Are school dress codes outdated?

[JustGeorge]

My sister went to a high school with a uniform. There was still plenty of competition over the things where the dress code allowed for it: shoes, coats, backpacks, binders, etc.

Our district claimed uniforms would get rid of said competition, but like you note here, it doesn't. Then it becomes about brand names, hair styles, shoes, stores shopped at, etc...

 

[McBell]

There are extremes. Some kids will test it. In my high school 50 years ago, a couple of girls came obviously bra-less. Poor principal didn't know what to do.

Back in my old high school (one of them anyway) the girls were wearing really short shorts and skirts.
So short in fact, the district amended the dress code to specifically state "no shorts or skirts that reveal or show underwear are allowed".

So the girls who were wearing the really short shorts and skirts simply stopped wearing underwear...

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

At the school I worked at, (Canada) we were more concerned about drugs, illegal activities or overtly sexual slogans than the clothing itself. The punishment was to wear it inside out. Heck, a couple of teachers I knew dressed like hookers.

The one time any of my friends got into trouble for dress code issues was over a Sex Pistols shirt: one of the teachers took offense to the phrase "Never Mind the Bollocks." He had to wear the shirt inside out for the rest of the day and was told not to wear it to school again.

 

[Vinayaka]

Back in my old high school (one of them anyway) the girls were wearing really short shorts and skirts.
So short in fact, the district amended the dress code to specifically state "no shorts or skirts that reveal or show underwear are allowed".

So the girls who were wearing the really short shorts and skirts simply stopped wearing underwear...

Yup. Kids will be kids. Some miniskirts were truly mini. It was a fad for guys to go commando too, although that might be less noticeable.
When I taught junior high phys-ed, one kid flashed her then boyfriend. I inadvertently turned at that very moment. Poor kid couldn't look at me for the rest of the year.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Our district claimed uniforms would get rid of said competition, but like you note here, it doesn't. Then it becomes about brand names, hair styles, shoes, stores shopped at, etc...

There was another way that my sister and her friends kinda competed: sewing skill.

The way they came from the store, the uniforms weren't the most flattering or well-fitting things in the world, so there were at least a few people who made a game out of altering their uniforms so they fit better - and so that the skirts were shorter - without going so far that they got caught by staff.

 

[Twilight Hue]

The Bible and Koran both state a woman is to cover up so she doesn't arouse desires amd lusts in men.

I remember the debates about it.

I think its nice women dress conservatively or modestly, it's my preference, however I don't think it's really any problem if a woman wants to express her feminity either.

I agree it's a male issue as well by which men, while appreciative of the pleasantries of a woman figure , can still act and behave respectively and maintain the proper hemisphere as appropriate.

 

[wandering peacefully]

My sister went to a high school with a uniform. There was still plenty of competition over the things where the dress code allowed for it: shoes, coats, backpacks, binders, etc.

She and her friends would also still hang out together after school and on weekends when they wouldn't be in uniform.

I'm all for School uniforms. It would make it so much easier on EVERYONE. The parents don't need to worry about spending untold dollars on the latest fashions even if they cannot afford it. It does away with so much time and pressure on every kid trying to decide "what to wear " and the great distress on kids who just cannot afford to keep up with the cliques and their latest fashions and end up feeling left out or ostracized. Even the wealthy kids can drop the tension of making sure they look up to par with their peers. It just makes sense all around to me.
Is there seriously any one who has not either been judgemental about what other kids wear or felt judged by what they are able to wear when in grade school? Leave the fashion statements and desired styles for all other times besides class time.

 

[PureX]

Worst 'photo editing' job, ever!

 

[Shadow Wolf]

It's not about it being a yearbook. On the left is a photograph and on the right is a photograph of a photograph, hence the general loss of quality, including the colour.

It's looks to me deliberate editing because even the background has a purple showing that isn't in the original. It's in the yearbook picture. Especially today, a picture of a picture would look more like the original. The yearbook picture makes her look jaundiced.

 

[crossfire]

The school should not be allowed to edit student portraits. Either keep them as-is or hide the whole thing and only have the student's name. That'll fine-tune the dress code if anything.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I'm all for School uniforms. It would make it so much easier on EVERYONE. The parents don't need to worry about spending untold dollars on the latest fashions even if they cannot afford it. It does away with so much time and pressure on every kid trying to decide "what to wear " and the great distress on kids who just cannot afford to keep up with the cliques and their latest fashions and end up feeling left out or ostracized. Even the wealthy kids can drop the tension of making sure they look up to par with their peers. It just makes sense all around to me.
Is there seriously any one who has not either been judgemental about what other kids wear or felt judged by what they are able to wear when in grade school? Leave the fashion statements and desired styles for all other times besides class time.

Uniforms can be more expensive than what the parents are getting, kids will find other things bully and judge over, deciding what to appropriate clothing to wear is a part of life, it won't end or address cliques, and those from wealth will still have ways of flashing the cash.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I remember the debates about it.

I think its nice women dress conservatively or modestly, it's my preference, however I don't think it's really any problem if a woman wants to express her feminity either.

I agree it's a male issue as well by which men, while appreciative of the pleasantries of a woman figure , can still act and behave respectively and maintain the proper hemisphere as appropriate.

If people actually followed the Bible, lots of women here would be dressed more like Amish or Mennonite women.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

But have they gotten too strict these days?

When I was in high school they actually tried to require and enforce guys wear a belt, even if they didn't have a problem with sagging pants. Some conformed to it, many didn't.
Spaghetti straps where also a no. Didn't matter if breasts were showing or not. Apparently shoulders are sexualized.

 

[Kooky]

People get far too hung up over fashion and dress codes, in my opinion. Personally, I couldn't care less what either my students or my colleagues are wearing, or even if they are wearing anything at all.

If somebody were to take offense, then they might be in need of being taught how to get over it.

 

[Twilight Hue]

If people actually followed the Bible, lots of women here would be dressed more like Amish or Mennonite women.

Is that a good or bad thing,?

 

[Twilight Hue]

I love the garb from India both men and women.

Bright attractive colors.

Modest and comfortable looking.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Is that a good or bad thing,?

I see it as bad when it is forced.
I personally don't like dressing to desex and hide what makes our bodies males amd females. Overdoing it isn't good either, but we need to learn to have a healthy appreciation for our bodies and sexualities.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I see it as bad when it is forced.
I personally don't like dressing to desex and hide what makes our bodies males amd females. Overdoing it isn't good either, but we need to learn to have a healthy appreciation for our bodies and sexualities.

I think that's the crux of the issue. Whenever something is forced.

It's healthy I think for one to accentuate the qualities of one's sex. It's certainly complimentary and pleasant when those qualities are present.

Your right however that overdoing it may or may not create complications and mixed messages in doing so.

 

[Stevicus]

I think it very much depends on culture and country. Is this is an American only discussion, or are other countries like Britain, Saudi Arabia, or India included?

I didn't intend it as an American only discussion. I'd be interested in how other countries tackle this issue.

 

[Vinayaka]

I didn't intend it as an American only discussion. I'd be interested in how other countries tackle this issue.

When I was in India (and Mauritius), because it's the norm, they would be surprised that somewhere else didn't have uniforms. Education is really valued there by society. In Mauritius, if you see a kid of student age on a school day not in school, you are obliged to call the authorities. It's a truancy law. Students have to either be at school or at home ill. I'm guessing that world wide it's far more common to have uniforms than not. State supplied of course.

Here's the info by country ... School uniforms by country - Wikipedia

I see some require country national colours.