Strict Dress Codes: Does your public school have one and thoughts?

[xPrincessSmilesx]

Reading through the lists here it stuck me that wouldn't it be easier to just go straight out uniform?

Maybe it's because I wore a uniform throughout my education I just accept it now.

I never bought into the 'expressing individuality' idea behind free dress in schools. Whenever me and my friends go out we all broadly wear the same things there not much individuality there

It enforced the whole community ethos of the school, and the school quite often got calls complimenting the pupils for being well behaved when seen outside of school in the uniform. Of course this also worked the other way!
Plus saved so much time in the morning deciding what to wear, ore sleepy time

 

[Pigeon]

If this were a public school, we simply would not comply, period. I'd march into the principals' office and tell them that it's not happening. If they want to provide my kid an alternative education, they can do that. This wouldn't be the child's decision, it is my decision.

I'm happy to comply with a reasonable dress code, but my kids aren't wearing uniforms, and I'll make the decisions about what they wear.

 

[georgina]

I am opposed to overly strict dress codes and uniforms in public schools. I believe those rules should be made with parent input and not solely by control freak administrators. If the community as a whole supports it then it would be OK.

Luckily it isn't an issue around here and they would have an uphill battle trying to implement anything like this!

I agree! The OP's dress code would upset me a great deal. I went through 12 years of uniform-wearing Catholic schools and chose to send my kids to a public school. I think our school board would have a very hard time getting something like uniforms passed around here.

 

[Anne34]

DD's dress code goes something like this:

tanktops/shirts must have 3-finger width straps
no midriffs showing
skirts/shorts must reach end of fingergips
no violence/sex/drugs/etc on t-shirts or other clothing
pants must not show underclothes (boxers, etc.)
no hats

I think that about covers it.

Ours sounds about the same -- I'm glad that they can't wear the sleazy type clothes, but still have a chance to be individuals!

 

[DarthKTrava]

From an outsider's perspective (my boss' daughter has to wear a uniform to school and she's in elementary school), here the schools that do require a uniform have a certain color or colors of NON-LOGO polo shirts, khaki pants, skirts or shorts and dark shoes. Most of which can be bought at Wal-Mart or several other stores.

When I went to school, the main deal was the no drugs, alcohol, tobacco or other related icons, pics, names etc on shirts or hats. No offensive language on shirts (several got into trouble over a shirt sold at a Bon Jovi concert for a curse word on it). Shorts had to come to mid-thigh.

Definitely NOTHING like what the OP and several others have listed....

GOOD THING THEY'RE BANNING THE BELOW-THE-BUTT STYLE OF GANGSTA WEAR!!!!

I MIGHT have had to wear a uniform when I went to kindergaten at an Episcopal Church a friend of my grandmother paid for me (and maybe my sis too) to attend. After that, it was public schools all the way!

And kids used to have 2 sets of clothing: school clothes and play clothes back when my mother was growing up. So, that ain't new.

 

[DarthKTrava]

FWIW.. I had pink hair for 2 years in HS. Straight A student, scholarships offered to Duke, VT, and Penn State. I don't think wearing different clothing or having a weird colored hair would change a student's ability to learn..

A child's willingness, and thusly, ability to learn starts at home. And with a good attitude towards it from the student as well.

What one wears won't change that. I did OK due to lack of pressure from home but still graduated despite having to shop at KMart and the thrift store for clothes.

 

[MM27]

Do they make an exception to the "no headcoverings" rule for religious reasons? What about Muslim girls or Sikh boys who are required to wear headcoverings? It seems unfair to me to say that some kids can wear turbans or head scarves for religious reasons, yet other kids can't wear a baseball cap or scarf if they want to.
Teresa

My district does make an exception for religious reasons. It is stated in our handbook. We have a high Muslim population and some of the girls do wear headcoverings. I don't know what it's officially called, but I also had an Indian boy one year that wore his hair in a bun style and had a covering just over the bun. That was also allowed because it was religious in nature. What's unfair? There is a big difference between that and a baseball hat. Many of the boys in my school try to wear dew rags. I don't recall that being part of any religious attire. They come off when the enter the building, the same as the hats.

 

[golfgal]

I agree! The OP's dress code would upset me a great deal. I went through 12 years of uniform-wearing Catholic schools and chose to send my kids to a public school. I think our school board would have a very hard time getting something like uniforms passed around here.

You have to look at the big picture here-schools that don't NEED a dress code this strict don't bother putting one in force. If you read subsequent posts you will see that they live in an area that NEEDS a dress code-gangs and whatnot. Be glad that you don't have to worry about this but my guess is that if you DID you would be happy to have the dress code vs worrying about your child wearing the 'wrong' color to school and possibly getting hurt or worse.

 

[Shutterbug]

I had just saw last night Kmarts new "blingatude" commercial for back to school clothes.
I thought to myself can they actually where any of that in schools these days?

For kicks I looked up our local school dress code:

A student shall not dress in an obscene or suggestive manner or in any fashion that, in the judgment of the staff and/or administration, disrupts the educationalprocess.

See-through or mesh garments, midriff blouses or shirts, tank tops, spaghetti straps, exposure of undergarments of any type, spiked jewelry, chains, cleavage, low riding pants, hats, and clothing with
obscene or suggestive statements or symbols are prohibited as is any apparel that advertises or promotes sex, drugs or alcohol.

Shoes must be worn at all times. Coats and hats should be placed in lockers and not worn/carried during the school day.

 

[ameraumi]

You have to look at the big picture here-schools that don't NEED a dress code this strict don't bother putting one in force. If you read subsequent posts you will see that they live in an area that NEEDS a dress code-gangs and whatnot. Be glad that you don't have to worry about this but my guess is that if you DID you would be happy to have the dress code vs worrying about your child wearing the 'wrong' color to school and possibly getting hurt or worse.

Just to be clear, it is not MY area that has a gang problem but another poster's.

Our issue is basically there was a dress code last year that was NOT enforced. Because of that they have gone to the new one that I have posted in the OP. They are trying to cover now for low ISTEP scores, low graduation rates, and low attendance.

 

[powellrj]

Just to be clear, it is not MY area that has a gang problem but another poster's.

Our issue is basically there was a dress code last year that was NOT enforced. Because of that they have gone to the new one that I have posted in the OP. They are trying to cover now for low ISTEP scores, low graduation rates, and low attendance.

Our problem also wasn't gangs, we also were told it was to raise ISTEP scores and graduation rates and to level our playing field so that kids don't focus on clothes.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

IMHO all kids should wear uniforms.
Cuts down on clothing competition & also gives parents a price break.

I know I will be flamed because this doesn't allow "freedom of expression" but I think at 3pm allow expression to begin.

It is also a good way to prep for the future. In most professions there is a dress code or "uniform".

 

[DarthKTrava]

IMHO all kids should wear uniforms.
Cuts down on clothing competition & also gives parents a price break.

I know I will be flamed because this doesn't allow "freedom of expression" but I think at 3pm allow expression to begin.

It is also a good way to prep for the future. In most professions there is a dress code or "uniform".

I have to wear a uniform at work. Doesn't bother me as it's one set of clothes I could care less if I mess up....

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

If this were a public school, we simply would not comply, period. I'd march into the principals' office and tell them that it's not happening. If they want to provide my kid an alternative education, they can do that. This wouldn't be the child's decision, it is my decision.

I'm happy to comply with a reasonable dress code, but my kids aren't wearing uniforms, and I'll make the decisions about what they wear.

I am fascinated! Do you mind sharing what exactly about a dress code would make you pull your child out of school?

Seems innocent to me.

 

[java]

I am not a uniform person. I went to catholic school growing up. I wore a uniform for 12 years. Oy you should have seen what I wore in college. And honestly it was just because I never got to get all that out of my system.

In our public school they are trying to make the push for uniforms. My issue with it is that there is a Dress Code. ENFORCE IT. For the few that don't follow it -they want to change how all of us can dress our kids. I'm an adult and I know how to follow the rules. My daughter doesn't dress like a prostitute. In fact they used her last year as an example of how girls "should" dress. How hard is Appropriate clothing?

If the majority voted for uniforms- well then I would go along with it. But I'll voice my opposition in the meantime.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

It sounds like they had a more lenient dress code and kids were trying to push the envelope or they had a lot of issues iwth non complicance so it just became easier to spell everything out in a strict way. There is a lot of clothing out there that is simply inappropriate for school. (Inappropriate graphics, cleavage, pants around your ankles, etc). It's much easier to enforce a very strict dress code that specificaly spells everything out than a more vague/lenient one that has more room for interpretation.

As a kid I really wanted uniforms in school. Even when I was in middle school. I can remember being that age and not knowing what to wear and feeling like a total dork half the time. I can also remember being teased about my clothes (and I do not come from a poor family). Of course, these same kids threatened to kill me so I'm sure if it weren't the clothes it would have been something else... But I still wished we had uniforms just to take away one more thing to worry about.

 

[rie'smom]

My daughter who is a high school sophomore walked out of the gym after PE having forgotten to tuck in the back of her uniform shirt all the way. She received detention. This was on the 2nd day of school. She complained and I thought it a little harsh so early in the school year but I'll bet she doesn't forget again.

 

[ameraumi]

It sounds like they had a more lenient dress code and kids were trying to push the envelope or they had a lot of issues iwth non complicance so it just became easier to spell everything out in a strict way. There is a lot of clothing out there that is simply inappropriate for school. (Inappropriate graphics, cleavage, pants around your ankles, etc). It's much easier to enforce a very strict dress code that specificaly spells everything out than a more vague/lenient one that has more room for interpretation.

It really wasn't too bad of a dress code. The old code allowed brand logos, stripes, plaids, floral prints but no clothing with writing or pictures (other than brand names). All clothing must fit appropriately. What happened was the Admin got laxed about enforcing it.

Tomorrow is the school board meeting and I am sure it will be a full house, and I plan on going just to hear what is said.

 

[aprilgail2]

My daughter who is a high school sophomore walked out of the gym after PE having forgotten to tuck in the back of her uniform shirt all the way. She received detention. This was on the 2nd day of school. She complained and I thought it a little harsh so early in the school year but I'll bet she doesn't forget again.

That is insane--- who in the world tucks shirts in anyway- I think I can count maybe 2 people I know that would walk around with a shirt tucked into their pants- and one we are always trying to get to untuck because it looks downright silly!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My daughter who is a high school sophomore walked out of the gym after PE having forgotten to tuck in the back of her uniform shirt all the way. She received detention. This was on the 2nd day of school. She complained and I thought it a little harsh so early in the school year but I'll bet she doesn't forget again.

Sounds like a strict school! Where we are the standards are lower and they shoot for the kids dressing out for PE as the goal.

And if you don't dress out you just get a zero for that day in PE, no detentions.