Poll: "Uniforms" in public school

[Vault boy Eddie]

I went to public school in Puerto Rico and ALL schools here have a uniform, including private ones.

 

[Andalusa]

And that's strict?

Copied from my school website.

Uniform and Appearance

1. The school uniform as on the approved uniform list must be complete and carefully worn.
Pupils may be sent home if they arrive at school incorrectly dressed and your co-operation in
the enforcement of these standards is most earnestly sought. No deviation from the school
uniform will be allowed; it must be complete and worn with pride.

2. ALL items must be named - Cash's tapes are recommended.

3. Hair - All pupils must be consistent with expected standards of neatness. Extremes
of style, length and colours are unacceptable.

BOYS Boys hair should not be below the collar. Facial hair is not acceptable.

GIRLS Hair which is long enough to touch the shoulders should be tied back
with a dark coloured ribbon or clasp during Science, PE and Technology
lessons, or at other times where there is a safety issue.

4. Jewellery Girls may wear one pair of small "sleeper" or stud earrings on the earlobes. No
other jewellery of any kind is allowed. It will be confiscated.
Boys are not permitted to wear earrings in school; whilst attending school
functions or on school visits. The use of plasters to cover ear piercing is not
permissible.

Body piercing is not permissible and no items of jewellery may be worn in
school; whilst attending school functions or on school visits.


Tattoos are not permissible.

5. Make-up or nail varnish is not to be worn.

Property and Possessions

1. The following are forbidden. They must not be brought into school:

Alcoholic drinks.
Cigarettes, tobacco, matches.
Fireworks.
Sharp cutting tools such as Stanley knives.
Correcting fluid such as "Tipp-Ex".
Chewing gum.

2. For the care and carriage of books, a satchel, briefcase or strong case/bag in discreet colour is
required. Plastic carriers, hessian bags, flimsy nylon bags are not acceptable for this
purpose.

3. All personal items such as calculators to be clearly labelled with the pupil?s name.

4. Very valuable items should only be brought to school at students? own risk, and so it is
essential to reflect on whether it is necessary to bring such items into school.

5. Personal stereos may be used only on bus journeys and during the lunch hour.

6. Mobile phones are allowed in school, although we question how appropriate it is to bring
them into school. We can accept no responsibility for loss or damage. Where students (or
their families) wish them to have a mobile ?phone in school (and we recognise that domestic
arrangements, rural journeys etc. might make it desirable) then their use must be in line with
the school policy regarding their use.

a) They must NOT be used to make calls or send texts during lesson times

b) They must NOT be set to receive calls or texts during lesson times.

The use of mobile phones is strictly prohibited in any examinations.

 

[Newtilator]

In (Soviet) Britain, all schools have uniform. I don't really see the issue. But a dress code? Thats just plain odd.... How do you define it? Sounds like they wanted a uniform, but decided to tone it down, making it worse. Don't they offer cheap uniform esque clothes?

 

[Eisenfaust]

well there's a whole lot of reasons for and against... uniforms are disadvantageous to the poorer people who get rediculed for not having designer clothes, etc, etc (stolen from a year 8 debate we had), but uniforms can also encourage conformity to a dangerous degree, and deindividualise kids and blah blah blah (stolen from my psych notes).

personally i've had uniforms at every school i've been to and i never really minded... if you need clothes to make yourself stand out then you must be doing some fairly lacklustre things...

 

[Danny Ocean]

Basically, kiddywinks, the USA seems to be the odd country out with respect to uniforms. No-one really cares, and those who do care all those who have to wear the uniforms, so bully to them, I guess.

It's really one of those things you just deal with. You'd be better off asking yourself why you're complaining so much. Why not express yourself through more meaningful things than the fabrics dangling from your shoulders and hips?

There are good reasons for uniforms and dress codes (Why else would almost every school and organisation on Earth have one?), but you won't acknowledge them.

And if you want a reason that genuinely isn't any good, here's one: nobody cares enough to alter tradition.

 

[Mistermixmaster]

Eh, as wierd as this might sound, I really wish my school did have an uniform. It could seriously help against all the bullying that went on there, and hopefully stop the whole "gang" thing some of the bastard kids are trying to start up there with drugs, alcohol and smoking >_> It's not really fun when you got to defend yourself against two of 'em trying to force you into their gang, so you have to fight 'em off with a mailbox...

 

[Danpascooch]

I was just saying the issue has been blown way out of proportion, people act like if kids aren't forced to wear certain color clothes a gang war will break out in the cafeteria, and the only defense against everyone in the school dying is a tucked in shirt, it's insane.

I can see the problem in strict dress codes and I would prefer none at all in my school but I can see the advantages. There might not be a gang war but there has been a few times neds from other schools(or who don't even go to school anymore) have entered my school looking to cause trouble and some try cell drugs at the school gate.

Crossing the street can be fatal too, but we don't make everyone crossing the street wear LED flashing vests.

However you are told to look both ways, use the traffic lights etc.

And when you're on your bike you're told to have the reflector lights on the wheels so cars can see you at night. Different safety precautions for different situations.

Are you saying that requiring your shirt to bear the school logo and be tucked in is the safety equivalent of properly responding to traffic lights?

Do I seriously need to explain how messed up that argument is?

The shirt doesn't need the logo(nor does it need to be tucked in), the school tie just needs the school colours.
It is a form of safety, they may not be on the same level but they can both protect in their own way.

Did you read the post at all? It said they can get a referral if it comes untucked even when they simply BEND DOWN FOR A MOMENT.

How the hell is that about safety?

 

[El Poncho]

I was just saying the issue has been blown way out of proportion, people act like if kids aren't forced to wear certain color clothes a gang war will break out in the cafeteria, and the only defense against everyone in the school dying is a tucked in shirt, it's insane.

I can see the problem in strict dress codes and I would prefer none at all in my school but I can see the advantages. There might not be a gang war but there has been a few times neds from other schools(or who don't even go to school anymore) have entered my school looking to cause trouble and some try cell drugs at the school gate.

Crossing the street can be fatal too, but we don't make everyone crossing the street wear LED flashing vests.

However you are told to look both ways, use the traffic lights etc.

And when you're on your bike you're told to have the reflector lights on the wheels so cars can see you at night. Different safety precautions for different situations.

Are you saying that requiring your shirt to bear the school logo and be tucked in is the safety equivalent of properly responding to traffic lights?

Do I seriously need to explain how messed up that argument is?

The shirt doesn't need the logo(nor does it need to be tucked in), the school tie just needs the school colours.
It is a form of safety, they may not be on the same level but they can both protect in their own way.

Did you read the post at all? It said they can get a referral if it comes untucked even when they simply BEND DOWN FOR A MOMENT.

How the hell is that about safety?

However this started when I quoted someone saying he couldn't think of one reason for uniform, not specifically the OP's uniform.

 

[Daffy F]

Meh. When I was in secondary school (11 years old to 16 years old for the Yanks here) we had to wear a uniform, and It was okay. It was just that, a uniform. Seems a bit peculiar to me that a school would implement a dress code, but not sell clothes specifically designed. That's what most schools do. Either way, I'm not at 6th form college, and we don't need to wear a uniform. I think it's just at that juncture in your life, it helps to not be teased for what you're wearing, on top of all the other worries you might have.
Edit: By the way, in this country 'Public School' means something completely different.

 

[Pilkingtube]

I don't understand why this is such a big deal? Is this an American school or something? Almost every school in the UK has a fairly strict uniform code.

 

[Icarion (aka Stockholm)]

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL NO. Freedom!
Seriously if you go to a school that is payed for by the government you should get all the rights that come withsaid government. So public schools should have no strict dress code. I can understand if they dont want people walking around in bikinis and speedos but to go that far? That's just unreasonable. Plus if a student doesn't have to worry about what they look like they can concentrate more on other things (like thier studies, or day dreaming or what have you)

 

[MelziGurl]

Their school, their rules. You may not like having to wear a work uniform but it is part of life and you really have no say in it other than go somewhere else.

It's a PUBLIC school. Private schools can do whatever they want (as long as it's legal), but public schools are run by the government.

This is crazy. I can understand no hats/head coverings so teachers can see your face and you aren't identifying with a gang, maybe top button of shirt so girls aren't "improper." But belts? Collars? Khakis? That's ridiculous, and almost as bad as my former private school (at least you don't have to wear the school emblem over your heart). Public schools shouldn't expect this level of dress from their students.

They are funded by the government not run. Each school can apply their own set of rules to be followed.

I stand corrected.

Still, that doesn't make it good. You have to go to school, and if you can't go to private school you're pretty much forced to go to public school. If you hate your school more than you would from just having to go to school there (there's a certain amount of hatred most kids have towards school) then there is a problem.

I graduated high school in 2002 and the attitude of students has not changed. It doesn't matter what the problem is, most students will find a reason to hate school other than school uniform. I live in Australia, we wear school uniform from the age of 6 to 17. I'm not talking polo's and khakis, I'm talking girls wearing button up blouses complete with tie and long pleated skirts (not excessively pleated) I was only allowed to wear stockings during winter, long pants were an absolute no-no. Luckily, girls had the option of shorts instead of skirts with their sport uniform (yes, not one but TWO uniforms) and we were only allowed to wear sport uniform on sports days. Black lace up shoes, studs/sleepers no bracelets, necklaces only if they were religious, no outrageous hair colours etc etc. And you lot sit there and complain about how hard you have it???? IT IS NOT THAT BAD!!!

By the way, I would loooove to go back to school even with the uniform

I had a uniform from preschool to 6th grade, and in 7th grade I was forced to go to another school because the first one closed (it didn't have a uniform, both were private schools). Uniforms not only have kids lose some sense of identity, but more importantly (to them) they are usually incredibly uncomfortable.

Also, I'm under the impression that the OP, like me, is talking about schools in the USA and not Oz. Our general belief on this kind of stuff is a bit different from yours.

Fuck I hate this 'sense of identity' argument, it's the biggest load of horse crap I've heard. Your identity comes from personality, not friggin clothing. If you are losing a sense of identity over a uniform then you never had an identity to begin with.

By the way, I realise that the OP and yourself are American, that's beside the point here. The point is, your pissing and moaning about something really isn't a big issue. And yes I am agitated, it's nothing personal I swear.

 

[ramboondiea]

i had to wear a uniform right up until collage and to be honest as much as people complained it is just not that big of a deal, my schools held a very strict dress code, although it could depend on which teachers you had that day whether you would get in trouble or not, (such as wearing coloured socks)
the biggest problem with uniforms is that they can be expensive, my blazers cost a bundle (and they were as flimsy as hell) i dont think its an abuse of power on the school part, and its not a form of control, but if your going to a school you can be identified by your uniform, and it means your representing your school whilst your wearing it, ithink this instils a sense of duty which is a good thing

 

[MikeOfThunder]

you sir win on two accounts one for being correct
and two for that damn awesome display picture , got an audible "AWW" out of me.

And because this is relevant to everyone.
<youtube=mbBs2OcR8a8>

I was going for 'intimidation and fear' for my profile picture... i think it works

I'm loving the How i Met Your Mother! Great song!

 

[LooK iTz Jinjo]

Umm In Australia, public schools have actual uniforms... Not anything like a private schools but they have rules, wear this colour shirt etc. So yeah this is not really news to me...

I went to a private school that when I first got there was pretty slack on uniforms compared to others - as in teachers didn't care so we walked around with our shirts untucked and thought we were rebels - then we had a new principle come in and I got a detention for wearing my year 12 hoodie to a trial exam -.-

 

[Danpascooch]

I was just saying the issue has been blown way out of proportion, people act like if kids aren't forced to wear certain color clothes a gang war will break out in the cafeteria, and the only defense against everyone in the school dying is a tucked in shirt, it's insane.

I can see the problem in strict dress codes and I would prefer none at all in my school but I can see the advantages. There might not be a gang war but there has been a few times neds from other schools(or who don't even go to school anymore) have entered my school looking to cause trouble and some try cell drugs at the school gate.

Crossing the street can be fatal too, but we don't make everyone crossing the street wear LED flashing vests.

However you are told to look both ways, use the traffic lights etc.

And when you're on your bike you're told to have the reflector lights on the wheels so cars can see you at night. Different safety precautions for different situations.

Are you saying that requiring your shirt to bear the school logo and be tucked in is the safety equivalent of properly responding to traffic lights?

Do I seriously need to explain how messed up that argument is?

The shirt doesn't need the logo(nor does it need to be tucked in), the school tie just needs the school colours.
It is a form of safety, they may not be on the same level but they can both protect in their own way.

Did you read the post at all? It said they can get a referral if it comes untucked even when they simply BEND DOWN FOR A MOMENT.

How the hell is that about safety?

However this started when I quoted someone saying he couldn't think of one reason for uniform, not specifically the OP's uniform.

I still can't. I can think of reasons for a basic dress code that covers such common sense things as:

1.) No gang symbols
2.) Nothing Obscene (not getting into specifics, but a dress code would need them)
3.) No hats

Those things are reasonable for safety and preventing distractions.

But actually saying "This is your uniform, no other clothes are acceptable" is stupid, and outrageous.

 

[CarpathianMuffin]

Well that's just bullshit. I mean that they dance around the issue, not the actual uniform. I'm all for it, though I can honestly take or leave uniforms.