How do you feel about dress codes in school?

Question

Being that its almost that time of year again (do you have all the necessary school supplies already? I sure don't ;) All three of my kids will now be in schools that have a required dress code.

Or maybe I should say a *what not to wear* list.....and I frankly, think it SUCKS!

Public school - no uniforms.....but they're making things so difficult for parents (especially single parents that get no help from the absent parent)

An example :

- NO lettering OR pictures of any kind on clothing is allowed with the exception of school-affiliated groups and small logos.

Soo what exactly IS a SMALL logo?

Other examples:

- No bib-overalls.

- No facial or tongue piercings (violators will be expected to remove such piercings IMMEDIATELY)

- NO hair coloring, other than what would be considered natural hair colors (for instance, if you are a natural blonde; you will not be permitted to dye your hair black)

- No unnatural hairstyles (that would draw attention away)

Okay, so it IS 2007, but bib-overalls are kind've *in* here....very small town, lots of girls wear them.....

Get over it??? Haha!

There were TEN pregnant girls in this high school last year (my oldest will be a sophomore) And let me tell ya, they didn't get pregnant because of what they WERE wearing...its what they WEREN'T wearing that got them pregnant.

I'm a firm believer in having self-control. Don't blame the non-pregnant kids for something they didn't do, for Petes sake!

Answer 1

I will admit, some of those are ridiculous. I can understand no extremely short skirts and tube tops but what it. I can also under stand things like bandannas (wrong/right color would get you beat or/shot when I was in school). But an unnatural hairstyle? If you really thing about it, the only natural one is unbrushed and uncut. Sorry, we have gone beyond cavemen.

Small logos are about the size of the palm of your hand.

Usually when they say no unnatural hair color they are talking about blue, pink, green... dying it black should be okay because someone could grow it that color. If you kids are sent home for that, I would argue it.

Part of being in HS and Jr high is trying weird things like odd hair colors because you wont be able to when you get a job. It's part of the growing experience. If this is a big concern of yours bring it up with the principal and/or PTA.

Kudos for raising them by yourself. That takes one heck of a women and I am glade to know there's still strong enough ones out there to do it.

Side note: Jenn A
The hair style of the race you are referring to is what they wear because their hair is a diffrent texture and type than yours. The braids actually make it grow faster (hard to believe but true. Or at least a wives tale they all beleive.) because it's harder for that type of hair to grow. This is also why they wear weaves (probably the braids you are refering to). Don't turn a sinple question into something rude and raceist. Also don't be rude to this women, you have never been in that situation so you don't know. If you don't know, then don't answer.

Answer 2

Well quite frankly i think you have been let off pretty easy.I live in England,now i have just left school and am going into 6th form which is non-uniform,but whilst i was in school we had a uniform and a very strict dress code. We had to have trousers an exact length,so they went to long or to short.No make-up (although nobody payed much attention to that one),no hair shorter than 3cm.No earrings,no jewelry.No skirts above the knee for girls.Shirts always tucked in and top buttons and ties don't right to the top.No shows that didn't cover the entire foot and no coloured socks.Believe me they checked us for pretty much all of those most days.
Its pretty horrible and VERY uncomfortable.
Just be gratefull that your kids can wear there own clothes and have there own identity.Also if these bib things are in fashion but not allowed in school then nobody will be wearing them so people wont look outta date.Id would of loved not to wear a uniform when i was in school.I'm just glad now i don't.

Answer 3

Urgh! I hate dress codes like this. My kids' public school has a similar one. They must wear polos-but only polos that are solid colors (stripes are distracting) with a logo no bigger than 1 inch, no jeans at all, only blue or khaki colored pants. They can wear hoodies but only between Dec. 1 and Feb. 28. Now tell me, what kind of sense does THAT make?
I understand that some teens go a little overboard, but I think a simpler dress code would be-no skin showing between the collar bone and the knees. Period. That would be so simple and parents wouldn't have to try to figure out if something was going to be acceptable or not. Last year a girl at our school was given in school suspension because her pants were more brown than khaki! What's more, the teachers do not have to adhere to the dress code. If a striped polo is distracting, I don't know how it is that a teacher, the one they are supposed to keep their eyes on, is not a distraction.

Answer 4

As far as dress codes go, I believe that as long as the clothing is not sexually degrading or offending to others, it's OK.

I do understand the "gang" logos and such. However, name brand logos are not a threat.

I also understand that some kids get teased b/c they don't have all the name brands. However, maybe I'm cruel. But, this is the way the world works.

In real life, you'll always come across people with nicer homes and cars then you. Do we sugar coat adulthood and say everyone must drive the same car and live in the same type of home.

No, so why do it for the children.

Answer 5

Good gracious you are either in BFE small town KY or your school is being run by a former Priest!

I hated certain parts of our dress code but we were no where NEAR your childs type of school.

Our shirt sleeves had to be at least 1 1/2 inches wide on the shoulder or we would have to wear our PE uniform tops. Shorts and skirts had to be a certain length, not too bad. It wasn't terrible except when you think of the fact that we lived in a valley in California where it gets to be 115 degrees and we didn't have an inside cafeteria. That sucked lol.

Answer 6

I was against them when I was in high school ten years ago, but I've since changed my mind. I understand your position, but I've seen what girls are wearing these days, and I don't see how any boys could get any work done with those distractions. Also, there is less time spent in the morning worrying about what to wear, which means they can get out the door on time. I remember when I was in high school, there was a guy who wore a very offensive t-shirt, and he was allowed to wear it because of the guidelines. (It had something to do with the KKK)

I understand freedom of expression and all that, but isn't it more important to learn? I mean, for some, this is the only education they are going to get. They need to be prepared for the real world out there and need to learn those skills. Know what I mean?

Answer 7

We had those rules when I was in school year ago then the next year we had to wear uniforms.

I LIKE the idea of uniforms. Granted I was in highschool when we started having to wear them. I told my aunts and parents to vote FOR them. Its stupid that so many kids will push the rules SO much just to cause trouble. I was probably one of the few kids in school that agreed with the school board.

Even though the rules were no crazy hair colors and no piercings I still had my tongue pierced and my brands were bright red when the rest of my hair was black.


Honestly I would rather have the dress codes we have here than have to find clothes to fit into those rules. Our dress code is blue pants for elementary, khaki for Jr high and highschool. Each school had specific shirt colors that were allowed, usually one or two of their school colors. Our school colors were red white and blue so we wore white and blue polo type shirts.

Answer 8

I think it's a good idea. Dress codes help keep school what school is meant for... LEARNING. Not being able to wear a tongue piercing or not being able to have blonde hair if the kid is brunette isn't the end of the world, and it's not going to stop kids from learning. Freedom of expression through clothes is good, but too much is a distraction and that is why dress codes are enforced. If Sally is overly worried if Jimmy is going to like her new Juicy Couture warm up pants, she probably won't be focusing much on her schoolwork. Anyway that is just my opinion.

Answer 9

I know when i was in school i liked to express myself with the clothes i wanted to wear and the school is putting a lot of limitation on you.
First:
Small logos means like the eagle in the corner of the shirt for American Eagle not letters spelling out American Eagle

Let your kids choose what they want and then explain (if they choose something against school rules) that you would usually allow them to wear this but the school wont so choose something similar

Good luck! This school seems obnoxious

Answer 10

it doesn't sound too harsh to me. YOu don't want kids wearing tee shirts that have derogitory messages on them. And you certainly don't want distractions from piercings or hairstyles. It is way easier to buy things based on colors and styles rather than slogans or pictures or symbols.

I would probably consider a small logo like the izod alligator or polo logo.

In the long run, I think this helps the kids out in school rather than hindering them.