School Uniforms: Your Viewpoint

[gemmie214]

Uniforms in public schools started here because of a parental initiative.

They are not always mandatory and not all schools in this city have them. The uniform policy is brought to the School Site Council. The school site council in made up of the pincipal, a set number of teachers and a set number of elected parents. The parents are elected to represent the Parent Council (by members of the Parent Council - all parents of children in the school are on the Parent Council) in making school wide policy decisions.

Many parents have voted to implement a uniform policy because they find it cheaper to outfit their children for school this way.

Many parents want to stop the wearing of gang colors in the school building...yes, it is a problem.

Many parents vote for it to foster school pride, it is lacking in this city.

But when it comes down to it, the parents have a say and the majority have said "YES!"

 

[oxfordcircus]

It's wrong...that's what it is. Oxfordcircus' avatars and signature pictures are generally non-compliant with established dress codes.

Are you trying to get me points? *wrings hands*

And shouldn't it be "Oxfordcircus's"?

 

[va32h]

Okay, until you've been to my school, and been in my shoes, don't assume what you cannot. It happened here, and it's happened over and over again. We didn't conform. We did what we wanted either because our parents wished it of us, or because we wanted to do it. Kapiche?

Wearing them, for ten hours. That is it! At the most, once a month, running in them for gym. Don't ask me why they don't last.

A uniform is not necessary. It is an option before it is mandated. A public school is about just that...there's a reason people send their children to public school, and often, that's to avoid the costs of a private school. Can't do that with uniforms.

You know what I really want? People to stop putting themselves in shoes that don't fit. "Oh, you're full of it. It can't be that way, because it wasn't with me." As I said, until you've been to my school, you know squat.

Interesting. I did not know that. I wish I had. I wager many others do, too.

"Go to a school without uniforms."

And if you aren't given that option? And if you're only option is to move? It's not that easy. If the whole parish/county is uniform ruled, then what do you do? Up and move to another state? Pshaw.

Your writing is so vivid. I can just see you stomping your foot with each sentence. Now, pull in that pouty lip before a bird lands on it.

And maybe it's time for a little nappy, too.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

not to beat a dead horse, but how would you go about opting out of uniforms? I am the queen of rules following, but the whole uniform issue has me really upset. We have 3 families on our block that have lost their homes since the first of the year and they are requiring families to buy uniforms when they can't make their house payments. And these aren't expensive houses. These are small older homes that have 2 bedrooms 1 bath and no garage!

Someone in our local paper made the parallel to the Titanic where they sent the band out to play for a sinking ship. Maybe people won't notice how bad things really are if we make the kids wear uniforms. Maybe they won't notice that we have failing test scores, a high drop-out rate, but hey, everyone matches!!!

I can't answer your situation - but in the general sense, I guess you would have to threaten legal action if forced into a corner...site those cases that have already been won - hope your school district isn't foolish enough to waste taxpayer dollars on such nonsense that they probably can't win to begin with - but be prepared to go to court if they are that foolish! I'll state again, I have no problem with private and religious schools - but public schools are another matter.

I am also wondering if this isn't a regional thing - I just don't see this type of thing going through around here.

 

[Andy B]

You know what I really want? People to stop putting themselves in shoes that don't fit. "Oh, you're full of it. It can't be that way, because it wasn't with me." As I said, until you've been to my school, you know squat.

But you can make comments without being in any one elses shoes.

 

[stargrazer]

Why has no one brought up the obvious answer? Just get rid of clothing entirely, we won't have to have this debate anymore.

 

[debster812]

But you can make comments without being in any one elses shoes.

MTE Andy.

It goes both ways Ariel Mae. Your absolutes are not necessarily (thank goodness) mine, nor are mine yours.

But you quite often post along the lines of "I'm right, you're wrong, end of discussion", which is most assuredly not the case on a PUBLIC, internet message board.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Why has no one brought up the obvious answer? Just get rid of clothing entirely, we won't have to have this debate anymore.

Too late -- someone already brought that up a couple pages ago

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

I never felt the public schools' dress codes to be a problem at all. I certainly never heard of any endless debates. I think you're exaggerating, or perhaps your school has issues with its dress code that need addressed.

I think parents make too much of uniforms and think they are great solutions to X problems, and I think many like it because they don't have to say no to school clothes--makes life easier.

I personally don't know any pluses to school uniforms other than simple convenience.

First, you didn't have a problem with the code because you were compliant. If you weren't compliant, I'm sure that your parents would not have gone in to argue with the school and administration about whether or not you were compliant with the dress code. But there has been a cultural change in American education in the last 20 years. Increasing numbers of parents and children are coming to school with the attitude that the rules simply do not apply to them because the rules are "stupid." These same parents and children think that they are lawyers in training and then argue their way blue.

An earlier poster put in a dress code provision that piqued my interest:
"Necklines should be modest."
If you don't think Principal Smith is going to spend significant time dealing with parents and children arguing over the meaning of this phrase...
What is an immodest neckline? All V-neck shirts? How low does it have to cut? Who is going to measure it?

Schools get tired of drafting and redrafting and rewriting policies in an attempt to make them crystal clear. This is nearly impossible to do, though, without instituting a strict uniform dress code.

 

[oxfordcircus]

But you quite often post along the lines of "I'm right, you're wrong, end of discussion",

You're not suggesting that she asserts without proving, are you?

 

[disneymom3]

You know what I really want? People to stop putting themselves in shoes that don't fit. "Oh, you're full of it. It can't be that way, because it wasn't with me." As I said, until you've been to my school, you know squat.

Well, shoot, Deb, can you introduce me to Squat? I am always being told I don't know squat and would love to find out what that is all about!

 

[AmazingGrace]

Why has no one brought up the obvious answer? Just get rid of clothing entirely, we won't have to have this debate anymore.

Touche!! Or since we're going nekkid, should it be tushy??

 

[stargrazer]

Too late -- someone already brought that up a couple pages ago

AH! Thanks for the clarification, should have read all the way through. If it's anything like the smoking thread though most every page says the same thing...you're all wrong, lol.

 

[va32h]

It goes both ways Ariel Mae. Your absolutes are not necessarily (thank goodness) mine, nor are mine yours.

Don't you mean thank goddess?

 

[debster812]

Don't you mean thank goddess?

NO! I didn't *stamps foot*

You're wrong. You don't know what I mean. *pouts lip*

*sigh*

 

[stargrazer]

Touche!! Or since we're going nekkid, should it be tushy??

 

[AmazingGrace]

NO! I didn't *stamps foot*

You're wrong. You don't know what I mean. *pouts lip*

*sigh*

See, I always tell my little girl that she shouldn't stick her lip out because a bird will poop on it!!

 

[Mkrop]

C....and what would school be like without the goth outcasts, preps, geeks, etc.......

Get with the program !

We seem to have all them too just in uniforms!!!!!!

 

[Aidensmom]

My son's public school has uniforms, navy shorts or pants and red or white polos. It really doesn't make a difference to me one way or another. Some of the benefits are no time wasted in the mornings deciding what to wear, and they are inexpensive (I bought them at Walmart and Bealls Outlet - 3 pairs of pants, 3 pairs of shorts, 6 shirts - all for about $80). The biggest downfall for me is having to try to scrub out all of the paint and marker stains at least once a week so he has clean uniforms to wear.

When I was in school, I went both to schools with uniforms and schools without. It really never made a difference to me then either.

 

[Andy B]

NO! I didn't *stamps foot*

You're wrong. You don't know what I mean. *pouts lip*

*sigh*

Surely you are not implying that Ariel my be less than totally mature are you, maybe not too long out of the need for a uniform?