School uniforms

CeeBee 1179 post s 2-Sep-2007 10:34 AM	There is a long article on uniforms in one of today's Chicago newspapers. The administration at a large Chicago "middle school" (4th through 6th grade) decided it is disgusted with what students come to school displaying--skimpy tops, low-rise jeans, shorts halfway down the hips, and even tattoos and piercings. Only girls' ears can display jewelry, and tastefully so. Tattoos must be covered by clothing or hair. For the first time in its history, this public school demands that students dress in uniforms--all wear hunter green pants and white shirts. At first the students were horrified, but are beginning to concede that it's a lot easier to get dressed in the morning when one doesn't have to think about what to wear. They also seem to like the feeling of unity they are getting when everyone looks alike. They don't feel "separated out" or different because of race, culture, income, and even gender. Parents are happy because of lower clothing bills, less scolding to do, and not having to wonder what more revealing outfit their daughters changed into between home and school. School authorities and teachers have already noted improved behavior in general and better attention in class. There's was a bit of murmuring about "student rights," but the pluses have far overshadowed complaints. Last Edited on 2-Sep-2007 10:41 AM
TheMudge The Real Mudge 2305 post s 3-Sep-2007 6:56 PM	I for one agree that school uniforms are probably a good idea, for all the reasons given. Those who would object on the basis of "students' rights" or "self-expression" perhaps need to take another look at what the primary function schools is. Another point: Some schools today seem to go to a great deal of trouble enforcing some kind of dress code to prevent students from going to unacceptable extremes in their "self-expression." Wouldn't it be simpler to have school uniforms, which would make the whole dress code issue moot? A remotely related point: I don't know how high school teachers dress today, but I've seen a complete change in how college professors dress. When I first switched to the other side of the desk in the late 1950s, no instructor (not even a lowly teaching assistant, as I was at the time) would think of standing in front of a class without a jacket and tie. We may have shucked the jacket during class, but that was the "uniform." That is no longer the case. I myself wear rather much the same casual clothes in class that I wear every day. I haven;t worn a tie in years, and I don't own a sports jacket or suit coat that firs me. I'm not sure that such informality is good. I concede that a teacher needs to earn respect based on other qualities, such as knowledge and teaching ability, but psychologically wouldn't it be better if teachers exhibited a sense of decorum that distinguishes them from the students? ---------- Rich Turner (The Curmudgeon Himself)
CeeBee 1182 post s 4-Sep-2007 2:03 PM	In a followup story, the business school at Illinois State University has adopted a strict dress code for both instructors and business majors when attending classes. Photos of the campus on a recent steamy day showed a gaggle of skimply dressed students wearing flip-flops. Off to the side were two women in dresses and high heels and a man in a suit. The business students are generally unhappy with the new code and feel miles apart from the rest of the student body, but do acknowledge that the reasoning behind the change is valid.
Brenda 254 post s 7-Sep-2007 5:56 PM	I always disliked the idea of uniforms until I taught in a school that required them. I liked them for a reason that I never anticipated: Uniforms allowed me to remain more objective about my students. There were many students whom I never saw in street clothes until 8th grade graduation. I was often flabbergasted by the way they dressed on that last day, but by then it was too late to treat them differently because of their choice of clothing.
Pogo 14 post s 24-Sep-2007 3:14 PM	I wore a uniform my first nine years in school. I hated it! White short-sleeved blouse with square collar the first few years, and Peter Pan collar the last few, and a navy blue jumper. The boys had to wear slacks (no jeans, no shorts) and long-sleeved shirts with tie (which could be clip-on, could be bow). In high school, we had no dress code, but we knew proper attire for school. Girls wore dresses or skirts and blouses; long, short, or no sleeves depending on the weather. Boys wore slacks and shirts, long or short sleeves dependnig on the weather. Cardigans, if the thermometer so indicated. Pullover sweaters were worn only over blouses. Shorts and jeans were for out-of-school playtime. Revealing clothes weren't fashionable at the time. The first time I encountered a school dress code, a co-worker was furious. Her daughter's grade school had said that pant suits were fine for girls, jeans were not. Eight-year-olds' fashion that year was lots of corduroy -- and every child in corduroy was sent home because someome decided that corduroy was used only for making jeans. I am constantly appalled at what people wear out in public! Every time I flip through a copy of People magazine, with all those casual photos of famous people walking down the street or store to store, my usual reaction is, "Girl, put some clothes on!" Pogo

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