In public schools, are you for or against school uniforms?

Man I'm going to sound old in this post, but it's how I feel. I think they should be allowed now, the way some high school girls dress now, and even some middle school ones has gotten completely out of hand. Many of them look like hookers trying to pick up a john. It causes too many problems and fights among themselves and guys trying to get the "wanna be hookers" attention.

against

It's the early spring of 1972 all over again, and I'm sitting in the office of the dean of women who is telling me that she was going to do all in her power to keep me from getting into the teacher education program--and, sadly, she ended up succeeding. Many people--including people who were teachers, themselves--told me that I would have made a wonderful teacher. This, of course, is something that we'll never know now. Whether I would have been or not, it's still ironic that I was prevented from taking classes that I needed to take in order to get a degree in elementary education when I know that I would have, at least, not been cruel to those children put in my care. I do believe in dress codes. I grew up with dress codes--and dress codes that were far more strict than what I would include in a dress code for kids growing up today, as I would allow girls to wear slacks and jeans to school. Although we got to wear them in grade school, once we got to high school, we had to wear dresses, skirts, and coulottes during all classes but gym class when we wore a one-piece gym-suit. On top of that, our hemlines could only be two or three inches above the knee if that. Of course, we could wear slacks and jeans to after school programs and on field-trips where they would be more appropriate, but the only time we could wear slacks (jeans out-of-the-question) to school was when the temperature was 18 degrees or below. My own dress code would be against t-shirts that have smutty or violent slogans on them; jeans/slacks/trousers that were more than 1 1/2 inches below the navel (as well as any kind of clothing showing too much skin); and clothing that identifies the wearer as part of a gang. I don't believe that "judgmental" describes teachers who expect at least this much from students--but I'm assuming that you're talking about judgmental in the way of playing favorites with the kids who dress in nicer clothes, who aren't overweight, etc. while actually being cruel at times to the students who don't meet their criteria for attractiveness. If this is the case, I would say that we have some pretty shallow people being trusted with the adult responsibility of educating our young people. Of course, even more than clothing, teachers of that mindset seem to have it in for overweight kids, and there's not much that a uniform can do for this problem. The most disgusting case I've this I've heard is when a seventh grade girl was made (by her male phys.ed. teacher) to wear a sign on her behind reading: KICK ME! I'M FAT! She was on a talk show crying about this, and that girl was barely chubby. Even if she had weighed 500 lbs. or more, that awful teacher (I use that word loosely) should never have done this to her! There was a case where this boy was being bullied by another boy and defended himself. Because he had gotten involved in the fight--What was he supposed to do, anyway? Stand there and get beaten to a pulp?--he was given the board. I believe that the other boy was, too, but it was this little boy--who just so happened to be fat--who was hit so hard that he had to go to the emergency room and couldn't sit down comfortably for weeks. This, btw, is one of many reasons why I think that corporal punishment has no place at school--but don't even get me started on that. As for school uniforms... It would be nice if we could go back to when children weren't subjected to peer taunting (and, in some cases, even teacher taunting) with nothing done to make it go away. It would also be nice if we could go back to a time when gangs weren't a problem. Because neither of these is a reality at this time, it might be best to go to uniforms--but, at the same time, realize that going to uniforms isn't going to solve the whole problem. We need to get back to being kind to each other again.

when im in school im against it when my child is in school im all for it lol

you can express yourself for sure...but think about all the people who cant afford new school clothes each yr to keep up with everyone elses new clothes...if they wore uniforms everyone would be equal..and sometimes i think its a good ideal..but in another i think its another form of control..and i hate being controlled..soo it has its good and bad points

I think that they should be allowed. I don't like the way that a lot of the young girls try to dress. It is a distraction at school.

I am much older than the school students, so my opinion may be hard to digest for them. I have gone through the responses and comments of others to this discussions . I see a dicipline in uniforms .Dicipline is not a deterent to growth, I think. They are less expensive, at least there is a limit to how huch you can spend on a uniform . So far the question of expressing oneself is concerned, shools are for expressing yourslef in studies and extra curricular activities and not dresses . I don't think any school slaps a dress code outside schools and school activities .

i wasn't comfortable with wearing uniforms, but i suggest that the schools adopt some kind of a dress code, so students will be guided on what dress is appropriate to wear to school.

Do you have a uniform at work? I think they can still express themselves in other ways. It would eliminate alot of the competition of having to be better that other kids etc. It would put all the fashion bull crap out of reach and allow the kids to concentrate on their work.

look in the dictionary the definination of uniform is communisum U decide!!!!

I would say its good because it gives children sort of discipline....

Some parents can't afford to buy the uniforms for the kids. So unless they are provided it won't happen.

I went to a private school growing up. I wore a uniform from Kindergarten until sixth grade. I did not care that I had to wear a uniform. The only thing I did not like was the fact that other kids could go school shopping for clothes and I didn't. If children wore uniforms than they would make friends on their personality not whether or not they were wearing the most recent fashions. It takes some pressure off the kids. It helps kids to see that it is not looks that matter. Your personality is what makes you different not how you look.

I think uniforms are a good thing I had one for most of my schooling and I always felt they were an equalizer and also there are other ways to express yourself I mean that's what art class is for!

See I am on both sides. I agree with the uniforms because then every one looks alike and no one gets picked on because they dress diffrently. On the other hand I agree with the fach that kids deserve the right to be able to express them selves and to feel comfortable in there own clothes. I really cant pick a side because I can the point of both sides and I agree wtith both.

Against. Some evidence DOES show that schools have better... eh... "behavior" than those without uniforms and I can see why schools would tend to migrate towards uniforms; however, I am against it.

I agree with your daughter

against!

In Jamaica we all where uniforms and we still have to deal with judgmental teachers uniform or not people will judge.we do try to be expressive in our style of shoes, socks, bag, hair styles, maybe they would be a little less judgmental but they would still judge.

I love school uniforms because I don't need to envy people clothes and accesorries.