Are schools going too far?

[U570]

I've heard of all crazy things in schools; private school uniforms in public schools, kids in Britain being diagnosed with stress etc. It's just getting out of hand with-the-over the top approach to schools. With the uniforms, kids are getting pre-suspensions (playground exclusion, detentions etc.) for not wearing 'proper' school socks.

[Takeda Shingen]

Originally Posted by U570

I've heard of all crazy things in schools; private school uniforms in public schools, kids in Britain being diagnosed with stress etc. It's just getting out of hand with-the-over the top approach to schools. With the uniforms, kids are getting pre-suspensions (playground exclusion, detentions etc.) for not wearing 'proper' school socks.

Believe it or not, uniforms make a tremendous difference in student behavior. When I taught in a parochial school there was always a marked change in the students every time we had a dress down day. Most of the public school teachers that I know, including many of the ones I kept in touch with would love to have a uniform policy established.

[Diopos]

The uniform thing can be viewed (and handled) within two different contexts.

1. Traditional "old-school" discipline (mostly for its own sake) OR
2. As a lesson on equality and citizenship. Must go with an environment that promotes personality "growth". (We are "equal" but not "identical").

.

[U570]

Originally Posted by Diopos

The uniform thing can be viewed (and handled) within two different contexts.

1. Traditional "old-school" discipline (mostly for its own sake) OR
2. As a lesson on equality and citizenship. Must go with an environment that promotes personality "growth". (We are "equal" but not "identical").

.

I understand those, but even in these, there can be variations in the uniforms, even if it's just different brands, and about 2cm difference in the length of shorts etc. That's the way I've been taught, the same but different in a way

[Stealhead]

My sister can counter your claim she works for a parish(Louisiana version of county) school board as a teacher this school system has a uniform policy but only if the administrator deems them to be required.She has taught at schools requiring uniforms and those not she and fellow teachers(this was at a discussion involving a few teachers working for this same school system) agreed that the behavior was about the same at all schools uniform or no.

They all agreed that the best behaved school was the one that had no uniform requirement but had very strict rules on when the kids could talk they where not allowed to talk even during lunch which they all felt was overly strict.

If a teacher has never worked at a school that requires uniforms it stands to reason that they might assume that uniforms alone promote better behavior that does not mean that it true.I would argue that the kids at the dress down day school acted up a bit more do simply to the change of pace dress down feels more relaxed as a result one will feel more apt to act up a bit.If the cat is way the mice shall play make one rule more lax and down they all go.

[Takeda Shingen]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

My sister can counter your claim she works for a parish(Louisiana version of county) school board as a teacher this school system has a uniform policy but only if the administrator deems them to be required.She has taught at schools requiring uniforms and those not she and fellow teachers(this was at a discussion involving a few teachers working for this same school system) agreed that the behavior was about the same at all schools uniform or no.

They all agreed that the best behaved school was the one that had no uniform requirement but had very strict rules on when the kids could talk they where not allowed to talk even during lunch which they all felt was overly strict.

If a teacher has never worked at a school that requires uniforms it stands to reason that they might assume that uniforms alone promote better behavior that does not mean that it true.I would argue that the kids at the dress down day school acted up a bit more do simply to the change of pace dress down feels more relaxed as a result one will feel more apt to act up a bit.If the cat is way the mice shall play make one rule more lax and down they all go.

Perhaps. We're both citing anecdotal evidence so it is probable that the truth is somewhere in between. Where I know that you are absolutely right is in that the tone set by the school in terms of it's discipline policy is more important than any uniform policy. For that to work you need strong-willed teachers, but even moreso strong-willed administrators. Parents are typically in favor of tough discipline policies until their kid is in violation of the rules. A strong administrator will not cave to the parental complaints, regardless of how loud they get.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

Believe it or not, uniforms make a tremendous difference in student behavior. When I taught in a parochial school there was always a marked change in the students every time we had a dress down day. Most of the public school teachers that I know, including many of the ones I kept in touch with would love to have a uniform policy established.

Me too. First for the reason you just mentioned, second because pupils attentions get too much destracted on relatively unimportant things like having the latest of the latest gadgets and wearing the "in" fashion labels in order to be "cool".

Last time I dared to mention that over here to a group of students long time ago, who where studying to become school teachers, I got - in seriousness - called an authoritarian Prussian, and a Nazi .

Who said Germans have no sense of humour?