Are schools going too far?

[Platapus]

Every few years the question of school uniforms comes up in North Virginia. I remember one year we were discussing it with The Frau's daughter who was, then, just entering highschool.

Her daughter was against the idea of school uniforms as it stifles individuality.

I informed her that she already wears a school uniform, which she vehemently denied.

I pointed out that she wears exactly what her peer group wears, down to the colour and brand (and sometimes cleanliness) When her peer group changes style, she immediately changes her style to match her peer group. If her peer group does not wear something, neither will she. Where, exactly is the individuality?



Perhaps it is due to my military life, but I still wear a "uniform" when I go do work. While it is way too hot to wear a suit where I work, I do wear dress slacks, shirt and tie. It is a form of uniform. It makes me feel more professional and I hope it makes me look more professional. Since most of my work is based on a trustworthy relationship with my client, I feel that this "uniform" is appropriate.

Also my mommy told me to always dress for your next job.

[August]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Schools will pride themselves on voting in homosexual prom queens and kings. But stop a young man from bringing in a date who just happenes to be a porn star to a prom?

Sexual orientation has nothing to do with it. I'm quite sure that the school would have prevented the young man from bringing a gay porn star as well.

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Also my mommy told me to always dress for your next job.

That's why I dress as either Batman or a pirate every day. Fingers crossed!

[Onkel Neal]

Pros and cons for school uniforms, as a parent of three daughters, I am solidly in favor on nice slacks and polos for all students. To heck with individuality, are we really going to bat for that in this age? There's already plenty of it. Uniform dress definitely solves a lot of problems with students--don't forget, they are there to learn and in this country, we need all the help we can get with teaching students.

[kiwi_2005]

We have had school uniforms since the dawn of time, one thing as a parent back in the day is you buy 2 sets of uniform and that was that for the whole year when it came to school clothes for the kids. They won't worry about how they look with uniforms bcos they all dress the same they all look like dorks so there is no fashion worries no peer pressure. And yes the boys uniform was a bit dorky, grey shorts, grey socks which had to be pulled up to the knees if socks were found down to their ankles it was a reported detention. Black shoes, grey shirt, grey jersey & a yellow green jacket for winter. Only senior students were allowed to wear long trousers during winter the juniors had to brave the cold & to bad if you lived in the south island of NZ you then had to brave the snow - girls were allowed to wear black stockings in winter. No jewelry, no nose piercing no dyed hair.

edit
NZ is a bit different to American education we have primary and secondary schooling.

Primary schooling ages 5 to 12 = no uniform unless its a private christian school then its uniform.

Secondary (college) ages 13 to 18 = uniform

18 onwards polytech or university = no uniform

[Stealhead]

We live in a confused society it seems people are supposed to be successful but to be successful in most jobs you have to out perform the other person or group that is doing the same thing that you are doing.At the same time people are focused to heavily on individuality what ever that means none really is an individual everyone conforms to a given groups rules you have no choice humans naturally distrust any person that does not conform to the rules of a given group.

Many people are focused so heavily on not making anyone feel bad about something or offending someone that they go overboard.If we keep going down the road we are on(or that many are on) we are headed for trouble.

Every person is an individual but every person also conforms to some given groups rules for fear that they be outcast of the group they wish to be accepted by which to me makes the argument that kids should express individuality by wearing clothes is a stupid argument they will still separate into clicks no matter what.So is the idea of no contact between kids at all during school so what if some other kid gets upset because he sees Billy and Joe hive five each other maybe he should try and make some friends instead of getting hurt by the site of two friends interacting.If the people you want to be friends with do not accept you because of the clothes you wear then they are unless anyway and even when wearing uniforms the kids will still group themselves they know whose parents have money and whose do not and all the other factors that form clicks.

One thing that I loved about high school(mine was a no uniform school) was my interaction with class mates.I did not follow the normal rules I was friends with people because I liked something about them not what what clothes they wore or how much money they had or what classes they where in.It was funny because some peers did not like me simply for this reason and some teachers did not either for the same reason.

It was the same in the military as well some people did not like me for that reason either more than likely because they knew that I knew that they where superficial.

[Rockstar]

Originally Posted by August

Sexual orientation has nothing to do with it. I'm quite sure that the school would have prevented the young man from bringing a gay porn star as well.

The way i see it the common denominator is sex whether it is ones preference or job. And quiet frankly who said she was working? And not that I agree with either one because I don't. But it does appear to be somewhat discriminating. One group whose desire it is to have homosexual intercourse is ok. But the women who might desire voyeurism and whose job it is to engage in sex is not.