school dress code

[MrsB]

With the start of school I am reminded that once again dress code will be an issue for many residents and parents. I am interested in hearing what this board of outspoken citizens feel about the current trend in student dress. How you think dress effects your students and how you think it reflects on the town? Since we are never at a loss of opinions around here I would like to hear what you think the BOE should do about the dress code. Do you think it is up to parents only or do you think the school should be responsible in determining what is and is not appropriate?
Remember this is full of legal trip holds and student rites issues.

[2much2do]

Screw the students, they need to dress in proper attire and not go to school like there attending the local disco-tech. Many studies have show that the better they dress the better they feel about themselves and the better they achieve. I blame the parents that let their kids leave the house that way.

If you look at this morning Hartford Courant article on the Mastery Test our students have dropped down in most of the testing against the state average. Then you look at towns like Westport, where there is a dress code and they rank at the highest in the state.

[L]

I think they should experiment with very strict standards and maybe even uniforms. There's probably more "uniformity" among the way the kids dress than there is at schools that require uniforms!

[LouS]

We hear from parents and teachers from all across the nation. We have never heard of an implemented dress code causing more problems (other than initial student rebellion). The schools that have gone to this have apparently gone throught the legal set ups and parents and teachers report an increase in "better behavior", attentiveness and a decrease in acting out.

I think that self expression is fine until it gets out of hand and some of the outfits that are on view at the schools, elementry through highschool are out of control.

Hats and headware (although this is being handled at the high school), pants down to (you know where) and skirts and such that do not leave much to the imagination are all distractions. May be that they are more distractive to adults than to the kids, but my opinion is this sloppiness (for lack of a better word) does not have a positive impact on their behavior and learning.

Why is it that most sports teams, prior to an event, get dressed in a similar fashion?

May be a point there somewhere.
Just a quick thought.

[GoldShield]

LouS wrote:
Why is it that most sports teams, prior to an event, get dressed in a similar fashion?

That way you know the "good guys" from the "bad guys".
The "Axis of Evil" will stand out that way! ;D
It makes "profiling" easier.

[oldetowne]

LouS wrote:
Why is it that most sports teams, prior to an event, get dressed in a similar fashion?

That way you know the "good guys" from the "bad guys".
The "Axis of Evil" will stand out that way!
It makes "profiling" easier.

I thought it was because team sports, like the military, are successful only if they can eliminate individual thought and enterprise and establish a clearly subordinate relationship between the participants and their leaders.

But seriously, if the parents can't convince their kids to dress properly and value the educational opportunities that are being provided, that doesn't make it the school's responsibility to do so by imposing a dress code. It's a cultural issue - not one which requires government intervention.

[LouS]

Either everyone is a comedian or the dress code for athletes has fallen on deaf ears.

Why is it that negatives always are the first thoughts that appear by some? I guess this makes a statement about those responding.

Oldetowne, I bet even though you feel, as I do and most do, that the families should be the ones setting limits, etc., that you know this is not happening in a huge segment of the population.

Family structure has changed and due to this change we have seen the schools' roles change. As an example; Breakfast is supplied to many children across the nation. Why? Either there is a monetary need or there is a family driven decision that breakfast is not needed. Agree or disagree with the program the outcome is that the children are helped.

Regardless of whether any of you have seen the family structure change and with it a public school change, the schools, teachers, guidance counselors and coaches, to name a few that interact with the kids, have seen their roles transform. They are not only the teachers but the surrogate parents, disciplinarians, pschologists, etc. No one has asked for this altering of roles, but it is merely a response to a vacuum that has been created in many families.

The schools have a mandate and obligation to offer the children a safe and functional situation. Education is for all but there are rules that need to be followed. If a dress code is deemed to be part of the rationale for effectively providing this situation it should be enacted. (I am not saying uniforms, necessarily, but at least a dress code.)

A police officer in a school is now becoming the norm, not the exception. But why? With the logic that is professed by some, the families should be providing the direction to their children and therefore a police officer would not be warranted.


Change in the schools is a reflection of change in society. This is not a big brother situation, nor are the children being brainwashed or profiled...what bunk.

[MrsB]

JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW I HASTILY EDITED THIS, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL OF MY PRIOR MISPELLINGS YOU CAN SEE GOLDS CORRECTIONS TO ME.
WE SALUTE YOU GOLD!! YOU CAN SLEEP TONIGHT KNOWING YOUR CIVIL DUTY HAS BEEN DONE.


This is a tender situation because essentially it is a student rights issue. Because everyone has a right to an education, it is very different then the "at will” clause most of us adhere to in our workplaces. If I chose not to follow those rules and in some way compromised the image of the company or in the case of foot wear, my own personal safety I would know the consequences.

Students and Parents alike would do the community well to keep in mind that School is a job. It is the students job to perform to the best of their ability and to remain a viable and respectful member of the student body. If the student would like the town to care about them and their needs concerning the budget, then they need to project a professional student image so that they may be taken seriously.
It is hard for me to muster the voters to vote for a budget increases on issues like old infrastructure and older textbooks, when students dress like they just rolled out of a bar after a hard night.

Uniforms while seeming to be a tidy answer is a far step away from where we are in this system. Personally I would like to see drastic steps towards a district wide dress policy before we go right to blue slacks and white shirts.

Some things I see as essential are proper stable foot wear laces tied, manageable heals ect, clothes that cover the body in a seasonally appropriate manner and that fit. No bellies large or small. Clothes that are neat in appearance, with out large holes or rips. Underwear --where it belongs under the clothes. Respectable makeup appropriate for the day time on girls who after all are all under 19 (hopefully) and of course no hats and no winter coats on while in class.

Some of these things are being taken care of now by some of the teachers. Many teachers do not enforce the few rules that they have in place and many find it awkward to do so. That issue needs to be addressed as well. the policy’s we have now are not district wide and need to be so that there is no issue on fairness and parents know what to expect from one school to the next.

[oldetowne]

Lou - I don't disagree that we have a huge problem with respect to parents being willing and/or able to take the responsibility for raising their children in a societally acceptable manner - and this is not a new problem, just one which has been exacerbated over the past couple of decades. I just don't see a dress code as the solution on par with emergency mental health counseling and subsidized breakfasts and lunches when folks at the schools have limited time and resources.

Mrs B - with all due respect, try using the spell check function. I got lost in your message and gave up.

[GoldShield]

I echo oldtowne's recommendation, Mrs. B. If it is worth saying or writing, it is worth saying or writing it well. I'll bet that you hastily composed this posting at work, being careful that the boss didn't catch you. ;D Consider the following misspellings (at the least!):

This is a tender situation because essentially it is a student rights issue. Because everyoner has a right to an educatation, it is very different then the "at will" clause most of us adhere to in our workplaces. If I chose not to follow those rules and in some way compromised the image of the company or in the case of foot wear, my own personal saftey I would know the consequences.

Students and Parents alike would do the community well to keep in mind that School is a job. It is the students job to preform to the best of their ability and to remain a viable and respectful member of the student body. If the student would like the town to care about them and their needs concerning the budget, then they need to project a professional student image so that they may be taken seriously.

It is hard for me to muster the voters to vote for a budget increases on issues like old infastructure and older textbooks, when students dress like they just rolled out of a bar after a hard night.

Uniforms while seeming to be a tidy answer is a far step away from where we are in this system. Personally I would like to see drastic steps twards a district wide dress policy before we go right to blue slacks and white shirts.

Some things I see as essintal are proper stable foot wear laces tied, managable heals ect, clothes that cover the body in a seasonaly approiate manner and that fit. no bellies large or small. Clothes that are neat in apperance and with out large holes rips. Underwear where it belongs under the clothes. Respectable makeup approiate for the day time on gilrs who after all are all under 19 (hopefully) and of course no hats and no winter coats on while in class.

Some of these things are being taken care of now by some of the teachers. Many teachers do not enforce the few rules that they have in place and many find it akward to do so. That issue needs to be addressed as well. the policys we have now are not districe wide and need to be so that there is no issue on fairness and parents know what to expect from one school to the next.

[MrsB]

Gold,
Actually for your information I am a stay at home mom (no boss anymore) and full time nursing student working on my third college degree. You are very right. I was writing in haste, I had mistakenly thought I had a few minutes and didn't. Because school started this week for me again, I thought let me get this out real quick, and I didn't even proof read it. By the way kind sir, I also volunteer 15 hrs a week out side of my home. Not to mention I handle a email network for a local volunteer group.

You sir are just a pest. I have no other word for you. I will however think twice before posting without fully rereading. Somehow with all of my education I think faster than I type. And because I am of the unfortunate generation that has always had a computer at hand I do rely on my spell check. I can admit to that. Can you admit to being a HUGE pain in the Ass? Did I spell that correctly?? This is a email forum not the senate. Get a life.

[GoldShield]

Me thinks the lady doth protest too much!

p/s: I have a life. (That's all YOU need to know.) This forum is just recreational and cathartic. Now, go pat yourself on your back.

[LouS]

Mrs. B,
Keep on offering your input. Whether I agree or not, I enjoy appropriate jabbing. Oldetowne, as well, however I too, have hastily posted and if I have to be chastised for grammar, spelling or punctuation by those that live in glass houses I don't care. Some of you want it both ways. Recreational and relaxing, yeah right!

Pest is truly an appropriate term.

[oldetowne]

Lou - There's a difference between hasty and incomprehensible. I have always understood your point, even if I didn't always agree.

Goldy - Being called a pest can be sometimes a compliment.

Mrs B - Your views are always interesting - just don't be so defensive.

[Sportsfan]

O.K. now that you all have broken bread together, lets move on.

On one hand uniforms are easy, order a full set for the year and your good to go, no hassle every morning and you save alot of money, because you don't have to buy the latest MTV look.

When I was in school the sports teams wore a shirt and a tie.

GoldShield please run a spell check and correct if needed. Thanks in advance. ;D