Middle School Dress Code

[DVCLiz]

The reference isn't about being on the coast, it's about Polo shirts. They tend to be popular with surfers/beach bum types because they have that sort of nautical association. Same deal with boat shoes being your dress shoes.

Huh, I didn't know that - thanks. Although a Polo shirt is the last thing I would associate with a surfer/beach bum - it's always had such a strong preppy connotation to me.

 

[DVCLiz]

I'm sorry, I saw them spelled as "kripz" before.
Well i'm not sure what gang wears purple but that's what I was accused of.

According to DD19, those are the Latin Kings.

 

[GeorgiaPeach8]

Our school (I'm a para educator) is going to a stricter dress code next year. Pants and skirts have to be either blue, black, or khaki. Shirts have to be plain colored and have a collar. Shirts must be tucked in at all times. Turtlenecks may be worn in the winter (who past second grade wears those, anymore?) and plain colored sweaters can be worn, but must rest at the waist or top of the hips. I think if it's going that strict, it would be just easier to do a uniform.

I have been teaching for 15 years...3 districts (due to DH's job). I have been through all the dress code drama. It is very difficult to enforce. It will totally depend on your principal's ability to do 2 things--1) get all teachers on same page ready to enforce and 2) consequence kids who haven't complied. If these to things aren't in place...forget it NOW

It is very difficult legally to adopt a true uniform code in a public school. You can't require students to buy clothes from one place...like Lands End.

Also...IMO--very strict dress codes are overkill and tend to make high school students react negatively. We had a problem in our school with the three Bs--butts, ****s and bellys. Instead of fixing our regular dress code to address these three evils...we went to a strict dress code. Now, I have to send students to the office for logos on shirts, flip-flops, black pants. Students hate it! I think it is hard enough to get students interested in ancient world history without them thinking we care more about a GAP logo than we do about what we are teaching.

 

[Huggles]

At my DD school they have a very strict dress code. There are many kids from deprived areas and to ensure there were no excuses of not being able to afford the uniform of regulation jumper, white shirt and tie, and black trousers ( or skirts/ trousers for girls) the school negotiated a package from the uniform supplier so that each kid could afford the very basic necessities. They made sure that the package was within the limits of a clothing grant ( provided to poorest families). All they needed to provide was the child's shoes ( must be black and no training shoes or fashion styles allowed). It has worked really well although problems with kids wearing their ties in 'alternative' styles have been resolved by the simple solution of making all ties 'clip on' style which ensures that top buttons have to be done up too. All pupils are supplied with an order form a few months before the end of school and the uniform is delivered to the school for collection. Exchanges etc are possible so it's a pretty good system.

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

You got to it before I did, Horned King.

In the area I grew up in, it was Crips in blue, Bloods in red or red and white, Latin Kings in gold/yellow and black and the Mexican Mafia in plain white. You had to be careful what you said, who you said it to and what you wore in certain parts of town. I made the mistake one day of wearing a red bandanna tied in my hair for school (it was Halloween and I was dressed as a bobbysoxer with a red polo shirt, red poodle skirt). When I walked in a bunch of girls said if I didn't take the bandanna out immediately they were going to jump me. I took it out.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I agree with your point here, but we are up the road in Raleigh, and gangs are getting bad, without regard to economic boundries. Especially in middle schools where you also have a lot of posers or wannabe's that can be just as dangerous.

As with my DD's school, she is in a magnet program only offered at this MS. The school board placed it there to use these kids for their high test scores. It gives the perception that this school is doing better than it actually is. The principal is a strong one, she was principal of the year.

I also feel this stricter SMOD is being enforced because of posers (my DS 14's word). Last year the students could wear any color polo. Also, the polos can not have any logos or monograms. Shirts have to be tucked in and worn with belts.

I had to laugh at the Halloween reference. A lot of us moms said we could hit the after Halloween sales! I just hate that the colors are so drab and boring. The principal orginally wanted the 6th graders to wear only gray polos. Every grade level would have their own color. She backed down after parents complained.

Lori

 

[EMom]

You got to it before I did, Horned King.

In the area I grew up in, it was Crips in blue, Bloods in red or red and white, Latin Kings in gold/yellow and black and the Mexican Mafia in plain white. You had to be careful what you said, who you said it to and what you wore in certain parts of town. I made the mistake one day of wearing a red bandanna tied in my hair for school (it was Halloween and I was dressed as a bobbysoxer with a red polo shirt, red poodle skirt). When I walked in a bunch of girls said if I didn't take the bandanna out immediately they were going to jump me. I took it out.

Ah.....I remember the good old days, when the only gangs we had to worry about were the Bloods and the Crips. Times were simpler then........

 

[barkley]

I have been teaching for 15 years...3 districts (due to DH's job). I have been through all the dress code drama. It is very difficult to enforce. It will totally depend on your principal's ability to do 2 things--1) get all teachers on same page ready to enforce and 2) consequence kids who haven't complied. If these to things aren't in place...forget it NOW

It is very difficult legally to adopt a true uniform code in a public school. You can't require students to buy clothes from one place...like Lands End.

Also...IMO--very strict dress codes are overkill and tend to make high school students react negatively. We had a problem in our school with the three Bs--butts, ****s and bellys. Instead of fixing our regular dress code to address these three evils...we went to a strict dress code. Now, I have to send students to the office for logos on shirts, flip-flops, black pants. Students hate it! I think it is hard enough to get students interested in ancient world history without them thinking we care more about a GAP logo than we do about what we are teaching.

my kid's former school came up with an effective immediate consequence to enforce the concept of the 3-b's rotfl: ) portion of their dress code. the principal went to goodwill and found the butt ugliest, itchiest men's xxxl size flannel/wool long sleeved shirts they could find. if a kid violated they were given one of the shirts which they had to wear, buttoned from top to bottem for the entire day (or until their parent who was contacted brought in appropriate clothing for them to change into). those thing were hideous and smelled terrible (purposely not washed on a frequent basis ). you might have someone violate once, but it was rare after enduring one day with sleeves hanging a foot longer than your hand ended, itching and scratching in a heavily b.o'd shirt that you got a repeat offender

 

[waltskids]

In the school where DH and I work, 'colors' have become a problem (bright colors for girls like neon pink, green, yellow, etc.) but a dress code regarding them hasn't been discussed as of yet. We're not sure at this point if the kids are actually involved or just being a 'wannabe'. If you ask the students, they say the kids are involved. Either way, it's a scary situation all around.

 

[GeorgiaPeach8]

my kid's former school came up with an effective immediate consequence to enforce the concept of the 3-b's rotfl: ) portion of their dress code. the principal went to goodwill and found the butt ugliest, itchiest men's xxxl size flannel/wool long sleeved shirts they could find. if a kid violated they were given one of the shirts which they had to wear, buttoned from top to bottem for the entire day (or until their parent who was contacted brought in appropriate clothing for them to change into). those thing were hideous and smelled terrible (purposely not washed on a frequent basis ). you might have someone violate once, but it was rare after enduring one day with sleeves hanging a foot longer than your hand ended, itching and scratching in a heavily b.o'd shirt that you got a repeat offender

That is awesome...my principal WILL NOT stand up to kids or parents. We are a large rural district but because it is close to a bigger city we have some very wealthy parents who have moved out to get away from the city. These parents/students get away with a lot more because they are more vocal.

It takes just the right mix of administration, teachers and parents to make a strict dress code work. I use the Erma Bombeck (sp?) approach to dress codes...fewer ENFORCED rules are better than more UNENFORCED rules! I just can't convince the rest of the staff I'm right about this

 

[nicolemomof4cuties]

Sounds like Halloween every day.

That is EXACTLY what I thought when I read the colors they are allowed to wear.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

That is EXACTLY what I thought when I read the colors they are allowed to wear.

My DD's only complaint was that "I'm a winter and I look better in bright colors." I guess the school should have consulted the girls first!

OT but since I started this thread I'll go ahead and throw this out there. If your child goes to public school and has a similar dress code, do they have to wear it for pictures too?

Lori

 

[RUDisney]

If your child goes to public school and has a similar dress code, do they have to wear it for pictures too?

No. Picture day has always been parents' choice.... both in the private and public schools my kids have attended.

 

[SDFgirl]

Poor kids...what a depressing landscape, a sea of grey, white and black.

 

[marciemi]

Ok I know this is not funny but I am because my kids are "latino" and I have 4 of them I suppose they could be considered a gang.

But really I have never seen gang members wearing polo shirts in gang colors to identify them. That is pretty funny to me too.

I am sorry you are having a gang problems but I don't see how how polo shirt colors is going to stop it.

I did read the whole thread, and know others commented on this, but agree that I too had to laugh at the visual image of gangs dressed in matching polo shirts. What's next, collars up, preppy little alligators?

As far as I know, we don't have any problems with gangs or gang colors here, but we do have a lot of kids going for the "Goth" look. Unfortunately with teen boys, it's hard to find the right length short that aren't too short (ie geeky 80's basketball look), but not too long to look "Goth".

I had my 13 year old trying on shorts the other day being passed down from his older brother. He rejected one pair, saying it was too long and looked "Goth". His brother told him, "Just do what I always do. Wear it with your "Mr. Happy" shirt and then everyone will KNOW you're not Goth!" And yes, he really does have a Mr. Happy shirt with a big smiley face on it. Guess that solves the problem! (ps - DS13 still refused to wear the shorts - or the Mr. Happy shirt!).

 

[cruisnfamily]

If your child goes to public school and has a similar dress code, do they have to wear it for pictures too?

No. Picture day has always been parents' choice.... both in the private and public schools my kids have attended.

My kids go to a charter middle school where uniforms(school polos and khakis) are worn and uniforms are mandatory on school picture days for us.

 

[Cindy B]

I know that the student dress code has been talked to death.. how about the teachers having to adhere to the same dress code?

I'm in that situation. I am student teaching in an urban district in NJ. I have to wear the same uniform/dress code as the students-- navy bottoms and white tops. It doesn't matter what shoes/shoe color for adults but it does matter for the kids.