial), it has to do with a freedom to express ourselves. Two: The notion that certain clothing promotes gang violence is like when people contribute violent games or harsh music to the actions of the child. Case point if you had a friend offer you a smoke would you do it. if you didn't its because your life values conflict with action. However if you do its because you made the choice. You weren't forced to by aggressive add campaigns or coerced by subliminal advertising! I know that isn't exactly completely about the topic but i wanted to dissect one of the chief arguments. When you hear something that sounds reasonable apply logic to it and make your own decisions carefully instead of what others tell you to be true (the same goes for this post). If you read this and find yourself agreeing or disagreeing with me before you get to this sentence please reread the post and carefully think about the things I'm talking about.

[The Cyborg]

I go to the same school as xzvrw2, and thus, succumb to the same school board administration. From my past knowledge, our administration was below favorable. Not only students, not only parents, but teachers and principals find the decisions made from our administration to be unacceptable.

This may be off topic, but at the beginning of last year's school year, the teachers and the administration were caught in a dead-lock, when teachers refused to sign their yearly contract due to disagreements with certain policies, most importantly, the teacher's payroll. I have heard many opinions about this disagreement, with most of these opinions unfavorable with the policies of the administration. I do not know much of the events that followed, but it has been rumored that the teachers were eventually "forced" to sign their contract, due to threats from the school administration, which included cutting vacation time, and canceling many incentives such as Assemblies and teacher prep days.
Our administration had also done ridiculous things in the past, including canceling board meetings just mere hours before they were scheduled, and making decisions to be enforced without much prior consent from the teachers, the parents or the students. Many decisions like this have lead to nothing, and has accomplished almost squat. The three-weeks prior notice of this new dress code policy will, in my opinion, tarnish the policy, and thus, unless threatening enforcement comes from the school administration, the dress code will most likely never happen.

If the dress code does happen, however, there will likely be resistance from the students in the school. I agree with what mechanicalbrain said in the previous post. A dress code will only dent the outside of a person's personality, but if you account for the previous decisions they made in life, then a mere dress code will never cover up the person on the inside. If you dress a gangster in a pair of Khakis and a polo, you will still have a gangster, and he will still most likely be a gangster. It's his choice, not anybody else's. (although you could help him make the decision to lead a better life! :) )

[KathieK]

This post is going to be two parts. One: Yes and this has been mentioned but after thinking about it fact is that that is a job and you work at the company willingly. When you get a job you agree to the rules of the company (and I'm amazed how far these rules go especially in terms of privacy). I agree with your post. I appreciate being able to choose what I wish to wear. What I was saying is that when you get into the "real world" (that is so cliche, isn't it?) you often DON'T have the freedom to choose. Ask your engineering mentors about what they have the "freedom" to wear at work... Yes, I have the "freedom" to get a different job, but in this job climate? You've got to be kidding. Not if I want to put food on the table and have health insurance and not uproot my family. I know so many unemployed people trying to find work these days, you're lucky to get a job interview, let alone make a decision on where you're going to work based on a dress code.

[xzvrw2]

School administrators at Pontiac Northern High School are considering implementation of a voluntary program. District Superintendent Mildred Mason said they are working with students' parents to determine whether such a program is wanted, if it could be effectively carried out and what dress restrictions might be included. A decision on such a program is expected at some point after the start of the new school year.


This is regarding our school dress code. It is in The Oakland Press newspaper. It says that the program will be voluntary. I have one question......WHO IN THE SCHOOL WOULD VOLUNTEER TO WEAR THE UNIFORM!!!!???? It may be different at my school, but for those that go to an urban school like mine know, no on will volunteer to wear the uniform. They will only wear it if it is forced upon them. Even then a lot of kids won't wear the uniform. I just don't understand why they have to go and do this and then say...Oh you don't have to wear them. tats just plain stupid, in my opinion.

Stevie

[Rohan_DHS]

DHS (Dunbarton High School) does have a dress code, but its pretty fair...basically nothing offensive (like shirts that say something bad about some other culture, n stuff like that), or vulgur (like shirts with anything to do with sex, etc), no hats inside and try not to wear too much jewellerry (optional)..oh yeah, and no 'spaghetti straps'...which isn't much of a problem for me, since I am a guy :) lol

But, that's about it...I don't think that there is much more to it

[Jeff K.]

I have a really similar dress code/uniform now. We can only wear either navy blue or khaki pants/shorts that we have to buy from this one certain company, Landsend, online. We also can only wear polo shirts that have our school logo in them and each shirts costs $25 and we can only wear gray, white, and navy blue. The middleschool I had went to that was like, an extension of the highschool that I am currently attending had a similar dresscode except for polo shirts, we could only wear white and "forest" green. People have gotten used to the dresscode. It just really takes away on individuality.

We had been happy going into highschool because for the first year, my freshman year, the dresscode was really loose. We could wear ANY polo shirt and ANY shorts or pants that we wanted. Now we have a dresscode after the highschool has had the same dresscode for the last 10 years. I have some friends that are seniors that have had to spend a lot of money on uniforms and are only going to be wearing them for one year.

[xzvrw2]

Do you go to a private or public school? I go to a public school.

[Jeff K.]

I go to a private school...that is also a Catholic school.

[Cory]

I think my school's entire code of student conduct was shorter than the descriptions of what you can and can't wear.

That dresscode pretty much sucks. My school had one, but it was rarely if ever enforced, and it mainly involved too much skin being exposed.

[xzvrw2]

This thing came in the mail and gave us a list of things that are prohibited...just everything under the prohibited items is what we are going to follow until they set something in stone.

[JasJ002]

Nobody here can be mad about their "school uniforms". I wear a Nazi uniform to school (you think I'm kidding.... if I had a tan tie it would be the same uniform). I have to spend half an hour a day prepping it just so it will pass inspection. Then when my room is formally inspected each shirt, pair of pants, socks, everything has to be pressed perfectly.