School Uniforms

[Haut Medoc]

Should Public schools require students to wear uniforms?

 

[Twidget]

Re: School Uniforms

Nope, not under most circumstances.<br /><br />My sons school it thinking about going to uniforms, because some of the kids come in tattered clothes. They dont seem to consider the possibility that if the kids are coming in hand me downs, they will eventually have hand me down uniforms.

 

[Pony]

Re: School Uniforms

Uniforms.....no<br />Dress code of sorts...Yes

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: School Uniforms

I have experienced the "no brand names" uniforms. Kids had choices of jeans and shirts. There were certain colors they could choose from and they had to be all one color (so striped shirts, only solids colors).<br /><br />It is difficult to find clothes that fit those requirements. Also, you can buy brand name clothes for cheap at the clearance outlets.<br /><br />If I were to do it, it would be either a strict uniform code or none at all.<br /><br /><br />Ken

 

[18rabbit]

Re: School Uniforms

School uniforms are a moot point. I was very active in having Calif’s state law requiring school uniforms in public schools rewritten. Obviously, requiring a school uniform in a public school is a violation of the 1st Amend. It can't be done.<br /><br />Dress codes are a toothless dog; all bark, no bite…that pesky 1st Amend thing, again. Schools can, and should, restrict any clothing that is immoral, indecent, unsafe, or disrupts the classroom. I never fully understood that last one. They can also restrict any clothing that would reasonably instill fear in another student, i.e. the can ban KKK t-shirts, etc, tho that is a gray area.<br /><br />Parents absolutely hated me for my involvement in the school uniform issue. They are idiots…every single one of them. They don’t show up or participate in the school board meetings, they didn’t show up or participate in the school site council meetings. But they b!tch and moan about everything that is inconvenient, AFTER it is decided…like making them take responsibility for their kids attire and behavior.<br /><br />What the idiot parents didn’t realize is that I am not opposed to school uniforms, just the requirement for them. In fact, I single handedly decided what the school uniform would be for an entire school. That was dumped onto me because I was the only parent that showed up for the meeting to make that decision. District policy required parents to decide on the uniform…and since I was the only parent to show up, I decided.<br /> <br />I wanted a school uniform for each school I had my kids in. All of kids had uniforms, but I did not require they wear the uniform unless they wanted to. One of my kids wanted to frequently, but he’s weird anyways. Whatever. If I had behavior problems with a kid, their choice of school attire was, well, no longer their choice. I would sentence them to 1 or 2 or 3 or5 days of having to wear the school uniform they hated. I did not have much in the way of behavior problems with my kids.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: School Uniforms

Our local city school just built a brand new multimillion dollar facility. The first year of opening was nothing but problems with the kids running the place and not the administration. The dress code was not enforced which opened the door for kids to do as they please. <br /><br />Beginning of this school year, uniforms were mandatory. SInce this has been put in place, kids no longer have the peer pressure that they had. They no longer have the run of the building. There is a terrific drop in vandalisim, violence, and theft.<br /><br />This past November, an overwhelming number of parents signed a petition to have the middle and grade schools to follow the uniform requirement.<br /><br />All non-public schools in this area already have had the uniform policy in place. Their academic skills are way above average over the public schools.<br /><br />I would suggest to do some research prior to you making your mind on the matter. Children need an education. There is a life time after school to be expressing their freedom. After all, they will be 18 and then have a vote on the matter. Until then, they are in your custody and you as the parent are responsible.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: School Uniforms

So far, so good.....Exactly what I was hoping to see .....Both sides of the discusson...... ..JK

 

[OLDSPUD]

Re: School Uniforms

My youngest daughter is in first grade. She attends a private school. There is a dress code, and the clothes are the same for all girls, and same for all boys.<br />On one hand I like it because it makes getting ready for school easy, and school clothes shopping is easy.<br /><br />On the other hand, it reminds of some twightlight zone episode, for some reason it is just weird.<br /><br />I agree with SS, and the results of a strong dress code. I am still torn because of the loss of freedom, which sares me.<br /><br />Spud

 

[DJ]

Re: School Uniforms

This was really never an issue until the seventies. That is when parents "checked out" of their childrens lives and went on to seek their own fulfillment.<br /><br />There used to be a societal degree oi decency that the vast majority agreed upon.<br /><br />Not anymore. The fist amendment has been so mis- interpreted that it now includes uniforms??? The first amendment was designed to allow the citizenry to speak out against government policies without fear of repraisal. It was NOT directed at uniforms or pornography.<br /><br />It is my honest opinion that if more parents gave a rip about their children and what they do, this would not be an issue.<br /><br />Disclaimer: I'm not blaming anyone here, just a general observation.

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: School Uniforms

My school had a mandatory uniform.<br /><br />We behaved a darn sight better while wearing it than when not.<br /><br />It makes kids easily identifiable as to what area they are from-it's very hard to behave badly when someone could say 'x height, x build, x age, from THIS school. It narrows it down an awful lot. It also stopped us drinking in pubs (at 16 me and my friends looked nearly 20) because the landlords used to recognise us and bar us...

 

[18rabbit]

Re: School Uniforms

In all of the school uniform meetings and hearing that I attended, all of the school’s administration and teachers involved wanted the kids in uniforms. But when it was suggested a uniform should also be adopted for the teachers they fought tooth and nail against it, claiming it interfered with their right to express themselves. Typical liberals…they want to make the rules for everyone and exempt themselves as being somehow better then everyone else.

 

[demsvmejm]

Re: School Uniforms

Originally posted by 18R:<br /> Typical liberals…they want to make the rules for everyone and exempt themselves as being somehow better then everyone else.

Sounds like redumblicans, I mean politicians

 

[demsvmejm]

Re: School Uniforms

Originally posted by DJ:<br /> This was really never an issue until the seventies. That is when parents "checked out" of their childrens lives and went on to seek their own fulfillment.<br /><br />There used to be a societal degree oi decency that the vast majority agreed upon.<br /><br />Not anymore. The fist amendment has been so mis- interpreted that it now includes uniforms??? The first amendment was designed to allow the citizenry to speak out against government policies without fear of repraisal. It was NOT directed at uniforms or pornography.<br /><br />It is my honest opinion that if more parents gave a rip about their children and what they do, this would not be an issue.<br /><br />Disclaimer: I'm not blaming anyone here, just a general observation.

I couldn't agree more, <br /><br />The first amendment was not intended to be perverted into protecting any and all "Expressions." Just like the seperation of church and state was not intended to seperate God from government or our daily public lives. The seperation was intended to prohibit a government sanctioned or disdained religion.<br /><br />I voted no about school uniforms even though I would strongly support them for my children and my community. I disagree with forcing uniforms on schools, parents and students, however I do believe a STRICT dress code should be impemented in all schools that do not require uniforms. No T-shirts, no ripped or tattered jeans, etc still allows for expression, but also induces self-respect and fosters a sense of responsibility to society. I may not like him or his business practices but Bill Gates gave a college commencement speach and hit the nail on the head, you are responsible for your actions, and jobs will require responsibilty and respect for more than just yourself and your wants. There's no social advancement in the work force, you aren't made to feel good, you are required to work hard and achieve in order to feel good. Shame on all those self-indulged morons who think that freedom of expression and the first amendment gives anyone the right to disregard all others in their own quest to "Feel good." As a member of a society, big or small you have a responsibility to each other member to contribute to the society, not detract from it. And if it requires school uniforms to align these little brats and their selfish mommies and daddies with these societal responsibilities then so be it.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: School Uniforms

Originally posted by David L. Moore:<br />

Originally posted by DJ:<br /> The fist amendment has been so mis- interpreted that it now includes uniforms??? The first amendment was designed to allow the citizenry to speak out against government policies without fear of repraisal. It was NOT directed at uniforms ...<br />

I couldn't agree more, <br /><br />The first amendment was not intended to be perverted into protecting any and all "Expressions."

I couldn’t agree less, <br /><br />Think it thru; is there anything else you feel strongly about expressing opinion(s) on?!? What about your religious beliefs, if any? Should someone have an opportunity to express opinion on their's and other's religions? What about social issues? Does someone have the right to express support or opposition about welfare, abortion, … or opinions on school uniforms? That we are even on these boating forums at all dicussing boats and other stuff is because of the absolute freedom to express ourselves about anything.<br /><br />I think you guys have misunderstood the difference between a ‘right’ and a ‘privilege’. <br /><br />Unless you forget, our Constitution does not create any rights, but rather establishes limits on government not to infringe on what already exists as self-evident. It does not say you have a right to a freedom of anything; it says the gvt shall not infringe on your whatever right. It is when gvt is allowed to define a privilege that it becomes open to contortion. A women’s ‘right to choose’ is not a right, but rather a privilege to abort. Unlike a right, a privilege can be taken away.<br /><br />Anyone that doesn’t think the right to express themselves is absolute is welcome to pack up their junk and move to China. There you will be told what to wear and when to wear it…right down to your little blue hat and the Moa Tse-tung pin on your worker’s uniform.

 

[technostingray]

Re: School Uniforms

If everybody dresses alike, how will you be able to tell the "good" guys from the "bad" guys?

 

[jtexas]

Re: School Uniforms

I voted "yes", but the question was kind of restrictive "Should public schools require..." - I would rather it said "Should public schools be allowed to require...", the distinction being, let each school district decide according to the will of the parents.<br /><br />My school distict allows each school to decide. Our junior high has adopted uniforms - solid color shirt (red, white or blue) or else a school sweat- or t-shirt and khaki or blue pants/skirt. Any parent can exempt their child from the uniform policy with a written statement; there are very few who do. Relieves a lot of peer pressure about what to wear.<br /><br />18R, with respect to "absolute" right to expression, I would condition that only by saying "your right to swing your fist ends where my face starts." <br /><br />Other words, as others have stated, we the people have the right not to be subjected to some types of behaviors, standards of which change from time to time as dictated by society at large and reflected in laws and supreme court decisions. At least that's how I see it working as a practical matter. Conceptually, I'm more inclined to agree with ya where expression is concerned.<br /><br />Also, do 1st amendment rights apply to children to the same extent as to parents? I think we should rely more on the parents' judgement about what is appropriate than on the children's. With exceptions for the terminally stupid, of course.<br /><br />[LOL @ technowhatever]

 

[rogerwa]

Re: School Uniforms

I believe it should be up to the district and the respective school boards. If the uniorms are mandated, which in my view is a very pragmatic approach, and a parent for some reason thinks this infringes on their rights, they do have a choice. Move to a new district or home school. <br /><br />I frankly don't see how this is infringing on someones right. We seriously need to pick our battles. If the school board is involved as a check mechanism to the administration, then it should be fine..<br /><br />My kids go to private schools and wear uniforms. The money thing isn't an argument because the uniform clothes wear like iron and can be passed from kid to kid. Our school even has a uniform swap once a year. There is also a reason that private schools generally have better academic performance that public schools. That is because of the parental involvment ratio, not smarter kids. The vast majority, in my expereince, of parents who send their kids to private schools tend to be much more aware and involved in their childs education.<br /><br />This is not to say kids in public schools don't have parental involovement, but there are also alot of parents that don't give a hoot and their kids go to public and bring the metrics down. Just my .02.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: School Uniforms

Originally posted by DJ:<br /> This was really never an issue until the seventies. That is when parents "checked out" of their childrens lives and went on to seek their own fulfillment.

How true DJ. The first generation of 'flower power' parents. It doesn't seem that those children, now parents, are doing any better.<br /><br />I might also add here, that the Good Book (much in disfavor with this very said same group) admonishes "....to raise up a child in the way he should go...."<br /><br />I don't recall it being said anywhere, to let little Johnny make up his own mind and to not "infringe on his rights"!

 

[Boomyal]

Re: School Uniforms

oops!

 

[JasonJ]

Re: School Uniforms

I think a lot of people have forgotten what it was like to be a kid. While the times have changed, the general concept has remained the same. Kids develop a skewed concept of social interaction in school, one that consists of either trying to be a part of a group, or doing everything they can to keep someone else out of a group they belong to. The kids' entire lives revolve around what is happening in their social circle. By eliminating differing attire, you are blurring the social status lines that are very firmly drawn in a childs social setting. Kids judge other kids by what they wear, and then how they are. Put them all in uniform, it eliminates that. They may talk about how one's dad has a BMW and another's dad has a Dodge Neon, but it is more abstract that seeing each other in expensive or cheap cloths. Kids will still form groups, but it is more about how they are, and they're families' social status is secondary. Kids are more likely to interact with other kids of differing backgrounds, which creates more well-rounded children. <br /><br />All of this diverts too much attention from what they are there to do, which is learn. Get rid of as many distractions as possible. They want to dress in interesting clothes, let them after school. They need to learn that school is their job when they are kids, then they grow to learn what is appropiate in the adult work force. People who cry about 1st amendment this and that are failing to look at the big picture. Kids are not going to school to express their right to have poor choice in dress habits or ostricise others because they cannot afford Abercrombe& Fitch or like to wear baggy pants with their drawers showing, they are there to learn. I can't understand why this is so hard to understand.<br /><br />By putting kids in uniforms, you are creating an environment that allows all children to belong, and for kids, belonging is the most important thing for them.