So far, I have discussed uniforms, strict dress codes and harsh punishments that come along with violating school dress codes, but how harsh can a school get in the name of "discipline?" 

I was on YouTube, our generation's most valuable site (good job Google), and I found this CRAZY news story about a middle school in Vancouver, Washington. The principal at McLaughlin Middle School called the police after some of his students protested the newly enforced dress code. Yes, the man called the police on some middle schoolers!

I’m all for enforcing rules, but I mean, wow! What was this man thinking? Can you imagine? These kids will have an arrest on their record just for standing up for something they believed to be wrong. This would have been a perfect opportunity to show those children how out democracy works and that having a voice is very important. Instead, this man acted as if he was scared of preteens and had them arrested. This was such an over-exaggeration; I don’t know what else to say about it other than that this reaction was pathetic, cowardly, and lazy. I hope the parents will help their “menace to society” children find a positive lesson out of this. There’s always a silver lining even if it’s hard to find.

Another ACLU Invasion

First, I would like to say that I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday and got to eat plenty of turkey.

Secondly, I would like to talk about the ACLU's (American Civil Liberties Union) law suit. The suit is against Easton Area Middle School in Easton, Pennsylvania. The school suspended two students for wearing the popular "I (Heart) Boobies" bracelets. These certain bracelets are everywhere in America in support of breast cancer, but in this particular school district, the bracelets are banned no matter what the true message is. The school says that the bracelets are very distracting to the students and "trivializes a serious illness." Students, parents, and of course the ACLU argue that it is a violation of the kids' free speech civil liberties. 

Personally, the lawsuit is a waste of money. I don't think this is a violation of the two girls’ civil liberties. I do agree with the school in Easton that the bracelets are a distraction to the students, especially in a middle school. We all remember our middle school days and how our minds worked. I mean it’s just a bracelet. What these parents should be more concerned about is teaching these kids safe sex and sexually transmitted diseases, but that’s another topic for another time. One of the girls’ mothers argued that if the teachers can wear breast cancer awareness shirts, then the students should be able to participate in the awareness campaign as well. This I agree with; be that as it may, I have not abandoned my position alongside of the school. There are plenty of ways to involve students in breast cancer awareness. Wearing a certain bracelet is not their only option. Easton Area Middle School should lessen the girls’ punishment and involve the students and teachers in another area of awareness; anybody can hold a fundraiser.

When Dress Code Effects a Student's Safety

Now this video absolutely blew my mind when I first watched it. Salinas High School has made their dress code so strict that students are only allowed to wear certain colors. This is not to be confused with a uniform. The students, and I imagine some of the teachers, are not allowed to wear anything red or blue. Yes, nothing red nothing blue. This includes hair ties, shoes, shoe laces, hats, etc. In the interview, the principal, I believe, states that this rule has been implemented to protect the students from gang violence and those things related to it.

This brings up a completely different topic other than which I have been talking about; gangs and its participants that are still in high school. Now, I cannot begin to give my opinion on this policy because honestly, I still can't rap my head around the fact that gang violence is that bad! WOW!

Do you all think that the Salinas School Board is over reacting? Or perhaps do they have a larger problem on their hands that ultimately they may not have much control over? Interesting...

Dress Code or Prison?

This might actually be the most drastic, undeveloped idea that a school district could ever have! I was on youtube.com and came across this news piece where Gonzales High School has made the rule that if a student chooses to violate dress code, they will not be allowed to call home or be dismissed from school. Instead, the student will be able to put on a fashionable and oh-so-comfortable JUMPSUIT! Yes, I said it, a jumpsuit, but don't worry, it won't be that typical bright orange.

I'm all for a dress code and/or uniforms but this "punishment" is ridiculous. If I was the type of person to rebel against the set rules, I would but my own jumpsuit and come to class in it. Take that Gonzales High School!

Benefits in school uniforms

I was just recently asked to be more specific in the beneficial areas that uniforms or dress codes may have in the school system. I thought that I had already done that in my first post about this issue, but there is always room to continually break down and analyse a topic.

For one, a dress code promotes a lessen number in disciplinary issues. In my last post, I briefly brought u gang related issues that could cause disciplinary conflict within a school. One way to find out what gang or group someone belongs to is a distinctive tattoo, something shaved into their haircut, or an article of clothing. A dress code would definitely minimize any chances of that. Dress codes would also lessens any chances of theft for a certain pair of expensive shoes, jewelery, etc.

As far as academically, uniforms have shown to allow students to concentrate better which improves test scores. I could go on but I rather give you this LINK to the statistics concerning the benefits of uniforms in schools.

Still talking about Karen Wagner HS

In my last blog, I really wanted you, the viewers', opinions on Karen Wagner High School's dress code. But now, I feel as if I should express my feelings on the matter.

Wagner's dress code is necessary for that school district. It achieves both the wanting of individuality that the students so desperately feel comes partly from whatever they are wearing, and it also achieves the academic benefits and lower rate of discipline problems. Even though it's extreme and that uniforms would less expensive, the school board has accomplished its goals. 

I would also like to respond to my recent comments:

One comment brought up the limited alloted hair styles at Karen Wagner as it pertains to keeping discipline issues down. I hardly believe that the fact a student was found out of dress code because his Mohawk could of started some kind of gang fight. When dress codes are as confined as uniforms are, school boards usually try to incorporate hairstyles, make-up, jewelery, and even shoes and socks to make it more complete. In my mind, if I'm going to make rules telling kids or young adults what kind of jeans, shirts, shoes, and even socks, let's control it all the way around and add in hairstyles and jewelery too. But even my uniformed school wasn't as strict as Karen Wagner High School. That would probably the one thing I would have a problem with: how are a group of people who most likely can't even pronounce my name let alone spell it tell me how to wear my hair?!

Now to the other comment that was made: if you think that a standardized dress code is unacceptable, how to you propose to have a job? Think about it, even McDonald's has a uniform! Any business that you will apply for unless it is your own, there will be a dress code because it represents your attention to detail, respect for the position you want, and darn it just looks good! But what if you will have your own business? You still would have to "dress to impress" or guess what, conform to a dress code, when you go and apply for a business loan. And yes, there are other factors that are involved in that last example, but you understand my point.

Another thought

I have a question. If you are or were against uniforms in schools, are you against a strict dress code as well?

I thought about this after a comment I received on my last post. The person said that uniforms are just plain ugly, among other things, which got me to thinking. I never viewed uniforms as a certain set of colors an plaids, but as a strict standard of what students may or may not wear to school.

I have a cousin that attends Karen Wagner High School in San Antonio, and their dress code is outrageous to me! If you thought that the typical uniforms could cause a controversy then you have no idea. Students are only allowed to wear jeans without rips, fade, or ragged tears, they have to have clear backpacks, and they are only allowed to wear shirts with a collar on them but no logo. Now I don't know how well you have been paying attention at the mall, but clothing lie this is a little hard to find and definitely can be expensive.  These rules were set in place to ensure the same results as school uniforms allow, and also give the student their "individuality." But is it really worth it especially in today's economy? I mean theoretically it seems great, but is it harder and more expansive then just saying, "hey, we're going to start wearing uniforms. You can purchase them at your nearest Wal-Mart."

Don't read too much into it

I have a few things that are on my mind and I feel that they need to be addressed (pertaining to the topic of school uniforms, of course).

First, I had a comment and they brought up a good question, but of course I have a good answer. The question, or comment really, was even though uniforms are readily available and inexpensive these days, it adds on to the cost of the students wardrobe as a whole. I do not agree with this at all. If a student needs to purchase uniforms, WHY IN THE WORLD would they buy "street clothes" at the same time? If they have to wear a certain set of clothes 5 days a week that are essentially cheaper than the clothes that they would usually buy, I see a DECREASE in costs, not an increase. A student wouldn't have to add to their everyday wardrobe unless their clothes are too tattered or no longer fit properly. WHEW! Alright enough with that one.

So, back in 2000, a Philadelphia school decided to implement uniforms to enhance school academic performances. When the school board presented this at a meeting, one student said that it wouldn't help with disciplinary issues but only worsen them; saying that the once "good kids" would want to rebel because they're being made to look like everyone else.

Now, not to be blunt or rude but COME ON! I laughed when I read that. My question is what makes him think that uniforms are going to change every students biological chemistry? If I wore the exact same thing as every college student in Austin, Texas, I guarantee that I will look nothing like any of them. Maybe that's the problem. Maybe kids these days can only identify themselves with what they wear or what they have instead of their intelligence and personality.

When the lobbyist groups get involved

I've been thinking a lot about "uniforms" and why I'm so gung-ho for them. I was brainwashed.... in a sense. Yes, I've spent most of my educational years wearing them so I didn't know any better. So I decided to see what the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) had to say. You know they have an opinion about everything leaning toward the Republican view.

 The ACLU stepped into a situation in Rhode Island where parents were opposed to the changing of all public schools to require uniforms. The parents said that the uniforms would be too costly and that they wouldn't improve the environment or performance of the students.

I find this lazy of the parents. I mean really... Wal-Mart now sells uniforms. H.E.B (if you're in Texas), Academy... take your pick! Please tell me none of you actually agree with this. I think changing to uniforms is not that serious. But then again, there's always going to be that one parent who has to complain.

I'm not lookin at your shoes

The one thing that I have been exposed to, like many college students, is the opinions of my peers. Coming from a small town where everyone seems to think the same on most issues, it never occurred to me that not everyone will agree with what I think or what I say. Mainly, the opinions that have seemed to "shock" me (for lack of better words), are those pertaining to uniforms in schools.

As someone who has been in a uniform for 13 out of the 21yrs of life that I have under my belt, uniforms are "essentially" terrific! Uniforms typically come from a strict set of rules pertaining to clothing. So if you think of uniforms with that definition, you have to wear a "uniform" to work as well. But people tend to think of uniforms as everyone in a school wearing the exact same thing; the girls in skirts and a polo shirt and the boys in khaki pants with a shirt and tie. That is how the rules at my school were.

Uniforms tend to promote a lessened number in disciplinary issues, a sense of professionalism depending on how strict the uniform rules are, and  a higher academic standards. So with all my thoughts, would you be alright with wearing the same thing as most of your classmates in high school?