school dress codes

[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?

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by Amanda Morrison

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! )