Parents Say Dress Code Policy Too Strict
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Parents Say Dress Code Policy Too Strict
Parents Say Dress Code Policy Too Strict
School uniform policies have hit many schools across the east and schools are going to great lengths to enforce them.
On just day two of the 2008-2009 school year, 60 students at one high school in Greene County faced in-school suspension.
“I think it makes a difference for the moral of the child”, said Gloria Busch. I think you can learn better when you’re not focused on clothes.”
But what happens when you thought what you were buying was the dress code?
JC Chavis sent his son, Greene Central high freshman Eric Sinclair to school, but he never made it to class, “The teacher asked the people—students stand up and let them check to see if they got any pockets so they sent everybody to the gym,” Eric said.
Since the start of the school year the school’s biggest problems have been students wearing belts—which either have to be black or brown—and also khaki’s made by Dickies which feature a cargo pocket.
The problem is, those are the exact pants Chavis bought his son and Eric ended up with 60 other students on in-house suspension for a uniform violation.
The districts uniform policy states in section 1e: No pants or shorts with pockets halfway down the legs including cargo pants.
School superintendent Patrick Miller says parents have had the policy since July 14th.
But Chavis says the punishment is too harsh for a simple mistake. A mistake that he says cost him $400.
“If you want it, provide it for us,” Chavis said. “Why do we have to go out and spend our money out of our pockets…get uniforms and then you complain [about] what we got.“
Millers adds, “We are trying to send the message that this policy—we’re serious and we’re going to enforce this policy.“
Miller says follow the dress code or face in-school suspension.
Miller tells Nine On Your Side the district offers a Clothing Closet, where students can wear hand-me-down uniforms which meet the policy until they can buy their own.
He also says the Kinston Goodwill Industries is offering tops and bottoms for $2-$3.
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Reader Reactions
We moved to NC from GA, where my children were required to wear uniforms. This policy was already in effect in GA when we moved there so I missed all of the ‘discussion’ surrounding uniforms. The High School even sold uniforms in their school store and the $$ raised stayed in the school system. The staff was required to wear uniforms as well as the students. Typically (but not every week) Fridays were ‘dress down days’ where the students could wear jeans. If a child was absent, tardy, OR left early any day that week, they were not allowed to ‘dress down’ on Fridays. The High School’s dress code was a little more lenient than the Elementary & Middle schools and the principal would often designate other days throughout the week as ‘dress down’ days for the High school students. In the Middle School, teachers would often offer ‘dress down’ day coupons instead of homework passes as incentives to their students. It worked out quite nicely so when we moved to NC, I wasn’t concerned about the uniforms. Then I took my child to North Pitt for Freshman Orientation and was totally disgusted at the clothing I saw!! I even commented that the kids had better enjoy wearing what they had on that day because come Monday, August 25th, they would have to dress somewhat decent!! Well, I pulled up to the school on the 25th to drop my child off and what gets out of the car in front of me? A male wearing baggy black shorts (crotch was half way to his knees), and black oversized shirt (not tucked in and hanging down to his natural crotch) that looked like it was 3 sizes too big for him. I agree with the parents that have said that the dress code should have been enforced in the past. The schools have not been consistent in handling the dress codes until this year and now they want to put their foot down? You’re always going to have at least 1 person that tries to buck the system but they should be dealt with immediately. Lighten up on the colors a little bit (blue vs. royal blue…come on, that’s a bit much) but most definitely stick with your rules. Dont cave in and relax the uniform rules at all…be consistent in your punishments but dont forget at the end of the day that our children’s education is the most important thing here. Don’t pull the children out of class to discuss the color of their shirts, socks, etc. It’s ridiculous to embarrass children over something so small. There are better ways to get that information to the child without calling him/her out in front of their peers.
Kay I think yours is one of the best posts up here. I really would not have a problem with the uniform policy if it weren’t so strict. I live in Craven County and the majority of the schools here have had uniforms for a while. However, each year it gets worse and worse! If my daughter did not have to wear a particular belt, socks and tuck her shirt in, I would not have such a problem with it. As long as their shirt is not down to their knees, why should it matter if it is tucked in? My daughter always looks nice and neat, but prefers not to tuck in her shirt. She had tiny pink dots on her BROWN BELT and was removed from class! And you are RIGHT ON THE MONEY when you say a lot of the teachers are paying more attention to uniforms..belts, socks, etc than they are to teaching our children. I know many of the teachers detest having to police these children about their clothes, but they are reprimanded by their administrators if they dont take action if one of their students doesnt have on a belt!
And Calgon, I loved your post too. It is sad that someone who is a teacher would send an email and belittle some of the posters on this site. Obviously SAM is a very judgemental person. It shouldn’t matter your education or grammar if you want to send in your opinion on an article! I guess the people who may have difficulty writing gramatically correct or may have learning disabilities should not be allowed to post in her opinion. The comment in her post was a very low blow and it is sad that we have teachers who are so judgemental!
I think the school dress code is good but the dress code should’nt be so strict my daughters go to school in lenoir county and they wear uniforms and the policy for the uniforms are not so strict that they have to wear belts or tuck their shirts in I make sure they look good when going to school but its not as strict as this dress code in Greene County. I dont understand why the shirts have to be tucked in and belts have to be a certain color, and pants have to be a certain brand and the shoes have to be a certain type. The people that came up with this uniform code has enough money to buy the uniforms and all the specified attire for their children but what about the people from low income families with 1 or more children that they have to buy uniforms for people have to take all that into consideration and plus people have to buy school supplies and the lists of school supplies were very very long. I have been working at my kids school as a substitute teacher and I have seen teachers dressed inappropriately but I have also seen the teachers sent home to change clothes also. But the most important thing is The Teachers That Are Concentrating On Clothes Are Not Concentrating On Teaching and so when the EOG test scores are not meeting the standards we can’t make up the excuse that it is because of the students and their clothes Can We? Or is it because we are wasted precious time in debate over uniforms.
Interesting comment from a teacher…first and foremost this is a blog and we are not being graded on grammar or punctuation. Clothes ARE an expression of who and what you are and even what you believe. If that was not the case we would not have had to have the dress code in the first place - as the problem was kids in over-sized t-shirts and baggy pants - GANG WEAR or prison wear…and along with all of that came some serious attitude…School itself is still a social setting…in this setting our children get an education, learn how to make friends, learn how to follow rules or not and ultimately form their own opinions about everything from A to Z. A school uniform won’t change that. Our kids will just have to try harder to be individuals.
Sam, you said that how the teachers’ dress code is enforced is up to the parents and administration. The parents in GC voted against the uniform dress code but we have it anyway.
As a parent and a teacher, I feel compelled to address some of the comments that have been posted previously. First and foremost, wearing a uniform does not prevent students from expressing theirselves; instead, wearing a uniform encourages students to show their individuality through their behavior, activities, and academics. Let’s expand our children’s minds, not their wardrobes. Secondly, teachers are adults who have already established their individual identity. Additionally, teachers DO have a dress code. How this code is enforced is up to the administration and, very importantly, the parents. You pay taxes, hold your administration up to the standards they have set forth using your tax money. Personally, I would love to have a uniform, maybe a nun’s habit ;) , so I wouldn’t have to decide what to put on everyday. Lastly, since I am running out of time, and because I am a grammar teacher, if the writing ability of some of the posters is an indication of what kind of education our children are receiving while being allowed to “express” theirselves, then perhaps if we take their minds off their clothes, they will learn how to write a proper sentence.
Well, this morning was not an easy one -we were down to khaki shorts, navy shorts and one white shirt - and my daughter is 10 and is trying to figure herself out and that comes with SELF EXPRESSION. No matter what is constantly shoved down our throats we are NOT ALL THE SAME. We dont look alike, we dont talk alike, we dont act alike and we are not brought up the same - just because we all look similar now is not going to make us the same. The same kids that got in trouble are still gonna get in trouble. No I dont like the uniforms. I believe it was voted on, parents said no and still it was put in place BUT now that it is place it needs to be enforced. And as far as the teacher who has a degree…common sense pays off in the long run more then any degree and if dressing the new school dress code is the “lowest form of what she could wear” - it is now my personal mission to make sure the staff and faculty have to lower themselves to what our children have been reduced to and see how they like it. Some of the teachers I have come in contact with looked like they just rolled out of bed…my dad went to one of the awards day and he couldn’t tell the teachers from the students and this was at West Greene - now what does that say…If you have to enforce it you should have to wear it. I do applaud Mr. Miller for holding his own and making it clear dress code violations would not be TOLERATED - GOOD JOB!
Cudos parent. I totally agree with the fact that I dont like seeing breasts hanging out, pants worn halfway down someone’s butt either. But, like you said, if the previous dress code would have been enforced, it would never have come to this uniform issue. I also have a daughter who stresses over the uniform issue and not wanting to be called out or made an example of. The uniforms at the dollar stores etc. are not cut right and dont fit girls correctly, so yes when you have a teenager in middle school it is hard to find something plain to fit her correctly. Also, my daughter is beautiful, but a little on the heavy side and does not want to wear her shirt tucked it because it makes her feel very self conscious! I myself am not thin, and do not wear my shirts tucked in and honestly, if you think about it, overweight people in general do not look so good with their shirts tucked in. She tries to tuck it under to make it look tucked in because she feels like she looks bad. Oh yeah, this uniform thing is doing lots for her self esteem. As long as it is a regular polo shirt, doesnt go down to her knees and is uniform code, why does it have to be tucked in. These are kids for heaven’s sake. And like parent, my daughter is a straight A student and always wore appropriate attire to school because I would not have let her leave my house looking like a hoochie. Why didnt the school system pay attention to the kids who were breaking the dress code in the first place and leave the kids who did what they were supposed to do alone. And to the teacher, I was a special education teacher. THe school I worked at was one of the first to implement school uniforms. Did the kids look nice…yes they did. However, the girls who always pushed the limits with clothing did the same with uniforms and the boys who wore the pants down at their cracks still did the same. If one of my students forgot their belt or they had been playing and their shirt came untucked, I did not care. I was there to teach them, not be fashion police. And come on, we all see how some teachers dress. Things too tight, too low cut, sleeveless, loud and distracting etc. Lowest form or not, I believe all teachers, principals, administrators and office workers should be forced to wear the same things the kids have to wear.
I am a student at Greene Early College and we have uniforms. I think it’s dumb to have them I do feel sorry for the high school students I really do!!I think that we (students) should wear what ever we want I love last year cause we can wear what ever we want do still be by the dress. I think they went way to far and every thing I don’t like the uniforms at all and one thing they don’t want “gang colors” if u look at the colors and match them up hello people they are!! To me I say for get the uniforms lets go back to what we were wearing last year. The whole coat thing to really dumb. I my sound crazy but dang I don’t like this at all.
Good for you, cowgirl. I’m glad you see the importance of setting a good example for your students. At West Greene, I’ve see more breasts hanging out and sleeveless tops where you can see the bra thru the big open arms than I care to remember. To make it clear, even though I didn’t think we needed a new dress code because if the previous one had of been enforced everything would be fine, I do think the students look nice. But as a parent who has been shopping for clothes that meet the requirements all summer, I think that my particular school system is going overboard and not seeing what’s really important. I have a daughter. We were told that girls didn’t have to wear their shirts tucked in or belts at the parent orientation but somewhere along the line that was changed. Yes, I received a copy of the dress code but I had already spoken to school officials so I didn’t read every little detail and I missed the change. I realize that was still my responsibility. I’m not sure if you have any daughters, but I can’t find anybody that carries belts for girls. Now I’m trying to find one online. I’ve been told that they are making the exception for the pants that come from the uniform shop that have belts that appear to be part of the pants even though they are not brown or black and they look like ribbons. I was unable to find my child any pants from those stores that fit her so I ordered hers off the internet. Some of those stores will not give you refunds either. I have 3 shirts that I bought from one in Greenville and they will only do exchanges but the problem is that their clothes don’t fit her right. It’s just very frustrating. You have a child who is a straight A student and never gives anyone any problems but she cried the 2nd morning we were on the way to school because a school official had scared her so bad about not wearing a belt. She had the right kind of shirt, the right colors, the right pants, her shirt tucked in, the right shoes, just no belt and yet she was still threatened to be removed from her class. I’m sorry, but there is a problem with that no matter how you look at it.
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