Should PUBLIC schools use uniforms?

Question

I take issue with the public school my kids attend enforcing super strict dress codes for this year when they wouldn't even enforce the old one! One extream to another! If you enforce a reasonable dress code in the first place uniforms aren't needed! My daughter can't even wear colored socks or shoes to match her polo shirt, it's just gone too far. Both have to be nuetral beige, white, or black. And YES I do beoeive school is for learning first but social and self expression are a part of the learning process. This in my opinion is a form of socialism.
Expecting everyone to conform, it lacks the freedom that this country was built on.

Answer 1

Yeah, I think dress codes should be more lax. If a school wants uniforms, let it provide uniforms.

If it's all the same few colors, but people can choose their styles, it gets rid of the creativity, but keeps the stereotypes that come about with specific clothing types.

School should really choose one or the other, uniforms or casual dress. I don't mind actual uniforms so much, because it does have the pros associated with uniforms. But to do the whole, "Here are the colors allowed, and nothing else, now go find your clothes wherever it is that you shop" thing, just keeps the cons from both casual dress and uniforms, and ditches the pros of both.

Bring this up to the administration. Let them know you don't agree. If it's seriously important to you (and it sounds like it), run a petition.

In the end, it's not going to ruin lives (I don't think, anyway) to have to obey this code, but it does made school shopping very difficult (and how very often schools do try to shift their problems onto the parents and students instead of dealing with them themselves) and it does restrict creativity without restricting social classification. There should be more freedom in public schools in a "free" country.

So, it's up to you. Is it worth fighting over? Or just griping over? Well, I would definitely let the administration know you don't like it. At least if enough people express discontent, they may change it for next year, or the year after.

Answer 2

You have some great points regarding being overly strict with dress codes, at our school they have complete freedom over footwear, hair ties and, of course, socks, so there is some room for individuality and compromise.

At our school, we have to buy "logo" polo shirts and sweatshirts, although we have some choice in color, the white shirts were a disaster!

Also, these logo shirts are available used from other parents several times a year, and those bought new come from a company that gives 7% back to the school... a formidable built-in fundraiser.

Navy blue shorts and slacks can be purchased second hand pretty much anywhere, but are also available new via the 7% method above.

Answer 3

My school has a dress code which they enforce. And we don't really have uniforms; we just have to wear pants that are not jeans and are in the following colors: Gray, Blue, and Khaki. We can't wear white pants though, only shirts. And our shirts must have a collar and/or be button down. Our shoes are what we want. So, technically it's not too bad for my school which is a public school.

I do believe public schools should use dress CODES because in reality, most (but not all) of us young people (excluding myself as well) dress tacky, and in inappropriate ways. I don't think it's attractive to see someones underwear, or other unneeded body parts. The dress codes simply make sure none of us are dressed in a way that will offend others. And I totally back it up. Though, my only complaint is that they don't allow us to wear black.

I'm a student, and support dress codes/regulations.

I do not believe in uniforms where you must where the same thing. I wore uniforms for five years and was uncomfortable with them. At least with most dress codes you have some flexibility.

Answer 4

As a teacher in a public middle school, I am greatly in favor of a dress code, but not the extremism that some schools are evidently adhering to. Polo shirt, solid colored pants (no jeans), and solid colored shoes are about right. Socks/hair accessories/etc should be decided by the student.

I am just so tired of seeing kids come to school with pants down to their knees and shirts showing half their stomachs and half their breasts. Wearing a uniform signifies that school is a job and not a free for all.

Answer 5

I think there are far more reasons to favor school uniforms over having to enforce a dress code. No matter how the dress code is written there will be students who challenge it and there will be subjective judgments that have to be made concerning conformity. The entire process is a distraction from the purpose of education.

Freedom to dress as you like does not encourage people to develop their individuality. In reality it encourages conformity every bit as much as a uniform would. Instead of conformity to the standards and values of the parents and the school though it is conformity to peers and pop culture.

Furthermore it leads to students making value judgments about individuals based on their appearance, wealth, and implied coolness rather than the traits that they should value such as responsibility, intelligence, etc.

A uniform removes the stress of enforcing a dress code and limits a students ability to be disruptive by challenging it because a lit of prohibited items is replaced by a much smaller list of allowed items. It actually saves money for families who no longer need to purchase as many or as expensive items to cloth children. It encourages students to develop pride in their schools the same way uniforms are signs of pride for athletic teams.

The only people who resist the arguments in favor of uniforms are youths who are inexperienced at life and don't grasp the full nature of the issues at hand (few teens care about the disruptions caused by dress code enforcement--most are entertained by them) and adults who feel that all conformity is dangerous and that there is no value in clinging to the traditions and lessons of past generation.

Answer 6

I could see what you are saying, but with todays' hip hop culture, most kids today dress with their hats sideways and their pants falling down. Everytime I see a rich surburban white kid dressing all thuggish and using ebonics, I cringe. A lot. And they are everywhere! And lets face it, young kids dress like their friends, and if I had a son I would curse the day I see him dress all "thuggish." I could see how forcing every1 to wear the same thing is conforming, but think about the opposite. If kids were allowed to wear whatever they want, they would want to dress like the popular kids, which is a form of conformity. We all know someone in middle school or high school that dressed different, and as a result, didnt have that many friends, whether they dressed nerdy or goth. Nobody wants to be that person, so they dress like every1 else. At least with school uniforms, there would be no discrimination based on style. And about the freedom of this country, if you dont like a school's certain dress code, you have the FREEDOM to choose another!

Answer 7

Not so sure about the socialism part, but the yes a reasonable dress code works fine. It allows students relative freedom of dress, but still keeps the dress from becoming disruptive. But if they couldn't keep a regular dress code in check, then going all out and putting a uniform in place isn't the answer.

Answer 8

Just as you can't wear whatever you want in most workplaces, I think it is acceptable for schools to enforce limits. Kids can express themselves on weekends and after school; asking them to limit what they wear for a few hours a day isn't draconian. I also fail to see that students learn about self-expression by not having a dress code. For the most part, they choose to wear what all their friends are wearing. Everything I have read about it suggests that schools which have uniforms seem to get rid of the competition for the most expensive clothes and refocus things that are far more important.

Answer 9

No PUBLIC schools shouldn't have to wear uniforms, especially ones that are that strict. And I absolutely agree if they enforced the standard dress code the need for uniforms would become obsolete.

Answer 10

I agree, the school should enforce the old dress code, it isn't bad. And I strongly disagree with those who say, it takes class issues away. for the most part the poor have a problem affording these uniforms.

lets face it, jeans are universal, you can wear them, for the most part anywhere and with most anything. they're durable and you don't have to change twice a day, meaning, twice the amount of clothes bought.