SCHOOL UNIFORMS: Yay or Nay?

[jinx]

Nay.

I've been to schools with and without uniforms growing up, and they don't make a bit of difference when it comes to being bullied. I was bullied throughout my childhood and well into my teens. At least without the uniforms I felt like I could express myself while I was at school (No, I didn't always wear all black). When I was picked on, it wasn't because of my clothes. In-fact, I can't ever remember anybody being picked on because of what they were wearing (other than glasses).

Uniforms were never provided to us. This meant that my grandparents had to purchase both regular clothes and uniforms.

[Zing]

Many of the comments here feel like the results I would get if I made a poll for kids that said "ice cream for breakfast?"

[ZeroAX]

Many of the comments here feel like the results I would get if I made a poll for kids that said "ice cream for breakfast?"

Really? To me some of the comments here feel like the results I would get if I made a poll for fanatic Islamists that said "pork for lunch?"

[CRTGAMER]

I don't think uniforms would have much a difference on U.S. kids. But I say Yey to them, it might actually solve a lot of problems. As long as they are provided free by the school system.

NO. That government funded uniform costs the Taxpayer a lot more then buying from the store. Why should I as a Taxpayer pay for your kids clothes? Justifying all the other "freebie" programs is not an answer either, somebody has to pay all the over priced government sponsored programs.

The banter on the last few pages does bring another point. I don't think uniforms should be mandated just to ease headaches of a parent in telling their kids what to wear. However, a school should not have to battle what is allowed to wear or not for every single kid such as that silly dollar bill skirt measurement, maybe why the uniform makes dress code enforcement that much easier?

[Forlorn Drifter]

I don't understand why hair color would be a big deal. Hard to argue that it disrupts class, and no one thinks hair dye is indecent anymore. My school even had rules for tattoos - anything is fine as long as it isn't obscene. Lots of teenage girls got lots of stupid tats

Teaching abstinence instead of "safe sex" is good, but hardly the best. I think the government and school system has no right to teach kids about sex at all. WTF? It's a completely private matter, best left to the family...though I found out when I was five, reading my grandpa' encyclopedia. Also, isn't it completely irresponsible to allow textbook companies or the government to form kids' opinions on these things?

Well, the argument is that it would disrupt class. I don't really see it as an issue though, it isn't as all common for people to die hair non natural colors here. Tattoos at our school MUST be covered at all times, no questions. If, for example, you have an arm tattoo and wear a short sleeve shirt, you must wear an athletic sleeve (those spandex style things some athletes wear), or they cover it with duct tape.

And the sex-ed stuff can be opted out of. You have to have a parent sign a release form to even see it if you are under 18. I think teaching abstinence is a better option, there's too many people running around having sex willy-nilly, sometimes even putting hippies to shame.

[CRTGAMER]

I don't understand why hair color would be a big deal. Hard to argue that it disrupts class, and no one thinks hair dye is indecent anymore.

Well, the argument is that it would disrupt class. I don't really see it as an issue though, it isn't as all common for people to die hair non natural colors here.

Someone earlier mentioned no hats in the classroom. I was thinking because it was polite not to wear a hat indoors, but maybe as not to block a student's view sitting behind? Different colored hair is now a norm so not disrupting, but what of say a spiked mohawk blocking one's view of the white board?

[AppleQueso]

And the sex-ed stuff can be opted out of. You have to have a parent sign a release form to even see it if you are under 18. I think teaching abstinence is a better option, there's too many people running around having sex willy-nilly, sometimes even putting hippies to shame.

The problem is that abstinence doesn't work. In fact, states that heavily push abstinence-only sex education actually have higher teen pregnancy rates than states that offer more comprehensive sex education.

Teens are going to have sex, period. The only thing you can do is teach them to be safe while doing so.

[Forlorn Drifter]

And the sex-ed stuff can be opted out of. You have to have a parent sign a release form to even see it if you are under 18. I think teaching abstinence is a better option, there's too many people running around having sex willy-nilly, sometimes even putting hippies to shame.

The problem is that abstinence doesn't work. In fact, states that heavily push abstinence-only sex education actually have higher teen pregnancy rates than states that offer more comprehensive sex education.

Teens are going to have sex, period. The only thing you can do is teach them to be safe while doing so.

Well, I'm not saying it does work, by any means. I just think people, and society in general, has become way to oversexed in general. I still think sex is too emotional of a thing for the majority of people for it to be something you can just do and walk away.

@CRT
Hats are generally more of a politeness thing at our school, but I could see an argument made for sight issues. With stuff like mohawks, its absolutely a no-go. Haircuts have specific rules, no mohawks being one of them. Hair for boys is supposed to be above the collar, but that one isn't usually enforced. You also aren't able to have any shapes or signs shaved into the side of your head.

[Menegrothx]

Well, I'm not saying it does work, by any means. I just think people, and society in general, has become way to oversexed in general. I still think sex is too emotional of a thing for the majority of people for it to be something you can just do and walk away.

That's the problem. Schools aren't going to have any effect on the problem as long as there is popular culture that glorifies sex, women's liberation movement and the common notion that "successful man=popular with women". Then there's the fact that the music that sells the best and is most popular amongst teenagers is rap and pop music that glorifies sex and partying and the fact that movies, TV and internet are full of it. The only thing you'll achieve by not teaching kids in school about it is a higher teenage pregnancy rate (and as a result, more crime, poverty etc). It won't have any effect on kids morality. It seems to me like a burying your head in the sand kind of reaction.

[Luke]

Why should I as a Taxpayer pay for your kids clothes?

Trust me, a lot of the tax money that goes to textbooks is wasted too, but taxes aren't allocated equally.

Hats are generally more of a politeness...

Hats are for events and games, and although it doesn't bother me when someone dons a hat indoors I would rather they not. It also seems to be the pet peeve of ECU professors, and at every exam they would snidely announce "To those who who wear hats indoors, turn them to the catcher's position". I'm sure with the flat bills kids are wearing they could put a ton of cheat sheet on the bill.