NationStates Jolt Archive


should strict dress codes be allowed in high scools?

Useless_wastes_of_time
07-09-2005, 07:40
I just want to hear people's oppinions on this, because my school just implimented a dress code and it is VERY strict.

what do you think, is it okay, or is it opression of people's freedon of expression.
Useless_wastes_of_time
07-09-2005, 07:41
sorry, that's *freedom* of expression, yeah i'm really tired
Dragons Bay
07-09-2005, 07:42
Just how strict is your dress code?
Cabra West
07-09-2005, 07:43
I know I wouldn't have liked it, I never saw the sense in that. What reason did your school give for that, and what does the dress code entail?
Phasa
07-09-2005, 07:43
Yes, as long as I get to be the one who decides on the dress code. OR, or...Ocimar Versolato. I would trust him.

This is the sort of thing I have in mind... (http://devonaoki.free.fr/detour/aw_01_02/araw02.html)
Pantylvania
07-09-2005, 07:48
The parents should get to decide what their own kids wear, not what other kids wear.

That means no strict dress code.
Egg and chips
07-09-2005, 07:58
Meh. I just left a school with a uniform (Thats right Americans; some of us have to wear uniforms)

Now I never intend to wear one again/
Gartref
07-09-2005, 08:03
I believe that all American schoolgirls should be forced to wear a uniform.

Hiking boots
Knee socks
Denim shorts
Halter top
Cowboy hat
Lip gloss (strawberry)
Kanabia
07-09-2005, 08:04
Meh, it's a non-issue. Doesn't make much difference in the long run.

Though it was a bit rough when my old high school used to hand out after-school detentions for having shirts untucked, ties not done up properly, etc.
Svalbardania
07-09-2005, 08:32
Meh, it's a non-issue. Doesn't make much difference in the long run.

Though it was a bit rough when my old high school used to hand out after-school detentions for having shirts untucked, ties not done up properly, etc.

my school still does that, or for having hair too long or any facial hair

and before you ask, im not at a private school, this is a government school
Kanabia
07-09-2005, 08:34
my school still does that, or for having hair too long or any facial hair

and before you ask, im not at a private school, this is a government school

Yep, that too.

I went to a catholic school. Ewww... :p
Pencil 17
07-09-2005, 08:36
The more the administrators try to control the kids... the more they will rebel... especially at that age level..
Daistallia 2104
07-09-2005, 08:43
I went to a public high school in Texas with what was locally considered a fairly strict dress code.
For men:
no facial hair
hair no longer than eyebrows, earlobe, and bottom of the shirt collar
pants below the knees
shirts must have sleeves - no tank tops
no open weave or mesh shirts
no obscenities or obscene images
no open toed shoes
no earrings
no "unnatural" colors of hair dye (no red, green, or blue)

For women, it was similarly strict.

Here in Japan, most students have an extremely strict dress code, usually with a uniform. In some cases it even extends to the color and style of underpants.

My HS dress code was fine, but Japanese dress codes are a bit too strict.

And finally, to address the OP question, yes, I think some sort of dress code is absolutely needed, but exactly how strict depends on the school and the exact local situation and mores.
Kroblexskij
07-09-2005, 08:47
funny you ask that

*gets distracted by a horrible thougth about catholic schoolboy kanabia* :p

its my last day of holidays today, and tommorow i plan to get them where it hurts

at my school you must NOT wear.

any jewellery
any make-up
and dyed hair - although the teachers get to
any short hair
any longer than normal hair
ANY out of school item
shirt tucked in ALWAYS
tie done right to the top it kills you
tie not too long
or short
nothing offenisve, or something that someone may find offensive - eg. pink ducks rather than the standard yellow
no trainers
MUST carry the school fleece - yes a fleece
nothing that represents a political view - although this isnt a written rule some teachers abide to it.

and so on
Gartref
07-09-2005, 08:47
... In some cases it even extends to the color and style of underpants...

I can confirm this. My last job was "Official Panty Inspector" in a girl's school in Osaka.
Bakamyht
07-09-2005, 08:48
The high school I've just left had a dress code, but did it help discipline? Well, no, because the neds (look it up (http://www.glasgowsurvival.co.uk) ) who caused the disruption/small local wars just ignored it.
Kroblexskij
07-09-2005, 08:57
The high school I've just left had a dress code, but did it help discipline? Well, no, because the neds (look it up (http://www.glasgowsurvival.co.uk) ) who caused the disruption/small local wars just ignored it.

yeh that happens

the people on the "extra curriculem" - the special group who consist of scallies/chavs/ned/chavers/townies dont have to wear uniform, because otherwise they wouldnt come into school
Daistallia 2104
07-09-2005, 08:58
I can confirm this. My last job was "Official Panty Inspector" in a girl's school in Osaka.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I am Gartref. I see I have offended you. I am sorry.

:::smacks Gartref upside the head:::
;)
Kanabia
07-09-2005, 08:58
*gets distracted by a horrible thougth about catholic schoolboy kanabia* :p

:eek:
Kroblexskij
07-09-2005, 09:03
:eek:
so what was your dress code

high socks and short trousers?
Kanabia
07-09-2005, 09:10
so what was your dress code

high socks and short trousers?

Heh. High socks, yes (though I always wore short ones - nobody noticed) but navy pants, white shirt and tie. And no long hair. Or shaved hair. Or dyed hair. Or spikey hair (that was implemented later, much to the dismay of all the emo's.)

No accessories, apart from a cross or a plain watch. Uhh...I forget the rest.

It's gotten worse now. They have to wear a blazer every day. I bet the kids have fun in the summertime. :p
Rainbirdtopia
07-09-2005, 09:31
I actually enjoyed wearing a uniform (tie, shirt, trousers, blazer). It made me feel more mature and installed the notion of proudness, I firmly disbelieve that wearing a uniform can bring you any form of harm, in fact it improves self image and makes you a better person.

Sure everyone could goto school dressed like the new fashion model, but that just sucks, as there is always someone who can never keep up.

A uniform installs discipline so instead of feeling like an individual you feel like a team, it works for the army, so why shouldn't schools do it to?

(And in the school I went to if you didn't wear uniform correctly (tie done up correctly, shirt done up, blazer kept on unless told you can take it off etc) you were severly disciplined and if you still failed to pull the line you were expelled).
Armacor
07-09-2005, 09:34
I liked having a uniform at school, apart from anything no need to think about what to wear to school, and as everyone was dressed the same no immidiate way to tell from appearance anything about the person (eg family socioeconomic level etc)
Cabra West
07-09-2005, 09:38
I actually enjoyed wearing a uniform (tie, shirt, trousers, blazer). It made me feel more mature and installed the notion of proudness, I firmly disbelieve that wearing a uniform can bring you any form of harm, in fact it improves self image and makes you a better person.

Sure everyone could goto school dressed like the new fashion model, but that just sucks, as there is always someone who can never keep up.

A uniform installs discipline so instead of feeling like an individual you feel like a team, it works for the army, so why shouldn't schools do it to?

(And in the school I went to, chavs weren't generally allowed in as they didn't meet the requirements, however if they ever did get in and didn't wear uniform they were kicked out without hesitation).

Because school is about teaching and learning, it's about individual thought and not plain obedience.
I think school uniforms are giving the wrong message.
I agree with dress codes to a degree, although I think they ought to be restricted to clothes, not general appearance. The length of you hair or the jewellery you wear is your personal matter and doesn't concern the school.
Pure Metal
07-09-2005, 10:12
my school still does that, or for having hair too long or any facial hair

and before you ask, im not at a private school, this is a government school
ha i went to a private school and we rarely got detentions for things like that :D
...unless you weren't on school grounds in uniform, in which case they totally bollocked you if you were in the least bit untidy :(

and yeah we had to wear uniform, so there's nothing wrong with dress codes if you're still allowed to wear what you want within the guidelines - it could be worse after all
Monkeypimp
07-09-2005, 10:18
My school was one of 2 high schools in the region without a school uniform. I think the only rule besides being appropriately covered (IE you couldn't turn up naked) was that you had to wear shoes, although I only once saw this properly inforced, and jandels seemed to count as shoes. My school was generally pretty lax and mellow anyway. There was a guy a few years younger than me who used to walk around in a skirt, and no one really made a fuss.
Avarhierrim
07-09-2005, 10:56
i want to go to monkeypimps school :) at mine we have a uniform. black shoes, navy socks, navy underwear, navy tunic, white shirt. no jewellry, hair put up if past collar, no dyed hair. Private girls school.
Cabra West
07-09-2005, 11:01
i want to go to monkeypimps school :) at mine we have a uniform. black shoes, navy socks, navy underwear, navy tunic, white shirt. no jewellry, hair put up if past collar, no dyed hair. Private girls school.

Seriously, if the schoo dictates my haircolour, they are taking it too far.
I can agree with having a certain standard of dressing when going to school, after all you can take it off once you're at home. But there's no hair dye yet that can be taken off for school...
Eastern Coast America
07-09-2005, 11:07
For the girls here
Nothing showing shoulder
NO spagettie straps
no backless garments
mid drift cannot be wider than 3 fingers
No skirts above knees.
No shorts above the knees.

For the guys
No hoodies with the hood up
No hats

Oh yeah and
No spiked jewlrey. Which is probably my fault becuase a teacher must have seen me say, "I can punch people with this and it would hurt."
The Kanakas
07-09-2005, 11:09
I think there should be mandatory school uniforms for all students.
Legless Pirates
07-09-2005, 11:12
Because school is about teaching and learning, it's about individual thought and not plain obedience.
Individual thought yes. But people must also know to obey and follow the rules.
Schmeling
07-09-2005, 11:16
uhh, yes.

at my high school (a public ghetto school, mind you), most of what was worn were t-shirts with things like "sexy angel" emblazoned on the front and pants that were literally hanging below the ass. the only things the school took away from the students were spiked jewelry and shirts that rode up too low/high on girls. they implemented a rule in my year of 10th grade that pants that were slung too low were to be held up by those little plastic things that you can't take off unless you cut them, thankfully. there's a line between "freedom of speech" and completely unecessary clothing.

i pray for the day that all public schools require uniforms. less worrying about your stupid appearance, more worrying about whether you're going to graduate.
Compulsive Depression
07-09-2005, 11:20
Ours wasn't too bad. Pre-sixth form it was "White shirt/blouse, black trousers/skirt, black shoes, slightly unpleasantly coloured tie". Sixth form was "No T-Shirts (but polo shirts were OK), no big logos, no blue jeans, no trainers".
If you got on with what you were supposed to and didn't make a big fuss people generally let you get on with it.

Only once was I pulled up for having my tie loose and top button undone, so I did it up. Five minutes later when my face was bright red and looked dangerously close to popping I was told to undo it, and it was never mentioned again...
Compulsive Depression
07-09-2005, 11:21
Individual thought yes. But people must also know to obey and follow the rules.
More importantly, people need to know how to look like they're following the rules, whilst really giving them two fingers.
Kragmeer
07-09-2005, 11:21
My school's kinda retarded. Ever since there was a 6th Form at my school, the year 12 and 13 have been allowed to wear what they want. Last year they started cracking down on 'messy clothes'. Now We're about to start our last year of school, and we aint allowed the same freedom as the previous years :(

The solution they had the end of last year was we had to vote...We're allowed to wear trainers but not jeans...or jeans but not trainers, so basically we'll look even more stupid with a cross clothing thingy going on.

Just for the record my shoes arent technically trainers even though they just as bad, so Mr T can go shove it
Legless Pirates
07-09-2005, 11:24
More importantly, people need to know how to look like they're following the rules, whilst really giving them two fingers.
hehehe. exactly ;)
Cabra West
07-09-2005, 11:26
Individual thought yes. But people must also know to obey and follow the rules.

That's why I would agree with some form of dress code, but no outright uniform.
Legless Pirates
07-09-2005, 11:37
That's why I would agree with some form of dress code, but no outright uniform.
No these and those shoes, no skirts higher than the knee.....stuff like that?
Cabra West
07-09-2005, 11:45
No these and those shoes, no skirts higher than the knee.....stuff like that?

More in the line of :
No baggy trousers or jeans
No logos or slogans on anything
No skirts higher that the bum
No cleavages that show the bra

... maybe no Sombreros in class.

I wouldn't go so far as measuring if the socks are the exact right length or the shoes the right colour. I would be happy if the students are dressed the way they would be if they were at the workplace.
Legless Pirates
07-09-2005, 11:48
... maybe no Sombreros in class.

I wouldn't go so far as measuring if the socks are the exact right length or the shoes the right colour. I would be happy if the students are dressed the way they would be if they were at the workplace.
It depends on what workplace :eek: ;)
Cabra West
07-09-2005, 11:51
It depends on what workplace :eek: ;)

Now, why did I know to expect a comment like that from you? ;)
Malashaan
07-09-2005, 11:54
To be honest I think the idea of school uniforms is ridiculous. I can understand the value of a dress code to stop students wearing clothes that may be offensive or dangerous. For example my school didn't allow shell suits because of the risk involved if the student is given work to do involving a naked flame. It seems to me that uniform to a lot of people is a way of trying to force students to conform. It just creates a rule to be broken where none is required.

Most governments like to get the populace used to following "the rules" from an early (impressionable) age as it reduces the chance that they will question their decisions later in life. I don't know if this is true elsewhere but in Britain schools have to get written permission from parents that they agree for the school rules to be enforced on their children. I believe more parents should take an interest in how their children's school treats them. If you don't believe in school uniform like me, you can tell the school you don't want your child to wear uniform and they have to respect your wishes. They can kick your kid out of course but they are on excedingly dodgy ground legally, at least if they are a government run school.
SilverCities
07-09-2005, 13:16
My son's school has a dress code... I think it royally sucks, he can only wear navy blue, Khaki,hunter green, and white... thats the only school acceptable colors.... thants right... no blue jeans of any sort, no black slacks, no red, NO logos of any kind, no tank tops, no shorts above the knee, No prints... now couple this with a hard to find size and it is near impossible to find a decent selection of clothes for him for school... I want to kick the schooboard in the ass....
Avalon II
07-09-2005, 13:21
I dont know about America but in Britain praticaly every secondary school (thats ages 10-16 roughly) has a strict uniform code. I dont see anything wrong with that.
NianNorth
07-09-2005, 13:23
Is it concidence that schools with uniforms perform better?
Asking kids if schools should have uniforms is like asking Turkeys to vote in favour of Christmas and Thanks giving!
Avalon II
07-09-2005, 13:24
If you don't believe in school uniform like me, you can tell the school you don't want your child to wear uniform and they have to respect your wishes. They can kick your kid out of course but they are on excedingly dodgy ground legally, at least if they are a government run school.

I live in Britian and I must say I have never known that to be the case. If you dont obey the school uniform rules they dont have to let your child come to the school. Its that simple. Certianly my school has sucesfully expelled two people who simpley refused to obey the school uniform code.
Cabra West
07-09-2005, 13:30
Is it concidence that schools with uniforms perform better?
Asking kids if schools should have uniforms is like asking Turkeys to vote in favour of Christmas and Thanks giving!

In a way, yes. As far as I understand it, in America only private schools have uniforms. And private schools generally will perform better, due to better financing.
NianNorth
07-09-2005, 13:33
I live in Britian and I must say I have never known that to be the case. If you dont obey the school uniform rules they dont have to let your child come to the school. Its that simple. Certianly my school has sucesfully expelled two people who simpley refused to obey the school uniform code.
I'm glad to hear it. Children should learn from an early age that society has rules that you may not agree with but are there just the same. That you have the right to break the rules but there are consequences.
And children do not have rights, thier parents have rights and responsibilities, children have what privelages thier parents allow them.
If you have rights you have responsibilities, when you are responsible for your self you gain those rights, until then a child is the responsibility of the parent.
NianNorth
07-09-2005, 13:36
In a way, yes. As far as I understand it, in America only private schools have uniforms. And private schools generally will perform better, due to better financing.
It's not just the money, it is the will to teach and the will to learn, the enviroment and a whole lot more.
In the UK in most mixed schools Asian children perform better than white or black children, it is not because they are brighter it is because the have the support and encouragement from home and because they are conditioned by home life to learn.
Uniforms and the whole concept of a social school idendtitiy are part of the learning culture.
Cabra West
07-09-2005, 13:43
It's not just the money, it is the will to teach and the will to learn, the enviroment and a whole lot more.
In the UK in most mixed schools Asian children perform better than white or black children, it is not because they are brighter it is because the have the support and encouragement from home and because they are conditioned by home life to learn.
Uniforms and the whole concept of a social school idendtitiy are part of the learning culture.

I seriously doubt that. If that was the case, all countries that enforce school uniforms would have better students than those countries that don't enforce it.

I do agree that the environment in private schools is better, but I would put that down to funding largely. The schools can afford better rooms, they can afford better wages and can therefore employ better teachers, plus the children whose parents are willing and/or able to finance private schools will have a better environment for learning at home. Also, the parents tend to be more involved with the learning process in private schools.
All of these factors contribute a good deal more to the overall learning results than school uniforms.
Ice Hockey Players
07-09-2005, 13:50
I went to a school with no uniforms and no hope of ever having them, and people performed really well for the most part. I would say it's on level with any private school, uniforms or no uniforms, and frankly, no dress code is going to prevent anything more than a temporary distraction. Yes, we still yakked about the guy who showed up to school in a dress for some reason, but we still got our work done and still had something like 90% of our graduating class go to college (at least, anyway.)

I also notice the correlation between favoring school uniforms and having worn them to school. Those who favor them either attend schools that require them or grew up attending schools that did. Those who oppose them did not grow up with them and don't understand what the fuss is. OK, so maybe having guys wear pants that they can barely hold up and having girls wear shirts that say "Porn Star" on them are far from desirable, but that doesn't mean it has to be taken to the other extreme, either.

And frankly, this has no reason to apply to anyone younger than high school age anyway. Let younger kids show up in jeans if they must, since they are more likely to have recess and things like that where they get dirty. The most restrictive I would be on middle schoolers or high schoolers is a dress code requiring polo shirts and khakis for guys (or dressier if they want, I suppose) and the equivalent for girls. No reason to make them wear uniforms, especially considering that all-out uniforms are rarely expected in the business world.
Jjimjja
07-09-2005, 14:09
i'm pro-school uniform. If not uniform than at least a realitively strict dress code. Most people will have to when they work, so might as well get 'em used to it.
NERVUN
07-09-2005, 14:11
IHere in Japan, most students have an extremely strict dress code, usually with a uniform. In some cases it even extends to the color and style of underpants.
Of course, at my junior high, many of the boys are attempting to look somewhat like the rappers they're seeing on MTV... They're not doing it too well in their navy blue slacks, white collar shirt, tie, and navy blaizer. ^_^;

Japan is very silly at times.

And no, just because you have a uniform doesn't mean you behave or perform any better. Trust me on this.
Malashaan
07-09-2005, 14:21
That's just defeatism. I can see the value of uniform in jobs where one needs to be clearly identifiable to the public. There is absolutely no reason why kids should wear a uniform to school, it serves no purpose. I never had to wear a uniform to school and did fine, I'm now studying for my PhD just as I would if I'd worn a uniform. The only difference is that my experience of school would have been less positive. I by no means loved school, I often found it frustrating, but there were good times as well. This was largely due to an atmosphere where students could get on with their work but weren't overly pressured to conform to a certain set of rules. As long as they got their work done woithout disrupting others anything else was OK. eg It wouldn't be considered a terriblecrime that many seem to think it should be if someone decided to get up and look out the window for a couple of minutes if they were having a mental block, or to quietly ask the person next to them for advice. The result was a school of successful students who knew how to cooperate to achieve their goals but which had retained their individuality throughout.

The suggestion that children don't have rights is as ridiculous as it is insulting. They deserve the same human rights as adults - the only difference is that as they grow up they have to learn to appreciate their responsibilities as well, which will mean punishment when they violate the rights of others, which I believe is the only true responsibility we have, to respect others rights as well as our own. Everything else should attend to itself.
[NS]Canada City
07-09-2005, 14:51
I just want to hear people's oppinions on this, because my school just implimented a dress code and it is VERY strict.

what do you think, is it okay, or is it opression of people's freedon of expression.

If you can't even follow a dress code properly, I can't wait till you get a job. ;)
Neo Rogolia
07-09-2005, 14:55
The more the administrators try to control the kids... the more they will rebel... especially at that age level..

Then their parents are doing a bad job of teaching them the concept of societal order and authority.
Cabra West
07-09-2005, 14:57
Then their parents are doing a bad job of teaching them the concept of societal order and authority.

Yay, let's put parents in uniform, not students! ;)
Mykonians
07-09-2005, 14:58
There was a strict dress code at my high school and to be honest, nobody cared. It made no difference to anything. We had the odd 'mufti day' where you could wear whatever you wanted, and everybody was exactly the same on those days as they were when wearing a uniform. It's a rather pointless, expensive endeavour which yields few results. The only advantage I ever noticed regarding a uniform was that when on field trips it was easier to tell who was from your school. Once in a while we were allowed to wear what we wanted on field trips and people ended up getting lost in crowds.
OceanDrive2
07-09-2005, 15:21
I believe that all American schoolgirls should be forced to wear a uniform.

Hiking boots
Knee socks
Denim shorts
Halter top
Cowboy hat
Lip gloss (strawberry)Schoolgirls?
Yeah I am for a very strict code...pink uniform, denim shorts, black shoes.
http://sex.teensdevil.com/free_galleries/teen/pictures/hot_and_wet_teen_whore_730438_aprpnkwtcv051.jpg.jpg
Cabra West
07-09-2005, 15:23
I am for a very strict code...just like Gatref

http://sex.teensdevil.com/free_galleries/teen/pictures/hot_and_wet_teen_whore_730438_aprpnkwtcv051.jpg.jpg

Those aren't hiking boots!!!

.... unless I completely misunderstand the word ;)
OceanDrive2
07-09-2005, 15:26
Those aren't hiking boots!!!

.... unless I completely misunderstand the word ;)A strict Code should always include Black shoes. :D

http://sex.teensdevil.com/free_galleries/teen/pictures/hot_and_wet_teen_whore_730438_aprpnkwtcv051.jpg.jpg
Bumboat
07-09-2005, 15:44
My Hs required a white shirt, black shoes, and either blue pants (for the boys) or a blue skirt (for the girls). However the girls had an extra rule, they had to wear a bra dark enough to be seen through the white shirt. I always wondered why that was. It was enforced too. I saw girls sent home because of it.
Shingogogol
07-09-2005, 18:04
No, I disagree with dress codes.

It was bad enough that so many people wanted to dress the
same, i.e. latest "in" fashions, on their own free will.
We called them clones.


dress codes.
someone's opinion of what looks nice.
"It does look nice"
That is your opinion.

Nazis looked nice and neat all wearing the same uniforms too.


I don't know why high schools go out of their way
to discourage freedom of expresssion and speech
when they should be working to prepare kids for
life in a democratic society.
Cabra West
07-09-2005, 20:52
My Hs required a white shirt, black shoes, and either blue pants (for the boys) or a blue skirt (for the girls). However the girls had an extra rule, they had to wear a bra dark enough to be seen through the white shirt. I always wondered why that was. It was enforced too. I saw girls sent home because of it.

Er... ok, that's a strange rule. The only explanation I couls come up with is that maybe that rule was put in place when bruning bras was a political statement?
Still stupid...
Saxnot
07-09-2005, 21:00
my school still does that, or for having hair too long or any facial hair

and before you ask, im not at a private school, this is a government school
yeah, at my college (a grammar school's sixth form) they're preposterously strict on that sort of thing. it's really annoying considering to be clean-shaven i'd probably have to shave twice a day. :rolleyes:
New Granada
08-09-2005, 03:32
I dont think that dress codes are a good idea.

Rather, I strongly support uniforms in school.