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
How will they agree to provide free uniforms when they won’t provide free lunch for all. Not that I mind paying for lunch. Most of the time the lunches suck anyway and are not healthy. I havent had a problem yet. But by hearing all the comments, I think the system should not be so strict right now. Give parents and student until after winter break to organize themselves and build up the funds again to get in line. The kids are having a hard enough time with the change and are abiding by it. Dont make them feel even worse for their good intended efforts. And by the way, if kids didnt throw paper away in the trash with the food we could feed a small hog farm slops with the waste.
I can not speak for all teachers at all schools, but I can speak for the High School in which I teach at. We are held to a higher standard than the students. We are NOT allowed to wear blue jeans. We are NOT allowed to wear ill fitting clothes. We MUST be in professional dress at all times. The LOWEST we can dress is to be dressed as the students. We ARE setting the example for them when they enter the work force. Where do you expect students to learn how to dress when they go for job or college interviews? They will not learn it from watching television, they learn it from their everyday surroundings, which happen to be the teachers. I’m sorry if your school does not hold their teachers to the high standard to which we are held.
If you are going to talk the talk then walk the walk. Everyone should have a dress code. It is only fair and this is what we call leading by example! WHERE IS THE EXAMPLE.
First of all the dress code is unclear on the colors. This mean that there are hundreds shades of navy blue,white and etc. This being said, if the parent or guarding complied with the rule book then a shade off is not legally enforceable. Why don’t the teachers have to wear some type of uniform? I have seen many teachers that were not dressed appropiately! Meaning clothes to tight, men and women. Now how about blue jeans! Should faculty be able to wear brand name clothes to school too! What are we teaching now? Think about those apples for a while.
Cowgirl, I don’t see the point in your “college degree” comment. I have one of those too. I have walked my child into West Greene all 3 days of school this week and the dress I saw was far from the standards of the school dress code.
I am a teacher and understand the parents concern about the uniforms. I know that they are strict, but unless you walk the halls with the students everyday, you really do not understand the necessity of them. I have watched the dress codes over the years be pushed and pushed until they are nothing by students as well as their parents. I commend Greene County and their success at the dress code. Being a teacher, the dress code takes out the “bulling” of students in and out of the classroom. I don’t have to worry about whom is picking on whom or if someone is skipping my classes to avoid being harassed. As a teacher, I did all that I could to prevent these types of actions, but it still happened behind my back. I will also say that the dress code helps me to teach. This may sound weird to those who are not teachers, but it is true. The students are not focused on what they are wearing or what their classmates are wearing, they are focused on their work. Its amazing how much difference the “strict dress code” has made! I know that you say that the teachers are “nit picking” what the students are wearing, but the dress code is the dress code. The students were given fliers and coupons by the school at the end of the year last year to help locate places to purchase the uniforms at and to help with the cost of the uniforms. They knew what was going to be expected of them. If the dress code states “no side pockets”, it means “no side pockets”. End of story. There should be no exceptions made. Also, teachers do have a dress code to abide by. We have to dress professionally at all times. The “lowest” form of dress that we can wear is the student dress code. We are setting examples and dressing for our profession. Please remember that we do have college degrees (or higher in some cases) and have earned the right to dress comfortably and professionally. Thank your teachers for what they are doing for your children. In the long run, I believe that the “strict dress code” is going to benefit everyone.
My children are now grown, but that being said, I wish when they were in school, we would have had a uniform policy. I would of loved to have been able to go shopping, with such small want list. No name brands, no expensive designer clothes, hundred dollar shoes, etc. I believe it will take alot of “peer pressure” off of our children. They won’t have to worry about what they are or are not wearing, compared to the “rich” kids. Also, you have the opportunity to not buy but a “couple” of pairs of pants and a few shirts. No one will be the wiser, and be able to say something like, “hey, look at jane, she wore those same pants yesterday”, because everything will look so close to the same. We have to have such a strict adhering to it because of kids using the excuse “well, I didn’t know”, this way they know, and they know what not to wear, and what to wear. We as adults make the mistake of pushing the rules, which doesn’t set a good example for our already out of control children. We need to set good examples for them, teach them how to follow rules, and not test them. Just my 2 cents.
If we would have had a leader with a real backbone when the old dress code was in effect, we would not be dealing with this now, but since we are, here I go. Lord knows we had plenty of time to get the clothes that are plainly listed on the policy that we got several times. Print works shirts are $8 and pants can be found at Steve & Berrys for $9 . Come on now, it seems to me this really isnt about the clothes its got to be about the RULES. That is the problem. Most kids dont think they have to follow rules because the parents makes such a big deal over nothing. Shades of clothes should not be a big deal I agree, but the guidelines are specific. The officials of the old dress code “gave in” as usual, but I hope Mr. Miller sticks to his rules on this and parenmts ought to be behind him. What a big difference to drive up to a schoool and see neatly dressed kids instead if scantily clad girls that look naked or hoodlum looking guys that look slouchy. Be respectful and follow the rules. Once again 95% of tyhe people went out and got what the guidelines said, but the other 5% as usual, want to “be offended”. Get over yourselves and teach your kids some discipline. Therein, I guess, lies the big picture. It is about safety and I would think you could tell the difference in your child being picked on and complying with the dresscode. Yoou can spend less money to outfit your child with the dresscode that the BIG name brands you would have bought. What are you really pissed over? Interview some parents who follow the rules and put them on TV——you may find you dont have enough TV space. Forget the ones who want to find something to be “offended over” every time. Parents—-read the rules and do YOUR homework. They are trying to keep your child safe after all.
My husband and I are the parents of four children who attend Pitt County Schools, so you can imagine the financial strain that this has put on our family household budget. I am in full agreement of the uniform poilcy, but on the otherhand, I feel it is unfair for my children, who before the policy, never wore their clothes in the wrong way, always were neat in appearance, should have to suffer for the actions of others. My son’s teacher call to complain that he could not wear Dickies that had the barely noticiable pocket on the side. It wasn’t even the cargo pocket one’s! I am so frustrated, because what is a parent to do when the store you shopped at only had these pants and was a school uniform store. I agree with your readers, Pitt County Schools should be made to reimburse the parents. They should not make the students do anything, that they would not also enforce on the teacher’s. I am a student at ECU, majoring in Family and Community Services, and we have this saying in my department, “A change in one, is a change in all”, so Pitt County Schools make your teachers and administration wear uniforms too. Aren’t teacher’s suppose to be “role models” too.
ltoler4 I totally agree with you. The Uniform Policy would have neever been thought of if our schools would have enforced approprate dress in the first place.
I was simply “trying to comply” and not make a fuss….yet I still get “fussed at” for sending my child to school in a shirt that was one shade too dark.
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