School Uniforms and Dress Codes - Do They Help?
Back-to-School - What to Wear
With low-cut jeans and midriff-revealing tops for the girls, and ill-fitting, low slung jeans for the guys, is it any wonder that more and more schools are adopting dress codes and uniforms for students? That is not to mention the gang-style clothing so many teens like to wear as a means of identity.
Here is a state-by-state look at policies currently being used in regard to dress codes and/or uniforms:
Dress Codes and Uniforms
With all the avenues of violence within our schools today, it would seem that having students all dressed in a very similar manner would be very beneficial when it comes to helping school officials identify intruders. Anyone who appears without appropriate dress would be immediately suspect and quickly approached by school personnel.
Uniforms and/or dress codes would also prevent students from wearing colors and logos of gangs and prevent gang wars on school grounds.
Uniforms and dress codes also support school authority and discipline of students and encourage more time and attention to be focused on learning and doing the required classroom work.
Schools that choose the less expensive uniforms equalize students from every socio-economic background and also serve to increase school pride and a real sense of belonging.
Although many students protest uniforms and dress codes, most schools do require it and they are finding that the benefits far outweigh the supposed harm done. Some say it takes away from the students' rights to express themselves and to be an individual.
However, once these same students arrive in the work world, they will find that many companies also have dress codes and/or uniforms. Police Officers, Firemen, Airline employees, Nurses, Doctors, Lawyers, and all branches of the military have some form of required dress. Most of our blue collar workers are also required to wear a uniform in the performing of their jobs. Does this take away from their right to be an individual? No, it makes them a part of a team that performs a certain job in a certain manner and provides for a more cohesive work environment.
We soon learn, in life, that no matter how high up the ladder of success we may go, we will always be accountable to someone else. That does not stifle our individuality or cause us to be less than the person we were meant to be. It maintains stability in our world and helps us to become better and more productive people.
Sources: http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/showarticle/CA/361/
http://www.ed.gov/updates/uniforms.html
Published by Vicki Messer
In 1997 I began a personal journey of healing from years of childhood sexual abuse. For the better part of 10 years, I worked my way through the painful repressed memories of incest at the hands of several... View profile
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6 Comments
Post a Commenti think teens shouldnt have dress code. it doesnt show individuality and it doesnt let kids show who they are. i mean i can understand if you have restrictions but kids shouldnt have to wear a polo and pants. parents go out and have to find things that the teens like.
Great article. I think a dress code could be a good idea if there is a way to subsidize it.
I think school uniforms would be a good thing. It would help put all the children on a level playing field. Growing up, my parents didn't have a lot of money, and I didn't have the most stylish new clothes. I was teased and tormented relentlessly, but still managed to get straight A's, and have a lot better life than some of the kids who were so evil to me. If we eliminated the "who has the coolest clothes" issue, maybe the bullying problems that we see would decrease. And I'm in agreement with Charlotte - some of the kids dress so horribly - I'm 31 and would never show the chest or butt cleavage that some of these kids do - it's shameful.
I'm all for school uniforms. The kids can express their individuality all they want when they're not in school! And I understand that even with uniforms, kids can signify a group identity, for example, by all rolling their socks down a certain way. Kids will find a way to express themselves despite our efforts!
what about the poor? At least here in montreal the school uniforms are not cheep.
A shirt for my friends son was 28.00 money she did not have.
With what I see kids wearing to school, I can't imagine the things that teachers have to take care of. Girls go half dressed. Boys go with their pants hanging around their knees. Why do they bother dressing at all? I can understand the need to present one'e personality but I think a few guidelines are okay like no braless see through tank tops and no pants where the rear crack is evident. I expressed my personality just fine while I was fully clothed.