By: Jimbo on 10/29/08
If people favor their children wearing school uniforms, fine, that is ok with me, send your kids to school in a uniform.
As for me and my children, you don't have the right to infringe on my parental rights to send my child to school in what I feel is appropiate and fine.
You have a right to opt your child out of sex education, I should be afforded the same rights to opt my child out of uniforms.

By: ItsGood on 10/29/08
Jimbo I agree. But at the same time there needs to be some control - believe me seeing some of the girls and their attire, I would be charged with rape due to the thoughts in my head. What I find funny, and showing my age, is the panties showing and bras showing - in my day that was not classy. The guys with the baggy pants need to realize that came out of prison where when you dressed like that it meant you were ready for a homosexual act - yet today maybe that is what the guys are seeking.
Vulgar, disruptive clothing is not healthy for teenagers. I guess the question is defining vulgar and disruptive - I used to tell my daughter when she was in high school - where what you want but just imagine if you r grandparents saw you in the outfit - how would you react. It cured any problem of her showing her boobs.

By: HuskyLover on 10/29/08
I favor strict dress codes, but some of this is over the top. ALL shirts must be tucked in and a belt worn? i have a daughter and most gir's shorts are not designed to be worn tucked in. Also, she has Sensory integration Disorder and cannot tolerate anything too restrictive like a belt.

By: Jimbo on 10/29/08
Its Good,
I understand where you are coming from, but quite frankly I have yet to see that in the schools my children attend, but then again, the principals at their school enforce the dress code that is in effect now and it works just fine.
The solution may be that the Superintendent does his job and makes sure that every building enforces the adequate dress code that is in force now or fire any principal for not doing their job.
No reason to use dragonian methods to solve a problem that is more easily solved.
Nashville Metro schools are proof enough that uniforms don't work, crime is up, weapon possessions are up, drug possessions are up over what they were when they did not have a uniform policy, even though the school system there claimed that uniforms would make these sorts of things go down.

By: barrettbear on 10/29/08
Well, It is good, maybe we should be informed of how old you are and the thoughts you have about female attire. In the mean time baggy jeans is not a representation of homosexuality, it is a physical attraction. Baggy jeans is just thug style apparel which looks (well, is a disgrace) period. I would lay money 50/50 of the male and female populations has had or will have thoughts of being involved with the same gender, if not more.

By: katie on 10/29/08
Blackman High School does not adhere to the dress code. I have seen many girls walking around with bare midriff tank tope bare back and form fitting clothes and shoes that should not be worn in school and the boys walk around with their pants falling down no belts flip flops and do not really follow any rules where clothes are concerned so their dress code is not really being enforced. Uniforms will sold many problems in the schools. Maybe then we would have more children learning in school instead of having a fashion show

By: barrettbear on 10/29/08
What does clothing really have to do with learning anyway? It seems most of our society young and old have a listening problem anyway. Hell, we can not drive the speed limit half of the time. That is a learning problem.

By: JM325 on 10/29/08
"All shirts must be tucked in and waistbands clearly visible and worn at the waist." I think this is ridiculous, especially since they enforce it for sweatshirts, sweaters, everything! Can you imagine having to tuck in a Titans sweatshirt??? It sounds like the HS has a decent dress code but it's not enforced. (And does anyone want to mention the skirt lengths for the cheerleaders and dance teams?)

By: Jimbo on 10/29/08
Katie,
Then the principal of Blackman should be punished for not enforcing the dress code, but he is busy doing other things I understand, but he still should be doing his job.
Punishing all the students for the crimes of the few is not the way to solve a problem that is infinitesimally small.

By: mypopculture on 10/29/08
My son attended a private school for K-4 and Kindergarten. They wore khaki or navy pants and solid color polo's. They could wear spiritware on Thursday and had casual Friday. Parents I promise you, if you ever adopt this code you will love it. There is no debate about what to wear each morning. All the kids look so neat and pulled together each day. The kids look and feel equal. The clothes are more affordable than trendy ones that come pre-faded and with holes. My son missed the variety his old wardrobe offered, but he would go back to that school and dress code without reservation. I agree with an earlier comment about the cheerleaders and dance teams uniforms. There is no reason girls in this age group should be wearing halters or micro-mini's (but that's a topic for another day).

By: ItsGood on 10/29/08
Try walking into Judge Donna Scott Davenport's courtroom with saggy pants and no belt. Boys, a pink rope looks cute around your waist.

By: enoughisenough on 10/29/08
As an educator, I applaud standard attire. All of our local stores have allowed for the advent of this program. Wal-Mart, Target, K-Mart, Marshalls, Khols, and most other major chains have come on board.

Parents will be able to purchase a limited number of outfits for their children, at minimum cost,

By: attagirl on 10/29/08
The problem with uniforms is that you have to purchase two wardrobes for your child. Simple dress code rules should word fine. No bare midriffs, no sagging, no tank tops or deep v-necks. It's pretty simple really.

By: tarawr_rhs on 10/29/08
To be honest, I don't think a dress code will change the the way a student dresses outside of school or the way a student behaves by switching to school uniforms. It'll just makes students more rebellious. If the guys who like baggy pants continue to do it, then actually enforce the rules by punishing them instead of making everyone wear a uniform. I also don't think school uniforms will make an impact on the students' behavior or their academic grades. They will just find another way to be themselves with those uniforms. I'm tired of seeing girls in short shorts and midriffs and guys sagging to where they can't walk, but it doesn't really "distract" students from learning. It never distracted me and no one else ever complained about it throughout my years of school. If you want to promote a "positive learning atmosphere", then have some more school programs to educate students about gang related violence, cliques, etc.

By: enoughisenough on 10/29/08
I have to ask...Your child makes him/her defined by what they put on as an outfit each day...

All dressed the same. All equal under the store bought law...

By: matt73557 on 10/30/08
And why do we need to do this again?

By: Jimbo on 10/30/08
Matt,
The answer is we DON'T need to be doing this. It is something being done that will cost parents more money and acheive nothing in return. It will not make the schools safer, it will not increase test scores, in fact studies on school uniforms have shown they actually decrease reading scores, and it will not reduce discipline problems.
What it will do will make those in charge think they are doing something and give them more power to take more of our parental rights away.
The one thing I have discovered about the Rutherford County school system is that they don't want parents to be involved at all, they talk a good game but all their actions speak louder and say the opposite.
Quite frankly this is a parental rights issue even more than it is a student's rights issue. If a parent has the right to have their child not attend sex ed classes, and if a parent has the right to say that their child cannot wear the PE uniform because of religious reasons, and if the parents have a right not to get their kids immunized for religious reasons, then I should have the right to opt out my kids from wearing school uniforms for my deeply held philosophical reasons, otherwise the school system is violating the equal protection clause of the Constitution.

By: Red on 10/30/08
I think every one against school uniforms should give it a chance for one school year. Just call Greg Lyles, principal at Mitchell Neilson Elementary 890-7841. I think he will be glad to talk about it. This is MNE's first year with uniforms. This is my child's first year at MNE. After K-2 at Mitchell Neilson Primary, I was concerned about going to uniforms, but 1 day at "beach day" at MNP made up my mind. I am very glad now that MNE is in uniforms and I think it should be given a chance.

By: ItsGood on 10/30/08
I have attended events during the day at my grandson's school and noticed teachers do not exactly set the standard for dress attire - crocs, flip-flops, torn jeans, etc., were observed.
I know I am older but in the "good old days" teachers dressed professionally and were respected.
Maybe the dress of teachers returning to professional attire might give more of an authority look in the class room.
If you are going to have rules for the students they need to also apply to the administration.

By: Jimbo on 10/30/08
Red, there are lots of things I don't want to try just because everyone is for them. Show us the proof that the uniforms will do all the magic things that proponents say they will and then we can talk.
Greg Lyles has no credibility whatsoever. He lied about the magic that uniforms will do this summer without one shred of evidence.
The studies of school uniforms show they do not raise test scores, they do not cause a decline in violence, a decline in discipline problems, they are not the magic that Greg Lyles subscribed to them this summer before instituting his dragonian measures into his school.
Unfortunately you are saying I should give up my parental rights because I might like it???? What kind of illogical way of thinking is that?????

By: Paused on 10/30/08
Just look at the guidelines that are listed. You do realize for someone to make a rule against it, it had to become a problem in the first place.

No pajamas....yes, I know students at MTSU do it. But quite frankly if your kid is wearing thier choochoo train pj's to school you are not doing your job.

No grills or holes in your head....I'm not sure you are ever going to become parent of the year allowing that....but some apparently do.

The no lycra/spandex/leotards rule. LISTEN, leggings are NOT pants! Please tell the fat adult woman I saw at Kroger this. If she doesn't know any better than obviously her children will not either.

I do not see it, but flip flops are for the pool. I see PLENTY of grown women wearing flipflops when it's cold outside...once again, obviously, they are not going to teach their children any better.

To all of you against the uniform policy...I'm going to assume you all have well dressed children...but looking at the guidelines you are out numbered by the idiots who do not.

By: barrettbear on 10/30/08
Why let me throw in some more. I really do not see how anyone in the system could be doing anything, and to enforce a dress code. Rock Springs Middle can not return phone call and talk hateful on the phone. Do Not Call J. Evans. My we had a little problem and more or less said he could not do anything about.