12/09/06 Cruise Continued ~ Pirating Bananas DIS Geekorama Part 2 Part 7

[kimerinc]

I need an informal poll here . . .

Most of you are parents or grandparents . . .

Some even teachers . . .

So what do you think a student dress code should include?

One of my school board members is upset because another boy in his son’s 2nd grade class has an earring. He feels that is inappropriate in school, and his kids should “not have to see that”.

You guys may already know me well enough to know what I think, but what do you think?

John1

Actually, and this may sound really odd, I think it is a health hazard. Boys on jungle jims, beating each other etc... someone is going to loose a ear lobe

 

[becka]

Speaking of being too poor to date. DH and I used to go to Wal-Mart on Friday nights for a date when we were in college. We would just wander around the store browsing and talking. I kind of miss those days sometimes when if we found $10 we were rich!

 

[kimerinc]

Once you start restricting jewlery on boys you will have to do the same for girls to be "fair". Do you want to take earrings away from all the 2nd grade grils? Let the boy get into one fight. When the earring gets pulled the problem will solve itself. (I would make such a bad school board member)

See I am not crazy. Health Hazard.

 

[Bella2000]

Actually, and this may sound really odd, I think it is a health hazard. Boys on jungle jims, beating each other etc... someone is going to loose a ear lobe

My daughter loves the jungle gym and she's right there with the boys - gosh she needs her lobe. Good thing she has been wearing her studs.

 

[becka]

Actually, and this may sound really odd, I think it is a health hazard. Boys on jungle jims, beating each other etc... someone is going to loose a ear lobe

But how is that different from the girls?

One of my first thoughts was also regarding sexual orientation. I think there are still people out there who think it is some kind of symbol of that if a boy has an earring. Usually the same ones who act as if being a homosexual is contagious.

 

[becka]

Becka,

This is actually a rather economical way to buy beef. 2 things though, my parents always bought a 4-H cow so we knew the quality. We however, do not do this because we don't eat that much beef in a year and some of the cuts we never eat.

So if you are sure of the quality and you know the amount of each cut you will get and are ok with this... go for it.

Thanks for the advice. We probably eat beef at least twice a week so I think it would certainly save us some money.

 

[becka]

In fact I think we are making spaghetti tonight and we use a pound of hamburger in the sauce.

 

[kimerinc]

My only guideline on earrings in school (especially at the elementary level) is to limit it to simple stud earrings. Hoops or dangling earrings are a safety issue for careless kids. Boys/girls whoever wants to wear them. (And since my girls aren't allowed to get pierced ears yet, there's no way DS would have them in second grade!)

See Again?? I am seriously not crazy! (and yes I realize I have left myself wide open)

 

[kimerinc]

Well, I've got a little surprise for some of you here today . . .

(concerning earrings)

This is a link to a neighboring school district's handbook - with the dress code beginning on page 13.

http://www.les.sparcc.org/Student_Hndbk_Elem.pdf

This is the code that our other member wants us to pattern ours on.

Comments?

John1

aahh so they are saying what is good for the goose is not necessarily good for the gander.....

 

[kimerinc]

This is K-12.

This is a neighboring district that is very conservative, and not very diverse. Just a few years ago a school board member there wanted "Of Mice and Men" and "Catcher in the Rye" banned from the school and the school library.

What does that tell you?

John1

Ok, now that's just stupid. Yes I used a bad word. Stupid.

 

[kimerinc]

My uncle is leaving for his new house in Florida Saturday. We were going to take him out for a farewell dinner tonight, but he declined. He is a strange man. So we are having pizza at my mom's. I don't even know if my uncle will be there for that!

So I have to call DH and order the pizza and get on over there now. I'm sure I'll be back later. Anything good on TV tonight?

BIGGEST LOSER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MrsMork]

Yes, what did you do with him Angie??

Ok, I'm telling him that he HAS to stay up with this group and attend sessions regularly! He is making me look suspecious (spelling patrol - check that one!) to the cult!

 

[kimerinc]

OMG!! No, I am NOT that bad Kim. I won't tell you what it was though

I am sure you have heard enough from your family.... You know, oxygen is really cool.

 

[MrsMork]

I too read these books in HS. I loved "Of Mice and Men", but don't remember it being inappropriate. "Catcher in the Rye" was, shall I say, a bit of an eye opener for a 10th grader!

I did not like Catcher in the Rye and wish I would not have been required to read it. I think my life would have been plenty full without it. I did like Of Mice and Men alot and followed by reading alot of Stienbeck books.

 

[becka]

We watch America's Next Top Model on Wednesday nights. I still can't believe I got suckered into watching it in the first place....

 

[kimerinc]

My daughter loves the jungle gym and she's right there with the boys - gosh she needs her lobe. Good thing she has been wearing her studs.

I don't think I would ever send DD to school with hoops. Studs, yes I can see that. I actually do not want her to get her ears pierced until she is older for allergy reasons. I had mine done young and can now only wear 14k gold, silver or titanium because of allergies. So I guess my reasons for not having her ears pierced are totally different...

 

[MrsMork]

Can an 8 month old comprehend "NO?" If I say No to Eliza she stops doing whatever and starts to cry. I guess she doesn't really know the word...just the tone of my voice...

She understands, she doesn't LIKE it. HMMMMM, neither do I. Leave that girl alone!

 

[DSharpe]

Hi everyone!!
Just dropping in to say Hello - I think about you guys all the time!!
Sorry, I just don't have time to hang around - I'll NEVER catch up - and I've been to beat at night to come chat! Email me if anything I should know comes up.
Take care!!
Diana

 

[MrsMork]

When we were first married and very poor, we would go to the grocery store and see which cereal had the funnest toy to play with.... ahhhh that was a funny memory.

 

[TanaL]

Regarding the dress code, it doesn't surprise me. No earrings goes along with no hair longer than the collar to me. Would 1/2" of hair or one little earring ruin an entire education? Probably not. I don't think it's one little earring that is offensive, but that earrings on boys is seen as a small rebellion, something outside the norm. And the point of the dress code overall is to increase the atmosphere of respect and decrease the distractions.

It's weird to me that this parent is hung up on the earring
("my kid has to look at it!"). It doesn't seem like that big a deal to me! But I think there are a lot of people who do see it as a rebellious thing. It is not necessarily a fear of gays; that era is pretty much gone isn't it? My dh used to have an earring and it was definitely rebellion against his parents.

On the other hand, I also don't think the earring rule is a bad one, it also doesn't seem like that big a deal to not wear earrings during school hours. So I guess I can see it both ways.

BTW, dress code compatible clothes are easy to find; my sister went to a dress code school in Puerto Rico and she bought her clothes at Gap, Children's Place, Old Navy -- they all have school uniform sections. Even Disney online does!

Now I have to admit that we homeschool and have "school" in sweat pants, pajamas... anything goes when we are actually at home (which isn't often!). It hasn't decreased our atmosphere of respect, nor would a few earrings. But public school officials are dealing with a whole different situation. (I don't know how they do it!)