Parents, Students Protest School Fashion Police

It's not having a dress code that's inherently the problem, but this one seems to go too far in three big ways. First, they're enforcing rules that aren't written down anywhere - how are kids (or parents, for that matter) supposed to know that something that seems appropriate is actually a violation if it's not included in the official written policy? Second, their policy has very little to do with not creating distractions in the classroom. When's the last time someone got distracted by a collarbone? What about plaid or striped shirts causes an issue? Are floral prints really a problem? I understand that teenagers tend to dress as trashy as they can get away with, but surely it's not the prints that are a problem.

Third...have you tried finding teen clothes lately that don't have logos? From the shirts to the shoes to the bags, they're everywhere. If the school is that concerned, they should issue an actual, standard uniform and be done with it. The way they have the policy now, it's largely unworkable, both in writing and in practice.

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I live in Richmond and have read the comments that were left. A couple people have stated that there is nothing in the dress code that prohibits plaids or prints. You are correct that the wording is not there. But according to Dr. Bourff and the School Board Members last night when they say "plain" they meant nothing on the shirts. If they wanted it that way, they should have spelled it out in full, not leave it up to interpretation. Children were being suspended for logos on their pants, layered plain tees, white tees under their plain polo shirts, colored stitching on their pants, or their collar bone showing. This has become quite an issue here and it could have been avoided if the School Board would have issued a complete and spelled out dress code.

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When kids are being beat up and robbed for their clothes in this day and age I think it's fine to have uniforms. The most important thing about school is learning not what you are wearing. If kids are being hounded because they can't afford name brand clothes or being beat up for their clothes then uniforms are the best way to go. My problem with it is they keep changing it. We just got all my nephews clothes for school and now we get a paper informing us they changed the colors again. Now we have all the colors from last year that we are stuck with. Who can afford that with this economy? It sure beats looking at them in jeans that are five sizes too big with the waistband below their butt cheeks and boxers hanging out.

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american students consistently score lower than kids from other countries on geography and other tests. many american kids can't even find the u.s. on a map, or name the continents.

wearing school uniforms is the norm across the globe, and the students do better in school.

i love fashion and enjoy putting cute clothes on my toddler, but i hope she will go to a school where uniforms are required. it puts everyone on a level playing field and keeps kids more focused on their learning. there is too much emphasis on looking sexy, tough, rich, etc., these days.

Without strict, clear guidelines, school administrators enforce rules arbitrarily and often unfairly. My younger sister was sent to the office when she was about 7 for wearing a scarf on her hair- she likes '70's style fashions. The school said scarves were banned as a gang symbol. When she was a few years older, she had a tank top on under another shirt. The lace edge of the tank peeked out and she was sent home for wearing visible "underwear".

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Some of the teachers could use a dress code. Teachers in jeans and flip-flops look ridiculous--like they just blew in from the beach.

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isisaquaria 8-26-2009 @ 2:51PM
People get your head out of your ass....

Outside of the obvouis, no boobs, butts or bellies showing, let kids live OMG And for pete's sake--trust most parents to have guidelines....

The parents of these unruley kids are running America today and you want us to trust them for anything. I wouldnt trust most adults to watch my dog.

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This is absolutely ridiculous. I'm a high school student, and I must say that most people don't judge other kids by what they wear, unless it is extremely absurd. This school should employ uniforms because clothes without any designs on them are nearly impossible to find.
I hate the idea of uniforms because, THERE ARE NO GOOD SIDES TO THEM. I don't think they would have an impact on bullying or people paying attention. People are bullied because they act extremely...odd, different, and their behavior goes beyond acceptable standards of behavior. Because everyone looks alike does not ensure that people will pay attention. Also, uniforms are more expensive than normal clothes. So much for "cost-effective." So what are the other arguments for uniforms? Oh, they're easier than picking our normal clothes. How hard is it to pick out clothes for the day, really? Come on. That's the most pathetic excuse I've ever heard.

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Everyone has a different idea of appropriate. My children went to private school and wore a uniform for 12 years. I know for a fact that it is much cheaper to wear them than buy street clothes. Why are parents fighting this? Uniforms are such a no brainer. When the kids are all dressed the same, other things become important such as classes and homework. Don't you ever wonder why private school children do so well?

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It's a point to have a dress code or uniform code. But it's totally different whne you decide you're goping to be a bunch of fashion nazis. What do you think you are? GQ? I think not. Suspended for plaid? What if the kid is scottish? If they're not dressed up as a thug or some kind of hooker. Let them be. But whne the dress code gets to that extreme. Then the people on the board need mental help on an epic scale. Otherwise supply the kids with uniforms. Or simply shut up. This is a school not the ilitary. Or a military school.

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Geez, since when have the 1970s plaids, golf tartans, and Scottish woolies been banned... I think it's discriminatory on the basis of National Origin. Maybe school administrators should see the '50s musical Forever Plaid. Have to love the Buchanan, Stewart, and Black Watches!

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Well said. couldn't agree with you more.

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What is the primary reason to go to school ? To get an education. If you go to catholic school, you have to wear uniform. You do not want, you go some place else. Uniform is cheaper, you can get by with four sets a year. You do not have to go and buy new outfits all the time.

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Uniforms in school? Hmmm. When I was in school, one of my favorite publications was National Geographic. I remember many articles on the old Soviet Union. In every one there were always pics of school children.....IN UNIFORMS. White shirts/blouses, navy blue pants/skirts, red ties. UNIFORMS. For chrissakes the WORLD isn't going to end if a kid wears a plaid!

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Everyone has a different idea of appropriate. My children went to private school and wore a uniform for 12 years. I know for a fact that it is much cheaper to wear them than buy street clothes. Why are parents fighting this? Uniforms are such a no brainer. When the kids are all dressed the same, other things become important such as classes and homework. Don't you ever wonder why private school children do so well?

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Kids have to learn to obey the rules once they graduate from school or collage there are a lot of rules when you go out to work. every job has a dress code one way or another. I would like to know how the school board members dress. Do they wear logo, plaids!.

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That's pretty damn strict, but other than that I think uniforms are a good idea in school. They are not that expensive. Society is degrading. Parents today suck: they teach their kids nothing about discipline, manners or respect. The kids all dress like sluts or slobs. The clothes are all either too tight or they hang off of their ass. If a kid doesn't even have the self-respect to dress like a decent human being, how can you expect them to respect a workplace environment? It's possible to express your individuality and still wear uniforms. Millions of kids do it every day at school. It's called having a personality that doesn't revolve around just yourself. Yes, I know, that's sooo out of style.

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I'm still trying to grasp the reasoning behind "no plaids, strips or prints"? I can understand requiring tops with crew-type necklines, skirts at knee length, dungarees sans holes in strategic places, clothing without messages printed on them, but restrictions as to color and patterns is beyond my meager comprehension. And it is a little tough these days to find clothing without a manufacturer's logo printed or embroidered somewhere. Personally, I won't buy clothing with manufacturer's logos as I'll be damned if I'll pay the big bucks to advertise for them!

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One thing not mentioned is that RCS has a high population of students on Free/Reduced lunches (I believe it is around 69%). Many parents in our area have lost jobs due to businesses closing or moving operations to other countries. They either have taken minimum wage jobs or still collecting unemployment. These families simply cannot keep running out and buy clothing just to make the school board happy. Many rely on hand me downs or second hand stores.

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This does seem to go a little far. My daughter attends a private high school and they require no tank tops. Shorts and dresses need to be at the knee length. In other words no "night club wear".
I understand the schools complaining about the boys who wear their pants too low or the girls showing too much skin but no plaid and stripes? I would be interested to know what their reasoning behind it is.

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