what do you think-school dress code?

[Anonymous]

I am a teacher at a MS in No Va (I don't feel comfortable naming the school). Although I am taking a year's leave to care for my daughter, I was in the office doing paperwork yesterday, and heard that the principal and certain members of the faculty are trying to change the dress code. Currently, I believe it is similar to other schools in the area (bottoms-skirts, dresses, shorts-must be at least past the fingertips of the person wearing it; tops that are sleeveless must have straps at least two fingers-width, etc). The admin in my school is tired of dealing with all the discipline issues and work created by the continuous dress code violations (usually by the girls). Their proposal: bottoms will now come to knee length at minimum, and all tops are to be short-sleeved at minimum.

I am posting on the parents forum because this is not necessarily an academic issue, and I am actually wondering how parents feel about this. If you have a moment, if you could sound off on the following questions, I would really appreciate it. As a parent myself, I am not a fan of this plan, and would like to see how the community would react if that dress code was going to be coming to their middle school (FWIW, I teach in Loudon county, near Leesburg, lest some FCPS and ACPS parents get worried that the dress code is changing in the next few weeks for them!).

1. Are you in favor of this plan? Do you think it is feasible (ie, will it just make the problem worse in terms of disciplining)? Do you think dressing like this will ultimately cause less distraction in the classroom and the halls?
2. Do you think it is possible, given the current clothes available for pre-teen and teen girls, that dressing like this will be possible? Would you have to buy a lot of new clothes to meet these requirements?
3. In lieu of this plan, would you rather uniforms?

TIA!

[Anonymous]

dress codes are necessary, becasue most parents let their kids leave the house in clothes only appropriate for a hooker.

[Anonymous]

I'd be all for it, myself, with two girls ages 15 and 10. They already dress more conservatively than what you are proposing, however. And it's not hard to buy cute clothes and still be a little more modest.

I would be concerned about parents who have already dished out $$$ on fall clothes. And the school could face a backlash for that.

I would prefer not to have uniforms, again for financial reasons. It's easier to buy everyday clothes at cheaper cost than to buy uniforms.

So, from a fashion point of view -- I'm all for it. But I have concerns about the financial burden on some parents.

Does it prevent boys from wearing their waistbands down under their butts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:dress codes are necessary, becasue most parents let their kids leave the house in clothes only appropriate for a hooker.

If I had my way, they would all dress in uniforms. Save money for parents and, maybe, kids would actually study and learn. I also agree about young girls dressing like hookers.

[Anonymous]

While I don't agree with either, at least the short sleeve shirts are more realistic. Although, are they gonna have a minimum sleeve length, or would cap sleeves be okay?

The shorts that go down to your knees is just ridiculous though. I don't wear shorts that long, ever. I certainly wouldn't expect a middle schooler to either.

I think this will just cause more problems and distractions for students and teachers with trying to patrol this. If their problem is all the work the current dresscode is causing, this certainly isn't going to help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While I don't agree with either, at least the short sleeve shirts are more realistic. Although, are they gonna have a minimum sleeve length, or would cap sleeves be okay?

The shorts that go down to your knees is just ridiculous though. I don't wear shorts that long, ever. I certainly wouldn't expect a middle schooler to either.

I think this will just cause more problems and distractions for students and teachers with trying to patrol this. If their problem is all the work the current dresscode is causing, this certainly isn't going to help.

Wear slacks or jeans. Most adults don't wear shorts to work. It's OK for kids to perceive school as a place where more conservative dress is normal. Save the shorts for playing after school and on weekends.

[Anonymous]

If you want to make your child dress in t-shirts and long shorts, that's fine. But my daughter can learn just fine in a tank top and shorts that go past her fingers and not look like a hooker or immodest. I buy her things that fit her and aren't 2 sizes to small, so there's nothing inapproriate about it.

If your son can't concentrate on school because a girl is exposing her shoulder or upper knee, I think the problem lies with your son, not my daughter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While I don't agree with either, at least the short sleeve shirts are more realistic. Although, are they gonna have a minimum sleeve length, or would cap sleeves be okay?

The shorts that go down to your knees is just ridiculous though. I don't wear shorts that long, ever. I certainly wouldn't expect a middle schooler to either.

I think this will just cause more problems and distractions for students and teachers with trying to patrol this. If their problem is all the work the current dresscode is causing, this certainly isn't going to help.

Wear slacks or jeans. Most adults don't wear shorts to work. It's OK for kids to perceive school as a place where more conservative dress is normal. Save the shorts for playing after school and on weekends.

There is not a chance in hell I would force either my son or daughter to wear jeans or pants to school, in June when it's 90+ degrees outside, to prepare them for working in 10 years. I think they'll be able to grasp and understand appropriate workplace attire when they're a little closer to actually having a fulltime job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While I don't agree with either, at least the short sleeve shirts are more realistic. Although, are they gonna have a minimum sleeve length, or would cap sleeves be okay?

The shorts that go down to your knees is just ridiculous though. I don't wear shorts that long, ever. I certainly wouldn't expect a middle schooler to either.

I think this will just cause more problems and distractions for students and teachers with trying to patrol this. If their problem is all the work the current dresscode is causing, this certainly isn't going to help.

Wear slacks or jeans. Most adults don't wear shorts to work. It's OK for kids to perceive school as a place where more conservative dress is normal. Save the shorts for playing after school and on weekends.

There is not a chance in hell I would force either my son or daughter to wear jeans or pants to school, in June when it's 90+ degrees outside, to prepare them for working in 10 years. I think they'll be able to grasp and understand appropriate workplace attire when they're a little closer to actually having a fulltime job.

It's not to prepare them for work later on. It's to help instill the idea of respect for the school place now. I grew up here and always wore long pants of some sort to school -- and back then they were not always air conditioned like they are today. It's not torture or something.

[Anonymous]

Uniforms are the best way to go by far. It eliminates so many issues. I am speaking as both a parent and as a teacher.

[Anonymous]

Would LOVE to have uniforms in public school.

Frankly, I don't know where girls would buy clothes that go to their knees! I have a 7 year old and I hate leaving the 4-6X section now that we need 7-14 sizes. The clothes for size 7-14 are terrible and a good proportion of them are tight, short and sexy (and I'm o.k. with leggings being tight). My 7 year old does not need to dress like a teen trying to get a date with a 19 year old!

You will never find shorts that go to the knee, and I don't think shorts need to go to the knee to be appropriate (or skirts for that matter). I hate the daisy-dukes shorts! It's very hard to find shorts that are mid-way between daisy dukes and the knees.

That's why uniforms are the way to go, IMO.

If not uniforms, then I think the school could enforce short sleeves and some middle ground for shorts/skirts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:dress codes are necessary, becasue most parents let their kids leave the house in clothes only appropriate for a hooker.

As as high school teacher, I agree. And I'll add that certain items of clothing (or how they're worn) are associated with gangs.

School is not about fashion; it's about learning. I'm a fan of the uniform.

[Anonymous]

Our middle school dress code is similar to what your school's current code. My daughter is just starting there but had already heard through the grapevine about how strict teachers are with enforcing it. So much so that she went through her entire wardrobe to identify the clothes that would pass scrutiny.

I think what is being proposed doesn't make much sense - you may as well do the uniforms. The key really is enforcement and all teacher-leaders in the school need to be on the same page - otherwise it's just creating another code that no one will follow.

[Anonymous]

Do you really teach in "Loudon"?

[Anonymous]

Totally think this is important step. My brother worked with a lot teen workers this summer and very few of them had any sense of proper work attire. As he put it I should not have to question if you are hitting a club in work attire. He also had to instruct them that he should not be able to see their underwear whether it was a skirt, torn jeans or too minuscule of a tank top. Lots of home learning missing.