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5.18.2012

Dress Code - Feedback Friday





My local news covered a story this week about a nearby public school district attempting to implement some changes to their school dress code.

The school proposes a revised dress code policy that would make jeans, cargo pants, and sweatpants off limits.  Additionally,  athletic shorts would be restricted to physical education classes only and no sleeveless shirts would be permitted.

The proposed dress code would mandate collared shirts or sweaters, and skirts and shorts no more than 3 inches above the knee. Only tucked in shirts with solid colors (red, black, brown, blue, or gray)  would be allowed. (wtae)

In a statement on the school website: "The purpose of adopting this dress code policy is to enhance school safety, improve the learning environment, promote good behavior, reduce discipline problems, improve test scores, improve children’s self-respect and self-esteem, bridge socioeconomic differences between families, help eliminate stereotypes and produce a cost savings for families,"

The policy can be read in full on the district website.


It's Feedback Friday...

Would you support such a dress code revision in your school?

Is a private school type dress code appropriate in a public school setting?

Will clothing changes create a better learning environment for students?

15 comments:

  1. We already have dress codes at most schools down here in NC. I think it is a huge hit among the students and parents. It really cuts down on kids feeling like they can't afford the best stuff while other kids can. I think it also helps cut down on kids wearing items that are inappropriate. Most stores such as Target, Walmart and all department stores currently have an entire section devoted to school dress codes. I think it is a great idea!!! Financially and physcially speaking.

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  2. Given the fact that there are a LOT of young people who either do not have supervision getting dressed or have parents that don't care, I think a dress code is a very good thing. Having said that, I do think this dress code seems a bit over the top and looks a lot like the dress code when I was in high school in the late 60s.

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  3. Ours doesn't, but many public schools in our area have similar dress codes. Parents love it-kids hate it. As the mother of a teenage girl, I would love getting rid of all the “I have nothing to wear” drama. I would have also loved one when I taught high school, so I wouldn't have had to be the wardrobe police.
    I don't like my boys to wear athletic shorts to school, but when both of them broke their arms and were unable to zip and button their pants, they were life savers. I sure am glad we didn't have a dress code or I would have had to go to school every time they had to pee :)

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  4. Hi, Jennifer

    I don't think anything is wrong for our children/teens to go to school in uniform. Here is why - 1) you are preparing them to dress for their future job 2) some of the clothing out there for teens are a bit over the top. 3) Pre-teen or teenager they have a lot a pressure. I think wearing a uniform would take the pressure off some teens who's parents can't afford nice styling clothing.

    Great post. Have a great weekend.

    Vanessa

    Vanessa

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  5. Well I came here to give my opinion expecting to be the "hated" one, lol.

    Good for all of you that would support strickter codes or best: uniforms! I agree with the reasons already stated. To add, if the students were less concentrated on what everyone is wearing it would free up their minds to learn what's needed for life.

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  6. Our public school district has a uniform policy and I love it!
    It makes school shopping a breeze. It's less expensive. There's no issues with what is appropriate or inappropriate. When they started it out several years back, they started with elementary and middle schools first then rolled it out to the high school. I think it is one less thing that can be a distraction to kids at school and I'm all for that!

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  7. Our public school has a similar policy and we love it! I do wish they weren't so uptight about tucking everything in- sometimes it would look neater for the kids to be neatly dressed with an untucked shirt than with a thick shirt tucked into their elastic wastebands :)

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  8. I think it´s ridiculous, and the only "educational" purpose I can see in this is that it teaches children that what´s on the outside matters a lot more than what´s on the inside - to me it implies that a - let´s say, tattoed student with a pierced nose and a green mohawk will automatically a dumb troublemaker and not deliver acceptable work in school - which is not the case. Actually I believe that behind a wild dress often is a more interseting character.

    I myself looked pretty wild as a kid, but I always behaved nicely (mostly), and had pretty good grades. In fact, I´m a tattoed teacher with a pierced nose right now, and my students don´t seem to mind (neiher do their parents).

    I was on a catholic school, and I know that after our year had taken their A-Levels, when my little brother went there, they changed their policies into a similarly laughable code - they forbid girls to wear dresses shorter than kneeslength, and sleeveless shirts, and I think they also forbid holding hand or listening to music on schoolyard. My impression was that it helped the kids learning to loath the place instead of identifying with it.

    I feel like students should feel welcome, no matter what they want to wear - that way, the chance they will enjoy learning is a lot bigger.

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  9. Our public schools are going that directions one school at a time. My kids go to a private school and our dress code isn't as strict, but I wouldn't mind if it was.

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  10. I am totally in favor of uniforms at any school, public schools included. Growing up, I went to both, public and private, schools - so I've personally experienced both sides.

    I feel that there are way more pro's to a school uniform.

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  11. The school district that I taught in and that my children went to school had a dress code. Children were only allowed to wear black, khaki, or navy slacks or shorts (skirts for girls) and navy or white collared shirts. Each school could also pick one additional color collared shirt (the school where I taught was hunter green). On Fridays the students could also wear a school "spirit" shirt. Teachers also had a dress code - same colored slacks or skirts and each school had school shirts - usually polo shirts with the school emblem on the shirt.
    We LOVED it! It made dressing so much easier and for all the reasons listed above. Uniforms were much less expensive than other clothes - also, if someone could not afford the uniforms each school had uniforms available at no cost.
    I think, if your school district does go to uniforms you will love them too!

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  12. I would support a dress code like that in m public schools. I am a believer that all schools should have a dress code like that public or private. I am from Central America and there every school has a dress code each schools has different colors so you can know which school the kids attend. But it makes kids behave better in my own opinion.

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  13. I have mixed feelings about something like this. While I think implementing a dress code creates a more even playing field for kids (i.e. no worries about brand consciousness, fashion outcasts, etc.), in a way I also think it stifles expression by kids which can in turn prevent kids from learning to tolerate/understand others preferences.

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  14. My daughter goes to a charter school,public school of choice. We have a dress code, bottoms have to be blue or tan and tops have to be a plain colored collar shirt. Skirts and jumpers have to touch the knees. On PE days, middle school kids wear shorts and elementary kiddos can wear navy sweat pants. They also can only wear navy sweat shirts and navy sweaters inside the building.

    It is a bit strict, but has parents, we love it! It makes getting dressed so much easier and no child feels bad because of their clothes. My daughter doesn't like it. She calls it her "boring" clothes. I wish all schools would have a dress code.

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