Do you think that schools should enforce a dress code?

Yes. There should be a dress code.

No; parents should.

There should be dress codes, but it doesn't have to be uniforms. Our school district requires uniforms for grades K-8. A lot of people fought it at first, but now no one has a problem with it. I've seen where it's helped out a lot. There's no argument over what's acceptable and what's not.

i think it should be some combination of school and parents. but as most of us know, many parents are not responsible enough to care for their children as they best could.

I just finished high school in June and I admit there are a lot of girls that dress very badly.( G-strings, short tops, the list goes on.) But I also think that if schools do have uniforms they should take in to consideration what the uniforms are. Another school in the city I live in has uniforms and the girls have to wear these plaid skirts. Normally these skirts go just past your knees but these girls that have to wear them are rolling them up to make them very short. Schools as well as support from parents should decide on what the girls can do with the clothing. (Like a specific length for a skirt, and a specific length for a shirt.) Yes the schools should be responsible for enforcing a dress code.

Other - my old school already has a school uniform, that worked very well.

No - the parents should decide. The fact that kids wear inappropriate clothes for their ages, way too baggy so they're nearly falling off, etc. doesn't bug me as much as kids not feeling free to wear certain colors because they are "gang colors." As in if you wear red or blue, you are thought to belong to a certain gang.

Halfway, there should be some restriction on dress codes otherwise school wear becomes competative.

But even though I like school uniforms and think they are a good thing, the school I went to had a 'guideline dress code' with a variety of colour options. And it worked well.

Lukewarm yes. I think that in general kids ought to be able to dress as they want. The dress code should really be the responsibility of the parents (as should so many other things that get pushed off on schools). But, there are ways of dressing that would be inappropriate for school... parents should be the ones arbitrating this, but if they fail to, then I think it's reasonable for schools to do it.

Parents should want to have a uniform dress code. We should not leave this descision up to the school. Some people do not enforce rules upon their children and if you make it the same for everyone it shows that parents have some sayso in their child's dress.

> i think it should be some combination of school and parents. but
> as most of us know, many parents are not responsible enough to care
> for their children as they best could.


That's the problem! I can't see myself letting my 8 year old out the door dressed like a provocative 18 year old! It also says something about the parents! All the kids I saw dressed like that, had middle aged Moms dressing like they were 20! When Matt was young, he'd often point out these women and say that he would disown me if I ever dressed like that! It's just trashy.

I think that schools should use their own judgement as to whether or not enforce a dress code. They don't need someone like me or you telling them how to run their school. Personally I am against school uniforms unless they have a compelling reason to having them. I think George Carlin said it best: They once experimented with this idea of school uniforms some time in the 30's. They made their argument but I really couldn't understand it. I really couldn't understand it, it was in German.

It also starting to piss me off how every time some busy-body is doging about the world has gone to hell because girls are not wearing modest clothing. Its allways about how girls dress, you ever notice that. They're not doing anything that 8 year-old-boys aren't. But I guess its womens responsiblitity to be modest little girls that they should be and maybe we should start blaming rape victims since they're asking for it dressing like that

Back in '96 where I lived, cops would actually harass you if you were a teenager wearing red or blue walking around the street. I heard stories from friends who were questioned and messed with. Then again this was 96, back when gansta-rap was really huge and there was a lot of hype about gansters and whatnot.

Off course you would think that cops would have the discretion to differientiate between entertainment and reality. I guess not. Stupid pigs

Yes because they all dress like Britney and Christina .

Yes, I'm all for uniforms. There could even be a limited variety of colors to mix and match so it wouldn't be too monochromatic.

Jeez - this is such discrimination, hassling you for wearing a certain color. The authorities should have other ways to check out gang members. Even adults, apparently, are targeted in certain neighborhoods -- by the gang members -- for supposedly wearing the colors of the opposing gang.

Lukewarm yes - Without insisting on uniforms, schools should at least have a dress code.... Yes there should be sone form of dress code

Red and blue are much too common for anyone to assume someone wearing them is in a gang. I thought the whole thing about not wearing "gang colors" was silly for that reason. RED AND BLUE??? Good thing Independence day is in the middle of summer.
I believe in dress codes like the ones we had in school. No drugs or alcohol t shirts, no bare midriffs... basically a set of rules on what not to wear. It was all reasonable. I disagree with uniforms because I think there are certian legitimate displays of pride that uniforms prevent from happening. I think it's important and socially healthy to let law abiding, good kids who belong to good groups and stand for good things show that stuff off around kids who belong to and stand for rotten things.

I am curious why your explanation singled out girls dressing inappropriately and said nothing about boys who dress inappropriately. Was that deliberate?

Lukewarm. I think a dress code would be appropriate. Save the party dress for the party. And the pajamas for the nap.

We should insist on proper leg warmers for everyone!

> Red and blue are much too common for anyone to assume someone wearing
> them is in a gang. I thought the whole thing about not wearing "gang
> colors" was silly for that reason. RED AND BLUE??? Good thing Independence
> day is in the middle of summer.
> I believe in dress codes like the ones we had in school. No drugs
> or alcohol t shirts, no bare midriffs... basically a set of rules
> on what not to wear. It was all reasonable. I disagree with uniforms
> because I think there are certian legitimate displays of pride that
> uniforms prevent from happening. I think it's important and socially
> healthy to let law abiding, good kids who belong to good groups and
> stand for good things show that stuff off around kids who belong to
> and stand for rotten things.


I think is has more to do with solid colors, or a combination of colors. I think that the bloodz official colors were red and black. If you wore a solid red t-shirt with any combination of black and a cop patroling passed you by, that automaticlly set off a red (no pun inteded) flag. And especially if it was more than one guy. I can sort of see how that can be suspicious, but still. Don't you need probabble cause. To make matters worse, back then there was a lot of stupid ass kids going around "claiming" gangs because they've thought that it made them cool (even though they'd probabbly crap themselves if they ever came across an actually gang member) which didn't go over well with law enforcement. On top of everything, the suburban town where I live is known for being crawling with cops and we have very little (real) crime, so you can imagine the thinking process back in 1996. Oh man, its so great to move beyond that.

And if you are wearing blue and black, that makes you a cop!

Probabbly for the same reasons everyone else involed in the dress-code-debate does. The only time you'll ever hear about male offenders is if its some poor sap weird kid with long spiky purple hair and a black trench-coat or some dumbass with their underwear showing.

Actually to be accurate, thats navy blue and some kind of gray. They do wear solid black shoes (I think) though. I guess that counts.

The crips official color is solid blue (I don't think that they have a second color). Actually this reminds me, I remember one time I recieved a phone call from some police department asking for donations for the men and women in blue (and you get like some pin on your shirt or something along those lines) and I really wanted to be a smartass about it and say "you want me to support the crips?!?!?! " but instead I just politly declined them.

If it's extremely like this, I guess Schools have to, we are not in a fashion show in the school!!!
Or schools can interfere in the way girls wear, tey can say No or Yes about their clothes.

> I am curious why your explanation singled out girls dressing inappropriately
> and said nothing about boys who dress inappropriately. Was that deliberate?


Somewhat... Dress codes have always seemed to target girls. Mini skirts, hot pants, g-strings, halter tops, sheer blouses, cleavage - next to that kind of exposure; who the hell notices the guy with the pants so baggy that they look like a loaded diaper?
BTW... Real sexy guys!

bring back school uniforms!

hahahaahahahaahahahahahahahah...............I am already regretting telling you that!!

There's nothing wrong with nudity.

Please don't regret it, it feels good to laugh.(with you) And I thank you for that.

Yes there is. Men will compete , then there you go, they would do some kind of implants to signify gang affiliation with length, strength, and speed.

With different colored cock-rings? It certainly gives new meaning to the phrases "drive-by shooting" and "put a cap in yo' ass." Why can't we all be friends?

Absolutely. Here schools are going back to uniforms, but primarily to prevent the wearing of gang colors to school.
It also helps the parents save money not having to buy expensive designer clothes so the kids 'fit in'.

That reminds me of an old survey where Romkey was making jokes about drive-bys. Man I wish I could find it now!

Can you help me find an old survey comment of yours about drive by shooting? I think you were making suggestive double meanings.

I don't think I would be opposed to a dress code as long as there was enough room for some individuality. (Within reason)

They are allowed to wear their hair as they like. For the most part it is the grade schools that require uniforms here. Dress codes and also uniforms teach discipline and respect for appearance. Back in 1970 when my high school eliminated the dress code there was a definite decline in the overall environment.

I am afraid I missed that one.

I have a vague memory of it but not enough to find it... a couple of searches didn't turn it up... sorry!

Schools can't decide what students should wear, but they can enact and enforce an appropriate dress code, with consequences if children fail to comply. I think, at this point, the school that doesn't do this is in the minority.

I found it!
http://surveycentral.org/survey/13550.html

I'm for luke warm.. not necessarily uniforms but a certain amount of supervision is needed here. I'm not so sure if it should be the school, but maybe the parents.. or the school could have certain guidelines that the parents could enforce, (like at a lot of offices.) I 'm not a mother, but I certainly know that no eight year old daughter of mine would be wearing G-strings or 'belly tops'. For really young girls wearing these types of clothing really takes you aback. they're innocence is lost somehow. I'm all for showing individuality and your own personal style, but this makes me sort of concerned to see the frame of mind that girls have now, the need to be dressed sexy to get attention,what they don't realize is that it's negative attention. But kids are kids and to them this is the norm or "trend" right now. I just think it's inappropriate for children to be dressed that way, (so, thanks a lot Britney Spears!) For the record though, there are more kids and teenagers out there who have a flattering, funky and cool dress sense then those who don't.

I don't like the idae of uniforms (because most of them are so fudging ugly and the fit is often bad), but some decency ought to be practiced.

Where'd you hear about 8year olds sporting g strings?

oh wow!

> Where'd you hear about 8year olds sporting g strings?

On 940 AM news the morning I posted this survey. It was the "question of the day".

> It also helps the parents save money not having to buy expensive designer
> clothes so the kids 'fit in'.


THAT is a good point! My son missed school because he was being teased that he didn't wear labeled shirts! A plaid shirt worn over a T-shirt is just a plaid shirt but suddenly, if it has a label; it's cool. It's so stupid. He was about 14 then and he had no sense of how he should dress - he wouldn't go shopping with me, only with his sister...
He has much more confidence in himself now (still wears plaid shirts over a t-shirt) but it was a very confusing time for him then. That school was more of a social gathering for modeling teens than it was a place for educating them...

> I'm all for showing individuality and
> your own personal style, but this makes me sort of concerned to see
> the frame of mind that girls have now, the need to be dressed sexy
> to get attention,what they don't realize is that it's negative attention.

That's the problem - it's not their personal style; they're mimicking what they see (Thanks to Britney Spears). It's a need to be like everyone else.
Have you not seen the chubby teen in her hip-huggers sporting a pot belly?
You'd think they had mirrors at home? They certainly don't wear them because they look good but they dress like the others do for acceptance... It's a sad state of affairs.

Dress code yes, uniforms no.

Yes. Fashion is given too high a value by children who, for the most part, do not even earn the money that pays for their clothes. Eliminating another reason for children to discriminate against other children will allow them a better chance to be judged based on their thoughts and ideas, as opposed to what their parents can afford to buy them.

Many kids don't do their own laundry, so if they can learn the art of wear, wear, (and maybe wear one more time) then wash/dry clean, it preserves the quality of the fabric/material much longer, it saves water, aside from underwear and socks, it isn't necessary to wash trousers, cardigans, and button shirts (provided a white shirt is worn underneath) every single day.

Children are much easier to identify as students, which will contribute to deterring youths from cutting class, identifying students by school uniform can be handy in determining if children are trespassing trouble makers, on the wrong side of town at the wrong time of day, like any uniform it would remind youngsters to behave inline with the expectations of his/her parents. "Be on your best behavior..."

So many reasons TO DO IT, and so few reasons not to do it.

... that's right. I HATE this PLANET!!! -Solo

Other - none of the schools in my area ever took them away.

To all the people saying that children should be allowed to choose whatever they can wear, the answer is that they should - as soon as they get home from school.
School is supposed to be a preparation for life. How many people here are allowed to wear whatever they want to work?

No Problem ........hahahahahaahahahhahahahahaahahahah

Lukewarm yes - but would also like to add...what about the boys that are wearing their jeans/pants/shorts around their knees with their boxers exposed?

I don't think that they should necessarily have uniforms, but a dress code is a good idea. Even having taught in a Catholic school with uniforms, one of the things that we had to enforce (especially on those free dress days when they could come out of uniform) was the 3 B's - no bellies, no butts, no boobs.

> No; parents should.


you're right; however, many parents don't care what their children wear to school. When I was teaching in the Catholic schools, female students were not allowed to wear makeup, and many would get out of their parents' car in the morning full of makeup. Many kids would show up in sweatshirts that were not of dress code, get out of the car without shirts tucked in or belts on, earrings that dangled, fingernail polish, etc. Parents just didn't seem to care that their child was in violation. Many looked at it as our problem and not theirs. Many sent their kids to school for us to discipline. One kid's parent refused to sign a bad test paper so that the teacher would issue a Behavior Report with punish work to be done and then refused to sign the Behavior Report hoping that the teacher would give the student a detention for not having that signed. This was the way the parent punished their child for the bad grade - let the teacher do it.

> I'm for luke warm.. not necessarily uniforms
> but a certain amount of supervision is needed
> here. I'm not so sure if it should be the
> school, but maybe the parents.. or the school
> could have certain guidelines that the parents
> could enforce, (like at a lot of offices.)
> I 'm not a mother, but I certainly know that
> no eight year old daughter of mine would
> be wearing G-strings or 'belly tops'. For
> really young girls wearing these types of
> clothing really takes you aback.

I taught 8th graders - 12-13 year olds. One day they had a free dress day (which means that they could come out of uniform but dress appropriately). We went out to watch a 3rd grade parade and 2 of the girls refused to sit down when the principal told them to. Come to find out they didn't want to sit down because their too tight jeans would pull down and their too short shirts would ride up (for which they were given dress code violation slips) in the back revealing that they were wearing g-string underwear. My response to the girls was "Tough. You wore it, you pay the consequences of having worn it, so sit down."

where the bloody hell do u lot come from? everywhere wears school uniforms here

Test scores and bad behavior are a different issue. Dress codes aren't something I think schools particularly need to get involved in. I don't have a huge problem with it if they do, and if they have one, then certainly they should be able to punish kids who violate it. But what I really meant was that schools shouldn't tell kids how to dress; parents should. If they want to let their kid leave the house looking like a freak, that's their business. Clothing is a way that kids express themselves, and the idea of taking away some element of their individuality by enforcing a dress code doesn't appeal to me.

Reasonable dress codes don't take away individuality.

Individuality has nothing to do with being modest. If a parent doesn't care what the child wears and she comes to school in a too short skirt, revealing blouse, exposed stomach, etc....and the child were then raped or molested on campus, then the parent would be the first one to sue the school system for not having protested their child. Then there are all those status symbol name brands. A former student of mine wore some name brand pullover to school one day only to have a kid haul him into the bathroom and warn him that if he valued his life, he shouldn't wear that to school again. There are have many instances of students being killed for their shoes or jackets.

True. But rigid ones, and uniforms, do.

I would hope that a parent would be angry with the school for not protecting their daughter if she was molested or raped even if she was wearing a burqa.
I think it would be more useful to try to teach the kids not to kill someone for what they're wearing, than to tell the kids just to wear different clothes.

I know. I don't really like the idea of uniforms much. Reasonable dress codes should be enough to control distractions.

That would mean that society would have to be perfect and there would have to be equal income for everyone....such a utopia does not exist.

Where I live I don't think there's a school that doesn't have some kind of dress code, especially in the lower schools. No way could you wear a shirt that said "F*** You" (as an example).

Yes, lets blame the rape victims. They were looking like sluts. They asked for it.

But if we are talking hormonal young boys and girls dressed provocatively, something may (or may not) happen. The point is, I've been there, done that. Sometimes the girls report the "abuse" and sometimes they don't. A lot of girls are date raped and then the guys say, "Well, the way she dressed, I thought that was what she wanted." I didn't say I was blaming the girls, what I said was this kind of thing does happen.....like it or not.

I don't think that's utopianism, although I can see why you would say that. I think it's reasonable to teach kids not to steal or kill. And it's reasonable to expect them not to steal and kill (even knowing that some of them will, sometimes). It's better to protect people's rights to engage in certain behaviors (like wearing what they want) than to impose more stringent rules because they might get hurt by exercising those rights. See where I'm going with this?

i don't think schools should be required to have them, but i don't think there is anything wrong with the ones that do, either

> Probabbly for the same reasons everyone else involed in the dress-code-debate
> does. The only time you'll ever hear about male offenders is if its
> some poor sap weird kid with long spiky purple hair and a black trench-coat
> or some dumbass with their underwear showing.

I was thinking more about 'bagging'. You know-when a person has their jeans hanging down practically below their butt and are showing most of their underwear, I haven't seen this much on girls but I've certainly seen it on guys. I don't have a problem with spiked or dyed hair but I think that bagging looks disgusting.

I notice. I think the 'bagging' look is disgusting.

Yeah, I can see where you are going. Unfortunately, parents don't see it. There are parents who send their children to school for them to discipline or as a glorified babysitter. They spend so little time with their kids. But, I see that as a society of children having children and not being responsible parents at the time. It's like they feed them when they think about it, what they wear to school is never noticed (including filthy clothing), bathe them several days after noticing the smell, and the rest of the time telling the child to get out of their face. That's a tough reality.

> To all the people saying that children should be allowed to choose
> whatever they can wear, the answer is that they should - as soon as
> they get home from school.
> School is supposed to be a preparation for life. How many people here
> are allowed to wear whatever they want to work?


Well said!

> where the bloody hell do u lot come from? everywhere wears school
> uniforms here

Uh... A liberated country?

> Test scores and bad behavior are a different issue. Dress codes aren't
> something I think schools particularly need to get involved in. I
> don't have a huge problem with it if they do, and if they have one,
> then certainly they should be able to punish kids who violate it.
> But what I really meant was that schools shouldn't tell kids how
> to dress; parents should. If they want to let their kid leave the
> house looking like a freak, that's their business. Clothing is a
> way that kids express themselves, and the idea of taking away some
> element of their individuality by enforcing a dress code doesn't appeal
> to me.

I replied this to a similar comment about individuality;

"That's the problem - it's not their personal style; they're mimicking what they see (Thanks to Britney Spears). It's a need to be like everyone else.
Have you not seen the chubby teen in her hip-huggers sporting a pot belly?
You'd think they had mirrors at home? They certainly don't wear them because they look good but they dress like the others do for acceptance... It's a sad state of affairs."

Yeah, a lot of kids do have it pretty rough. And of course schools should have rules that make it easier for them to do the "day care" part of their job. But they're also there to educate, and I don't have a problem with schools expecting students to live up to their expectations (expectations not to hurt other students, for instance). That being said, kids can be mean, and some of them are always going to find some reason to beat other kids up. That's a given, regardless of dress codes.

Of course, if our schools were better funded...
But that's a separate (albeit more important) issue.

That may be true of some students, but not all of them. There are plenty of students who wear funky clothes to express themselves, and they wouldn't be able to do that if there were a dress code. They're not necessarily dressing like tramps, but they're still affected by the rules.

Yes, I had to wear one so none of us girls would be jealous and envious of each other. we grew up poor and the rich girls liked to flaunt the clothes they had.

> Of course, if our schools were better funded...
> But that's a separate (albeit more important)
> issue.

Funny you should mention this....my partner attended a school board meeting last night where a group of "concerned citizens" were wanting to help the school board balance the budget. They felt that funds were being ill-spent and made several suggestions as to how to cut back. Are you ready for this:

1) Cut the teachers' pay (Louisiana is already 49th in teacher salary).

2) Cut the teachers' benefits (make them pay ALL of their health insurance).

3) Cut the teachers' retirement benefits.

4) Take all the air conditioners out of the classrooms to save on electricity costs (after all they went to school when they didn't have air conditioners).

5) Cut the school boards salary (this actually got a thumbs up since the new superintendent of school just gave herself a $4000.00 pay raise).

6) Cut out all books that are not federally funded.

And these are just the things that I heard about. I'm sure there were other "suggestions" as well.

> To all the people saying that children should
> be allowed to choose whatever they can wear,
> the answer is that they should - as soon
> as they get home from school.
> School is supposed to be a preparation for
> life. How many people here are allowed to
> wear whatever they want to work?

I agree!

Good grief. I'm glad they feel like paying teachers is a poor use of their limited budget. What jerks.

> Good grief. I'm glad they feel like paying
> teachers is a poor use of their limited budget.
> What jerks.

I think they look at teachers in the same way that they look at law enforcement....a necessary evil.

> That may be true of some students, but not all of them. There are
> plenty of students who wear funky clothes to express themselves, and
> they wouldn't be able to do that if there were a dress code. They're
> not necessarily dressing like tramps, but they're still affected by
> the rules.


There is time enough in one's life to express one's individuality and there are much more creative ways to do it than with clothes. There's a good French expression that says;
"L'habit ne fait pas le moine."

"The habit (as in the old English word for clothing or uniform) does not make him a priest."

Eccentricity can be a very subtle thing and if one finds it necessary to advertise it.... Well that says something else about the person and it's an issue we can expand upon in another survey...

What if someone wants to advertise something they belong to or a philosophy?

> What if someone wants to advertise something they belong to or a philosophy?

I think that people who need to do this have issues and lack any self-identity.
I found it most annoying trying to find PJs for my son when he was about 8-9 years old. I couldn't get anything that didn't make him a fudging billboard for some movie or TV show!

You know, it's not that I even feel this strongly about this issue. But as someone who likes clothing and feels they are definitely part of the expression of who I am, I beg to differ. Clothes don't make you who you are, but they can still be part of who you are.

> You know, it's not that I even feel this strongly about this issue.
> But as someone who likes clothing and feels they are definitely part
> of the expression of who I am, I beg to differ. Clothes don't make
> you who you are, but they can still be part of who you are.

As a mature adult - fine! But did you really know who you were when you were in grade school? Huh? Huh?

The ones with issues are those that yell out loud who they are...

Yes and no, I see kids today wear the strangest clothes, I also see kids wear hats and shirts that either has foul language, or advertise beer or cigarettes, and when I was in Jr High, that was NOT allowed, and if you were caught with such clothing, it was 3 automatic detentions; therefore yes they should restrict shirts and hats that has bad stuff on it, and not allow students allow having their navels pierced etc. And no when it comes to shoes, they should be allowed to wear sandals, and sneakers, and they should allow students to wear their sneakers without socks if the student(s) prefer not to wear socks in their shoes. They can wear shorts on warm days, and short sleeved shirts should be allowed as well. I don't think a uniform should be worn to school, because they can be costly if the student, or if the student's parents has to purchase them.. Especially when the family has a lot of kids.

What if they want people to wonder about it or ask about it? What if they are hoping to start a conversation about it?

In high school I definitely did.

Uniforms aren't going to make their issues go away.

I think I'm with you on this one!

> What if they want people to wonder about it or ask about it? What
> if they are hoping to start a conversation about it?

It may work for some but I tend to shy away from people like that - they seem to be rather self-centered and just want to talk about themselves...
"Look at ME! Look at ME!"

> In high school I definitely did.
>
> Uniforms aren't going to make their issues go away.

One good thing about uniforms though - you never have to fret over what you're going to wear!

I think using clothes for intellectual, philosophical and thought provoking reasons should be encouraged (with reasonable limits.) You can't do that with uniforms, unless you allow arm bands, buttons, or certain types of jewelery.

Not if they want to talk about a philosophy or something they belong to, or make a point. I'm not talking about noticeable stuff like great big purple spikey hair (attention grabbing distractions) I'm talking about buttons, jewelery, things legitimate groups use to identify each other, certain types of outfits, etc.

That's true. Although you can fret because your mother won't let you hem your skirt as high as the other girls', or you don't have the right socks or the more expensive shoes. Kids will always find something.

I agree completely.