When I was in middle school ('70's), mini skirts were pretty standard among a wide assortment of clothing styles, but nothing unusual viewed about short skirts. It has surprised me in more recent years to encounter some adults, and in the school system, who are taken back by them.

I totally agree. Attempts to implement uniforms, curfews, ect. were meant to help control rowdy kids. The problem is, the kids are like this because this is how they have been poorly raised by the baby boomers population or the children of baby boomers. Think about it, drugs, violence, and the increasing rebellion with each decade as it goes by. I think that uniforms (whether right or wrong) have only been implemented in public schools in an attempt to control the rowdy kids that only act that way because there parents have not raised them correctly. I think (as conservative as this might sound) that we need some way to make the parents have a bigger burden of responcibility. Some of them oviously don't tink that raising their kid(s) is that important. We should make so that the parent(s) can't go to work if their kid(s) don't abide the laws or they have to take parenting classes throughout the kid(s) earlier life if they are found to not spend enough time with their child(ren).

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-Tdkocher

Here is my view on the whole "First Amendment: A Constitutional Analysis."

People may argue the fact that students wearing uniforms in public schools is outrageous & takes away from a Childs freedom of expression and individuality, yet there are the many places that uniforms are implemented. For example:

- Sports (Baseball, Football, Soccer, Tennis, Skateboarding, Bicycling) the list goes on.

- After school academics (Girl scouts, Boy scouts, Gymnastics, Ballet, Dance, Karate, Choir) and again the list goes on.

If children were able to wear whatever they wanted to these events they wouldn't know which side of the team they were playing on? These uniforms distinguish what we are or what organization we belong too. Wearing a school uniform expresses the education organization, "we are being educated."

A child has all the rights outside of an educational environment to express themselves, however they do not realize that ability to freely act on Freedom of Expression through educational expression. We all get so caught up in the Jone's life that we forget what our future goals are. Parents and children are so focused on name branding and herding into the corral instead of the real reason they get their child up in the morning, dressed, fed, and on the bus to school.

As a child, I wished I wore a uniform to school so I didn't have to worry about the comments from other students that I wasn't wearing the same thing they were. I wished I didn't have to stare aimlessly in my closet or my drawer at what might pop out at me that wouldn't draw attention to me. I also didn't enjoy seeing the panic stricken look on my mothers' face at the end of the summer and she had to buy clothes for all of her children, and then buy more a couple months down the road because of growth spurts. The school or State should implement a perfect / mint condition trade in for these instances so to lesson the cost for parents through the school year or, an End of The Year Trade in program under the same stipulation that the uniform is in excellent condition. People have no problem shopping at consignment stores or for some dance schools to have a leotard turn-in program for new students; which lessons the cost to the parent when starting a student in an academic.

When we grow up and go to work, whether it be in an office, professional career, military, or hospital we dress the part. So, why not dress the part when we are being educated? Freedom on expression can flow through talents, we don't have to pay high prices for our children to express themselves or have our children pay to wear the painted shirt that expresses another human's individuality? While individuality is key, there can be a way to do it while in uniform vogue..."Support you school colors!" We buy the t-shirts, hats, towels, and whatever else the school sells that let people know wheat school we attend.

You're forgetting that these were a choice, and not forced.

And why is that necessary?

And you think making the administrators and teachers more interested in enforcing uniform rules and dress codes will help this?

That's your personal choice. You have no right to force that choice on other people.

so I didn't have to worry about the comments from other students that I wasn't wearing the same thing they were.[/quote]

I have never seen this happen in my life. Kids have come to school in sombreros and banana suits and still haven't been teased. I find these statements hard to believe.

That's your personal choice.

How will overpriced uniforms remedy this?

So we should turn schools and everyone involved into a mini socialist country? "Not everyone can afford this therefore no one can have it"?


You're forgetting that you choose where you work.

People are free to choose to wear uniforms if they want. Taking away more of student's freedoms will just make them more rebellious. My school is doing just fine without uniforms. I don't want to ruin that.

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"A gun is a tool, Marian. No better, no worse than any other tool. An axe, a shovel, or anything. A gun is as good or as bad as the man using it. Remember that."

Shane

"If you talk to God you are religious. If God talks back you're delusional."

Dr. House

Oh well, I might as well chime in. I am opposed to uniforms in public schools. I personally think one of the major distinctions between public and private schools is the difference between choosing to become part of a conforming body or expressing individuality.

I was of the "mini-skirt"/ hot pants era when the dress code was abolished in my high school. I do recall my best friend being sent home for wearing what amounted to a 3" swath of material across her behind, but as long as students are dressed in a manner that they would be able to be served in a restaurant, I see no need for forcing them all to wear uniforms.

I stumbled onto this forum by accident, while researching an unrelated topic on the web. I became increasingly fastinated as I read "pro" and "con" views that were evidently posted over a period of time. I was disappointed to find that the vast majority of the views posted (both pro and con) were not carefully thought out, were poorly written, and were based more on emotion than logic. That is, until I read the message left by Ree1121.

One of the first things I noticed was his (her?) writing style. He actually took the time to construct sentences correctly, choose words carefully, and check spelling and punctuation. He had evidently thought this subject through before he began to write, and he tied his views back to personal experiences.

Regardless of the position I take in a debate, I respect someone who takes the time to prepare and who gives attention to detail.

Even with the insights shared by Ree1121, there is one point that was never properly addressed in the various views that I read: We, as a species, share increasingly limited resources on a fragile planet on the edge of an obscure galaxy. The viability of our culture depends largely on our willingness to pool our talents with the view that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Unless we are willing to set aside our personal biases in order to collectively address the greater good of the community, then we are already choosing a path that has been trodden by many extinct civilizations.

The school uniform issue could very well be a litmus test to that end.

No we should not have uniforms, all i here are my friends complaining about them. why can't we just have a choice in what we want to wear? if kids want to wear them than they can, while everyone else wheres what they want.

Anything to help put the focus on the three R's I support.

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I've decided to utilize the Ignore Feature for the first time.

Schools should totally have uniforms. There shouldn't be just free dress all the time because young women who wear revealing clothing may distract young men from their studies. The same thing for men who wear tight shirts and low riding jeans.

well haveing been in a school with uinforms for the past to years i do see some benifts i think that all pupils whereing identical clothes stops imodesty and inapropreate clothes being worn at school. however i am now in a school where we do get to choose our own clothes but there is a dress code it is basicly girls have to where skirts no shorter than a inch above the knee and shirts must be modest no spaggeti straps ect. but over all i think uiniforms are not needed in most schools and uniforms can sometimes be impractical for the whether ect....
thats all from me

i currently go to a school with uniform and i don't see a point in it as most of the girls (all girls school) just alter their tunics until it is really really short and blouse's sleeves all rolled up and no one really cares, on mufti days girls wear heels, spaghetti straps, mini skirts. you might as well have basic uniform rules and let everyone wear everyday clothes if the school uniform is going to be altered and parent's money wasted.
also all schools are going to gangs who pick on people uniform or not. If uniform isn't a band aid i don't know what it is

I'm going to start of stating that only private schools (some) can legally enforce a school uniform. So obviously the majority of private schools cost a butt-load of money so you can be sure the majority of people will be wearing "prep" clothing and their social standing will be benefited, but the people who got into the school on pure smarts will stand out and will obviously be humiliated to wear "rags" in the midst of these "upper-class folk".

Gangs thrive on their symbol and giving them the ability to wear those symbols to identify themselves to be part of some horrible group benefits them. Why promote such a vile thing?

Should parents be forced to dish out tons of money just to make sure their child isn't ridiculed? Of course not, that money should be used for food and other essentials.

I could go on and on, but that would just bore you. In one sentence: the positive aspects of a school uniform outweigh the negative aspects.

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Wait so using your logic we should not have any basic rules in society because "people will do it anyway", and that sounds pretty absurd. If society had no rules we would all be savages and all we have worked for in the last few centuries would be a waste. Oh you have no idea how happy I am that you aren't in charge.

Sure, your school may be stupid enough not to have variations of the uniform (ie. fleece/shorts/pants/skirts/sweats) but the majority of schools which demand an uniform are generally smarter then that. Within the last three years I've been a student and/or visited at least five private schools and each had a variation of a specific uniform based on the weather. You stated it had its benefits, and the only negative aspect was proven false. My point is: positive aspects outweigh the negative aspects.

Daily I hear people complaining about various laws such as child porn, does this mean child porn should be legal? Of course not.

- Hemlock

arI can see how this conflict arose. Some people argue that uniforms promote focus and stability throughout the private school, yet some others have argued that free dressing promotes freedom of expression and diversity. I am in fact, debating for the ladder at the moment. Although uniforms provide a sense of support that creates a very stable community, it does not allow children to express there feelings and ideas through there clothing. Although clothing is not the best method to express yourself through, for some it is the only way. Children will also argue against uniforms. However, free dressing is a way to expand and nourish the up-coming minds in society. Freedom of all expression = expansion and confidence.

Good debate,
Projekt

You're right, it does create a stable community which is great. You really shouldn't promote the other opposition, but it is fine with me.
Now, you're saying it prevents them from expressing themselves? Rubbish. In almost every school their is a debate club, a newspaper, and just generally talking. Also if one hated ______ they could go do _________. Clothing isn't a very good way to express yourself, bottom line.

What the bloody hell are you talking about? If someone is so sick as to not be able to express themselves with words or actions they should not be allowed to partake in society as they would have some serious mental issues. As you said it is not a very good way to express yourself, not to mention it is generally used to show off your wealth.

So I can go up to my teacher and curse at her until I'm blue in the face? How horrid.

- Hemlock