Poll: "Uniforms" in public school

[MASTACHIEFPWN]

sounds like my middle school private school dress code.

 

[nothinghere]

Wait, where do you live? In Australia, school uniforms are the norm, in every school both private and public. I think it's similar in the UK. But you said it was more of a "dress code" and not a "uniform", so I'm going to assume you're in the US (if you're not forgive me).

The school probably does have a right to introduce a dress code, so long as it is not too onerous or difficult to obey. However, limiting what colours you can wear is a bit much. I don't think that's fair at all - what if you don't have any clothes in that colour?

I went to a private school and I had to wear a uniform. We also had rules restricting what hair cuts we could have, the colour of the hair and what earrings/rings girls could wear. Some of it was sensible, some of it was stupid - girls, for instance, had to wear skirts, even in winter. Then again, winter doesn't get too bad here, so it didn't cause that much of a problem for them, I assume. We also had to wear hats all the time.

Of course, the rules were spottily enforced. The pacific islander kid who got into the school on a government scholarship was given endless grief over the most minor of infractions, and was eventually expelled one day before graduation. Ouch. While the incredibly wealthy, blond ex-South African girl was allowed to dye her hair, wear her skirt up and have multiple earrings and basically flaunt the rules without trouble. I swear she was paying the teachers off.

But it's been a long while since I was in school, and I have to say that looking back, dress codes didn't really cause that much of a problem for anyone. You can still express yourself, you've just got to do it by other means. For instance, I wore my blazer all the time, every single day, no matter the temperature. I wore it even during 40 degree Celsius days. I simply refused to take it off, no matter what. Teachers were puzzled, the staff were concerned, but there was no rule saying I couldn't wear it.

I'm in a US public school about an half an hour drive from the beach. About the whole color restriction almost everybody had to go and buy these clothes anyways because its gets to be hot as hell and with the humidity nobody wore these unless it was on a funeral or something important. Barely any stores sold them, unless you walked to the back and shuffled through a bunch of racks and because of the logo restriction most people who did have them had to go buy more clothing without any name brand on it so it would be allowed in school.

Kinda off the point but you pointed out the color restriction because of them having a lack of the clothing when in really almost no one had anything that would follow the dress code. All the stores around here knew that, we had sale after sale and advertisments targeting the instalation of the dress code because they knew everybody would need to buy them.

 

[Ham_authority95]

Why not jus cut out the middle-man and give out regular uniforms instead of making these codes?

 

[IxionIndustries]

Public schools have been doing this shit for quite a few years.

I hate the whole dress code thing, because it doesn't do a damn thing. All the times I ever asked "Why?" I got stupid answers to it:

"Because of gang violence!"
I honestly don't think a bunch of Crips are going to waltz up and shoot a bunch of little kids. You're more likely to have Columbine happen than an actual gang assualt.

"Because of offensive clothing!"
Then punish the individual, not the whole.

"Because of bullying!"
Then fucking have the counselors do something. Hell, I got teased because I was skinny as fuck. Uniform didn't help with that at all. I'd rather express myself through the shit I wear and make allies, than have no-one help at all.

But alas, I digress. I've been through my khaki-colored hell and survived, and I'm certain you will too. Thank the Gods for high school.

It wouldn't be that bad if it made any sense whatsoever.

But think about it... would you rather have that or have everyone sagging their pants? Because that's the way it is at our school.

Believe me, I've seen people sagging even in uniforms. Sure, they get shouted at for it, but there were so many assholes doing it, and after being yelled at, they'd just drop their drawers again.

 

[ProfessorLayton]

It wouldn't be that bad if it made any sense whatsoever.

But think about it... would you rather have that or have everyone sagging their pants? Because that's the way it is at our school.

 

[Mikkaddo]

Well, I came from a private school with a similarly strict dress code. Only it was even more expensive since the clothes we wore had to be uniform clothes purchased from one of a very small number of "approved" clothes stores. The reason for "approved" stores? they had to be stamped with the school symbol on them. Socks had to always be white, and there was restrictions on the COLOR of belt as well. Needless to say something like 40% of the kids got in trouble every day. Especially since the school didn't care if your belt broke AT school. They expected you to somehow produce a new belt and honestly told me in the office (for a broken belt) that my parents HAD to bring me a new one DURING SCHOOL HOURS WHILE THEY WERE STILL AT WORK or I'd get in even more trouble.

Then, when highschool rolled around, I went to a private school with no religious connection (the one before that was a catholic school something I refuse to put my children throug if I ever have children . . . worst experience of my life ugh) and where the principal and his families believed that uniforms crushed individuality, so they had no uniform and the only dress code was things like no exposed middriff, no shirts advertising alcohol or drugs and the like. Very laid back, very much BETTER.

 

[Paksenarrion]

I'd actually enjoy a uniform if it was like, a Star Trek jumpsuit, or a Jedi robe. Damn, I wish I could live in that reality.

 

[Wutaiflea]

It seems a little odd to me to have a dress code without having a uniform. I mean, if you're going to censor what people wear to that level, why not go whole hog?

Most schools in the UK have a uniform anyway, and I always liked it that way- it meant picking out clothes during the morning was a no-brainer no matter how hungover I was, and it was always good fun stretching the rules...

Thou shalt not wear trainers... but you said nothing about 4 inch heeled knee-high boots.
Thou shalt only wear stud earrings... even if they have big neon lightning bolts on.
Thou shalt wear a kipper tie... but you didn't mention whether I had to do my shirt up all the way underneath it.
Thou shalt only wear minimal make up... but a little eyeshadow and eyeliner IS minimal... even if it IS black.

Ah, those were the days.

 

[Alex06]

This doesn't seem so bad. My school has a dress code as well. Plus, we can't wear jeans. I don't know, I have never had that much of a problem with dress codes.

I don't get it. What's wrong with wearing jeans? Is it still the backwards mentality that jeans are dirty because they're made for farmers only?

Jeans are not crass. They're fashion and by the way, 70 to 90 percent of students wear jeans. If that ain't a uniform in itself, I don't know what is. Why outlaw jeans in the school when practically everyone would wear them and it would pretty much kill the need for a dress code?

Dress codes and uniforms are, in my opinion, retarded. And let me tell you that I've seen it once enforced because the board in charge of the school was filled with perverted old dicks who liked seeing girls in short dresses. What a fucking joke. It's absolutely unprofessional, those guys should've been fired...But no.

Anyways, I'm proud that I went to a high school that actually disliked the usage of uniforms. If you were seen in what could look like an official uniform, you actually got a lot of flak for it, even from teachers and the school board.

And oftenly uniforms and dress codes are enforced to keep failing students out of their schools, because they want the school to look good. Because apparently everyone that wears large jeans that fall low and leave your boxers visible is bad at school. Same with "emo", "punk" or "goth" students. (I actually knew a guy that was seen as a "punk" yet always had good grades) That is entirely false, even if the "style" itself is pretty unattractive. In society, you have to learn to cope with others, not force them to behave like you want them to. What kind of enlightened intelligent society would that make? Heh.

Our school didn't need this kind of utter crap to look good. It was actually rated better than some private schools that had uniforms...That pissed them off, I can bet. I can recall two such schools, and in those schools, the grades were pretty low, and lower than ours. Shows that uniforms mean nothing and that the notions we have about them are mostly false and prejudicial.

The ignorance of the school boards that enforce this kind of utter bullshit amazes me. Perhaps they should do some actual research. Connecting the student to the teachers and making the school as close to how a modern society would behave in the weekend when they socialize and "have fun" is what should be enforced. No uniforms, no "yes, sir", no disrespecting of either the students or adults, no dress codes, no one in charge of the other. School is a place that takes alot of time out of a student's life, so it should in part offer socializing, philosophical discussion (rather than just enforcing your point of view), etc. And students should not feel teachers are their masters and that they are much higher than them. They should be able to talk and connect with them socially. EVEN IN CLASS. All in all, lots of school systems are awful. I don't get why most schools are going this way lately. It's only going to result in less students passing, less students being interested in learning and less people with the capacity to socialize.

Personal tastes SHOULD be shown in public. Am I a robot if I work at a store and am in charge of the electronics department? No, I am someone who works at a store, who's professional enough, but who can SOCIALIZE with whomever's asking me for help. What I shouldn't do is BEAR JUDGEMENT nor waste time. Imagine if the guy works at a video store and you want to ask him about what movie you should get and he can't tell you about his personal taste because he isn't allowed.

These kinds of things should not be shunned. We're in an age where we're openly discussing sexuality and affirming that we should do so. So why limit our socializing in other aspects? Hell, I've seen a bunch of my friends talk about masturbation at a table during dinner, in college. A teacher was even offered to join the discussion...And he didn't feel that awkward about it.

Any sane psychologist should tell you that socializing and fun SHOULD be mixed with work. IE Work 3 hours then go talk about what movies you saw with your buddies at work when you have your break. It shouldn't be mixed EXCESSIVELY. Schools limit excessively the freedom of students, but that makes them lose their motivation. As a result, more people fail their classes. And with that, I will redirect you up there ^, where I provided an example of that.

There, I made my point. I would dare any school board to go up against that argument.

Additionally, I can't stress how important it is for teachers to socialize with you and offer you help. If they're yelling at you, they should be fired. If the man has had a rough week, being sick, his father died of cancer and his wife is really sick, ok, I get it, he can just ask for a day off or at least apologize. But if he just acts like a pretentious dick, he should be fired. People underestimate students, I tell you, but those example you've all posted of teachers yelling or being unscrupulous are just wrong and these said teachers should be fired or provide an explanation, apologies to the students and make an effort to change.

 

[WolfThomas]

That's retarded, I can understand the advantages of an actual school uniform, but a vague collection of things you can and can't wear doesn't sound useful.

We had a full uniform at my highschool (in Australia it's the norm), it was pretty bland, grey shirts for boys and white shirts for girls, navy pants, jackets, shorts, jumpers and skirts. Black leather shoes. It was okay I guess in retrospect, it was a lot more comfortable than stuff some schools made their students wear like Blazers and ties.

 

[BenzSmoke]

That is by far one of the most idiotic dress codes I've ever heard. I feel sorry for you man.
Making you pay to wear clothes that you already own? Wait, isn't that illegal?

 

[nothinghere]

I'd actually enjoy a uniform if it was like, a Star Trek jumpsuit, or a Jedi robe. Damn, I wish I could live in that reality.

A jedi robe would be the best uniform... No gang would perform while wearing them. People wouldm't draw attention with fights while wearing them, it hides weight so people arn't made fun of them, they'd be custom made or something so they should be comfortable, you could wear anything under it, and it would be epic.

You should start a campaign

 

[nothinghere]

To reduce bulling... Think it may be my fault to a point though

I was in class with a zelda shirt and some kid kept walking by saying Game Over, well I was walking through the desks to hand the teacher and he backed up to block me off and I ran into him and he jumped on top of me. The teacher grabbed him, I got suspened for the last two weeks of school and he got send to a different school and the next year we had dress code.

Seriously though he was standing talking and he just hopped back right when I was going through then got mad when I bumbed into him.

[edit] This was supposed to be a quote to someone but I somehow messed up and can't find their post again to copy their text and manualy quote it with edit

 

[Kermi]

School uniform codes exist for the safety of students and faculty, and assist in reducing distractions as well as limiting the degree to which unfashionable students can be ostracised by their peers. If you want to make a statement with your appearance, do it on your own time.

 

[nothinghere]

That is by far one of the most idiotic dress codes I've ever heard. I feel sorry for you man.
Making you pay to wear clothes that you already own? Wait, isn't that illegal?

No I don't think so, you can go with regular dress code or you can on "special" days pay to wear your normal clothes if you want to.

 

[Phoxinator]

In the UK almost every school has a uniform where you have no choice or possibility to have your own style.
Everyone literally buys the exact same school black trousers, white shirt, tie, blazer/jumper with school logo, black socks, black school shoes.
Although, I don't see uniform as being so bad because it stops people having to think and put effort into what they wear to school.

 

[The Seldom Seen Kid]

Only a shirt? Whats the point of having anything if there going to keep it that simple. If they wanted to keep people in check they could just add restrictions. Oh well, what do you mean by semi-public though?

It's kind of complicated. You see, my school is essentially public, meaning backed up by the regional school ministry and taxpayer's money, but it's also part of the horribly overrated "IB" program (or International Baccalaureate) which is this worldwide organization that essentially goes around ruining teenagers' social lives in select schools. Hence, semi-public.

I don't know what the point is. Honestly, I think the school just needed money. Why else would my school tell the teachers that the parents asked for it and the parents that the teachers asked for it? (Yes, that did actually happen. It was brought up during the parent-teacher meeting, and clusterfuck ensued.) It's still a pretty cool shirt though, and it removes a lot of the effort I have to take each morning into picking my shirt.

 

[THAC0]

i am cool with everything save the hair length.

you can make people wear whatever, but you can't force people to change their bodies for you.

 

[Canid117]

Sounds like your school isn't selling enough of their shitty clothing and they are trying to force you to buy more.

 

[TheLaofKazi]

That seems completely fair, with the exception of the hair one. Hell, it gives less reason for schoolyard bullying.

So because people can get in fights over other people's choice of clothing, we should remove the choice?

Conflict can come from verbal words. Should we remove the student's right to speak except for a limited set of "appropriate school phrases" to reduce the chance of what they say causing a fight?

What about body language? That can contribute to violence and tension as well between students. Should we have a body language code?

Why are so many people, especially when it comes to education, so seemingly eager to strip people of their rights, individuality, and expression in order for a little bit more potential safety?

If anything, schools should encourage and embrace, not suppress and kill, individuality, creativity, expression.