I don't think so. But I think schools have bigger issue's than dress codes.

How many kids get picked on do to the fact there parents can't afford the brand named clothing????how many "nerds" dress in fashion items???yeah they have bigger problems....but how many thugs you think you'll have,wearing trousers and dress shoes???....they need to concentrate on learning...not what they are wearing....B}I feel bad for them though.....in a few years..our schools will look like china's....

Absolutely not!!! The lack of a hooded sweatshirt will not keep a poorly parented kid from acting like a moron; and since I pay for the schools, I would have MAJOR issues with an institution I FUND telling me how to dress my child. That is a personal choice, barring offensive material, and is to be decided by me and my son.

The dress code is a good idea. It helps take away focus from clothing where it doesn't belong and take more attention to learning. Kids that are against this dress code wouldn't be so angry if they were focusing on what's important at school, which is their education not their clothes. I'm all for expressing oneself, but there is a proper time and place for expression, and a place for education. The school board enforcing the dress code will help get back to the goal of education in the long run.

School is the best place to become accustomed to dress codes that will be encountered in the business (real) world. In both places, inappropriate attire is distracting/annoying.

I'm not sure if the school board is granted such power, but it SHOULD NOT be.

When I was in Highschool this same issues came about twice. Once with uniforms and once with trenchcoats. With uniforms it was shot down by popular vote, but after some shooting they eliminated trenchcoats from the 2 people who wore them plus from NJROTC uniforms.

Quite frankly, school is a place for learning and children should not have to question if they are politically correct in their methods of learning. School is stressful enough. Also, children should be taught to live rather than forced to make a "safe" decision. If adults were forced to be "safe" then chances are there would be NO alcohol and no driving just because there is a VERY SMALL risk which we ignore on a daily basis.

I actually believe parents who are overprotective and paranoid who happen to be on the schoolboard as well as in the voting community are the ones who force these rediculous rules on children when in reality they are pointless. Just because a parent wants to be overprotective on their son or daughter doesnt mean they have a right to be on everyone elses.. If they don't like it they can pay for private school.

With the trenchcoat rule, we actually were told if we collected signatures on a petition the school would re-evaluate. We got nearly everyone in the HS to petition and the school basically told us they never expected us to get so many signatures and they would not do anything still.

I agree that it is up to you and your child to choose how to dress, but when it starts to affect others ability to learn, then I feel it's important to regulate certain aspects of what can be allowed in schools. You have to remember that with this sort of public setting something that is not offensive or gang related to one kid, could be completely offensive or intimidating to another. One way to help stop this problem is to use a dress code that helps to make it an even non-offensive playing field for everyone.

Ohh, and this is an non-enforceable rule. Your so-called gangs will just do something like flip their collar up, unbutton the sleeve or something soo subtle.. gangs would adapt even within the narrow margins allowed and enforcing such rules I would exhaust resources that could otherwise be used for teaching/learning.

One of the best part of public schools is learning to live in a socially diverse situation where people can express them-self. It is the primary reason I want my children to be in public schools and NOT private ones.

The gangs may very well find ways to addapt a dress code to express gang relations, but that true in any situation. The dress doesn't eliminate the problem of gangs, but it does help and I feel is a step in the right direction.

I don't think that a school board has the right to tell people want it is that they can wear. Just because someone wears clothing that is GANG related. Then maybe the paraint of that kid should stop this kind of action. We can not allow the schools to become paraints to these kids, teachers are here to teach not to babysit. If a kid comes to school dressed a gang member but he or she is learning then why single them out just because of the way they dress. I think that it starts with the mother and father of the kids. The local police should keep track of the kids that are to GANG members and deal with them is the right manner. But that is a whole other story.
IS starts at home. Kids are sent to school to learn, and the kids need to understand that they only have 12 years to learn. And the schools are there to help them after that 12 years WELCOMEto the real world baby.

I live in Prosser Wa.and they have a dress code.We had a grandson come live with us to finish school. He ran right into this , his first reaction was he would not comply with the code, but within a short time it was not an issue and he became proud of the school and the fact they do not have any gang problems or separate groups of kids hanging out.The kids seem to focus on other things, sports , each other,school activity,s,ect. The code is not an issue here it is a fact of LIFE and any school would benifit from one

I agree that what kids wear should start with their parents, but one problem with that is that some parents out there just don't care. I mean not all parents, but some really don't care what their children wear. I had a friend, and his mom and dad didn't even really care what their kid was doing. I was apalled everytime I would come to his house. I had uniforms when I was in middle school, and after a while me and my friends adjusted to it. It wasn't even that big of a deal after a while. It made us concentrate on our education instead of what we were wearing that day.

I think that school boards should set dress codes for students and staff alike in the interest of fewer distractions and increased learning.

People can wear whatever they like on their own time but while they are in a school financed by the public the emphasis must be on learning, not being cool, sexy or "in". While they are in school they are on taxpayer time and the school board should establish a high standard.

I am a die-hard proponent of freedom of speech but the trashy behavior of a few goes beyond their own right when it affects those of others by disruption of their right to quality education.

Paul in Shoreline

THE WAY THE KIDS DRESS TODAY IS THIER GENERATION.WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP OUR PARENTS AND TEACHERS DIDN'T LIKE THE WAY WE DRESSED EITHER.I DON'T BELIEVE WHAT THEY WEAR HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH GANGS. IT'S JUST THE STYLE. IHAVE A 17 YEAR OLD SON; HIS PANTS SAG, HE WEAR HIS HOODIE, AND HE LOVE HIS HATS. BUT I KNOW FOR A FACT HE IS NOT INTO A GANG. ACTUALLY HE IS INTO INTERIOR DESIGN AND MAKING MUSIC. I COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD OF MY SON. IUNDERSTAND THAT HIS CLOTHS REPRESENTS HIS GENERATION "NOT A GANGE"

Unfortunaltly we live in a country that descriminates, shuns and profiles people based on several aspects to include dress. Schools are learning institutions and should be considered the same with all discriminations removed from its environment. When our melting pot comes to school with clothing that cost as much as the car we drive or also clothing that pertains to race/gangs we must take steps to prevent this. Yes, schools should tell our students what to wear and schools should also make our students wear uniforms.

Has anyone consider that such an act might reduce creativity? Increase Depression? Increase parenting decisons made by the schools? (for that last one, I guarentee there will be big ones that you disagree with eventually)

I believe the school board has every right to set a dress code if it is for protection of the students. I'm sure if gangs are entering the school they will find different ways to identify themselves. I believe this is the FIRST step the school board needs to make to discourage gangs from entering their school.

Kenny Scriven has said it all for me...school is, or should be, the beginning of entering the work world and I see nothing wrong with a dress code being enforced. Being "in" and "cool" can be done on students own time. It is hard for me to understand how the country has become so dedicated to being able to do, say or act as they please because everything offends their rights but when problems arise from those actions the same people want to know why nothing is being done. I am glad to have my own rights and freedoms but at the same time I realize that not everyone thinks as I do and we all need to be able to compromise to keep things in balance...it really isn't "all about me"

Do people remember that there are going to be "bad apples" despite color, creed, or clothing? Shoving kids in little boxes isn't going to solve the problem. I've said it before, and I will say it again. Young ones nees to be taught HOW to think, not WHAT to think. There is always going to be someone that has a problem with something. It sure would be nice if there was a way to make everyone happy. But as long as there are selfish people, that will never happen.

Schools have every right to enforce dress codes and mandatory dress codes (or uniforms) should be enforced in all school districts. The school systems main mission is to educate our children; not to babysit spoiled, unruly children who insist on identifying themselves with one group or another.

Do children have ANY say in the matter? Do they have rights? I believe the constition says they do.

In a job you have the right to quit.. in school you have no such right. In a job, dress codes are enforced where there is a business purpose. MOST employees do not wear a suit and a tie, and I don't see why students should have to either. Most businesses require you wear a dress code similar to schools. It really depends on where you are.. A sales guy has a business need to impress his clients with his dress, but an engineer can usually wear jeans and a t-shirt. What possible reason does a company have to dictate the appearances of an employee beyond common courtesey? Similar with a school... You say there is business reason but few have argued it with facts.. Lots of untested opinions on here I think.. For all I know you COULD be right but no one seems to care what you give up to have this. Last thing a kid needs is to have more pressure on him in school to take away the focus from learning.. The idea of forcing a kid to do something during his or her rebellious stage is not necessarily the BEST idea unless you consent to primitive brain-washing.. in which case you may as well strap them to a chair and play your message over and over to them in a dark quiet room all by them-self until they have been programmed accordingly.

If I only had more time this topic needs tons of attention.. Mostly I hate how people are soo willing to change and force.. why not test it in a worst case before making it a rule. (liberal school) A childs educational environment should not be changed on every parents whim.

More importantly what I hate is the idea that the school should fill in where a neglegent parent does not. You have no right to tell other parents what they should do with their child and if you can't justify taking the children away from their parents then you have no business making rules to parent for other parents.. Like it or not, they have a right to be neglegient to some degree.. and just because you don't need to get permission to have kids first doesn't mean we have the right to create such laws and rules..

When one does not use self control society will put out rules to control one. It's best if the young people in society realize this...maybe our jail would be less full. We are responsible for our actions and after 12 we should all be held accountable.
Let's talk about the hungry kids, the abused kids and the lack of medical care, let's talk about funding our schools and holding schools accountable for the spending.
Grandma

First of all I don't think a dress code really limits a childs expression that much. Saying that they can't wear Hoods, Hats, or lowrider jeans really leaves a lot of room for expression. But it also helps to limit the amount of gang affiliation that goes on.

"Most businesses require you wear a dress code similar to schools. It really depends on where you are.. A sales guy has a business need to impress his clients with his dress, but an engineer can usually wear jeans and a t-shirt. What possible reason does a company have to dictate the appearances of an employee beyond common courtesey?"

A company requires dress code in certain instances because it is professional. If they want to keep customers and business going, they will have their employees dress accordingly. An engineer, who doesn't work with a lot of people hands on might not need a fancy dress code. But I gurantee a guy working in an advertising office or a grocery store who will be working with people all day are going to have a dress code.

And school is similar. They are not forcing children at this oregon school to wear a suit and tie either. They are simply trying to eliminate items of clothing that could cause fights that would distract from the learning environment. And it's not like the school is forcing them to wear this clothing all day long and all year round. They are only in school for what 6 or 7 hours of the day. Once off school grounds they can wear whatever they want.

And on weekends and during the summer they can also wear whatever they want. The only thing a dress code ruins is some rebel kids chance at making a scene and ruining anothers education. Now I'm not saying all kids that are rebelious do that but some do, and therefore they shouldn't take the risk because some don't. For another example. They made kids at some of these high schools stop wearing trench coats after all those school shootings, but if you ask me, what sort of purpose of expression does a kid wearing a trench coat serve anyway.

They aren't particularly warm. And your inside a building. I mean expression only goes so far, and then you have to say, "ok this is just common sense." I don't think that the school board is trying to take over as a parent, but merely keep things as safe as possible for all parties involved when on the schools time. Thanks.

Kenny in Tacoma.

nO jeremy KiDS ddddddddddoN'T have any rights untill they are 18......untill THEN they are minors.....look up minor......and you should listen to GRANDMA....she knows what she is talking about.....and your right about one thing...there should be a mandatory test; people should be forced to take before they have kids...if they don't pass they don't procreate....

Yeah, but where is the line? When is it okay and when is it not? At what point do you say enough polotics in the schools?

Does ANYONE care what the kid's point of view is? Some of these kids ARE ADULTS by legal definition.

Why is it that no one trys to teach children how to make the right choices but instead force them to do what you want them to do?

Do you really think eliminating baggy pants will reduce gang violence? seriously? What does that accomplish? now the kid might not trip anymore? Now he doesnt need to pull up his pants as much? How does any of that lessen that child or other childens ability to lean? "Excuse me, your baggy pants are preventing me from hearing the teacher"

If there is gang violence happening IN the schools, then the solution is not to set a dress code but to get the gangs out of the schools. (and possibly protect the children in the schools better)

Also, I am NOT saying there should be no dress code. There already is one! you can't goto school naked.. there is a reason for that.. You can't wear vulgar or offensive clothing. Hats are not allowed in many schools. Many schools don't allow trenchcoats..(rediculous, I don't think there have been LESS shootings as a result)

If a parent wants to control what their kid can wear, then they have every right to do so. The schools are not parents and should not be.

"nO jeremy KiDS ddddddddddoN'T have any rights untill they are 18......untill THEN they are minors.....look up minor......and you should listen to GRANDMA....she knows what she is talking about....."

Actually I know for a fact that minors have rights. (what rights they have is the question) Look into the ACLU (I believe) for information on it. Any lawyer would tell you children have a subset of rights. Parents as the legal guardians proxy many of their rights but schools are not allowed to infrige on them.

Ok jeremy first of all, why would a kid, a kid, need to wear a trench coat to school to begin with (unless they're trying to hide a gun under it)? And secondly when you said "Excuse me, your baggy pants are preventing me from hearing the teacher" no one ever said that the pants were the direct cause of the learning disruption. They are just part of it.

Like I wouldn't say that some kids red bandana hangin out of his pocket prevents other kids from hearing the teacher or seeing the board, but when that kid gets in a fight in class or in the hallway for being part of the "Bloods" gang in a strictly "Crip" or blue bandana enviornment, then I'd say yes, it does effect other students and it should be regulated.

If you ask me, dress code or not, wearing a trench coat to school is a ridiculous idea in the first place. That shouldn't be aloud regardless. And wearing baggy pants may be a part of this generations culture, but it can also represent that you run with a certain crowd, and can invoke violence.

Example: A woman may dress like a hooker. But does that mean that she is one? No. But by dressing like that she's letting everyone think that that's what she's there for. Yes she has the right to dress however she wants, and how people take it is their business, but the same thing applies to students.

If they wanna dress how they want to then they are open to being construed as in a gang or part of a certain click which can invoke violence making it hard for school officials to not enforce a dress code. Does it make sense now Jeremy. Hopefully this clears things up for you.

Kenny in Tacoma

I say good for the school board. But let's not stop there let's also add the excessive body piercing and tatoos. If it is a distraction it has no place in the class room. Some of these children spend more money on the unappropriate clothing and piercing jewlrey and tatoos than the conforming student does on regular clothing. I also believe they should reinstitute the closed campus.

I have understood from the beginning, but you do not seem to even fathom my point. The baggy pants thing was a over-dramatization used as a joke.

Just because something is rediculous does not mean it should be forbade. That just shows a lack of understanding and flexibility IMO. It is a fashion trend not often followed, the same as suspenders and pocket protectors but I don't see ANYONE telling students they can't have those.

You can just as easily hide stuff in any coat/ jacket... and they are not forbidden. This is what I think a rediculous idea... similar to taking away metal silverware on an airplane. It is just to keep the masses from pancicing, the reality is you can kill a person with any number of things allowed on a plane. (just like during the cold war how people were told to duck and cover for nuclear attacks)

I would be interested in some specific examples. I re-iterate my original statement that the REAL PROBLEM is that schools do not keep gangs out effectively.

In the case of a bandana, no one is being hurt BY the bandana, but instead by the person with the bandana. Removing the bandana is just a way to punish the gang but does not really achieve ANYTHING. There is nothing you can take away that can't be replaced by some other method of standing out. If you are suggesting we should not allow our youth to stand out, but simply to be followers who blend into the background.. I would severly disagree. Explain to me how removing any item from a dress code effectively prevents harm to children because I see statements made on assumptions without the details that backup the logic. Okay, I remove all bandanas, now combing your hair to the right is the thing... You say no combing your hair to the right.. now they pierce their ear.. you say no piercing their ear.. they all get tattoos on their arm, you say no tattoos... they put a tattoo on their face.. you kick them out of school..

There are staggering numbers on depressed kids in schools and there are several reasons for it, but do you really think adding more reasons will solve the problem? As with everything, you can fix the symptom if you want, but if you don't solve the cause for the symptom you will keep seeing the problem reoccur. This is a band-aid for the symptom and not a solution for the problem.

AAAAHHHH the aclu, I see.....but the only time the AclU would be able to intervine in the soverign right of the parent is if,A)the child is being exploited to gain profit..B)the child has been imancipated and is denied the right to support ones self.and so on and so forth.....the only true hope you have is that your parents share the same view as you....then come time to vote at the school board hearing,they can take or back your position.....otherwise you are SOL....you could petition the board along with other students and PARENTS,to listen to your side of it....but be prepared to defend your case....if the majority of the parents say and do nothing....you will be wearing plaid before you can contact the AcLu......your smart. if you don't want it..do something about it...

As a high school teacher--believe a dress code is essential. The threat of gangs is very real and it is quite prevelent in many of our schools. We are fools if we think the dress code is a none issue. The gangs mark their members and their territory--they use everything from one pant leg rolled up to the color of their shoe laces and ID lanyards.

The gang problem is our school is far less a threat today than it was when I started teaching 12 years ago.

Furthermore--if Mom and Dad are not going to stop their daughters from being Brittany wannabes, then I guess the school board will need to. Girls you have no idea what some of your clothing styles do to destroy the learning process in our classes.

With all these new school dress codes they should just have uniforms to save parents the trouble of buying new school clothes every year. That'll end all the dress code issues.

Of course, I plan to home school.

Jeremy ... get used to that the world doesn't always play fair. Lots of privileges have to be earned in life.

Of course we should have dress codes - all students should wear uniforms. School is about learning, not a fashion show. Anybody who doesn't like it can skip school and flip burgers for the rest of their life.

Most burgerjoints actually also have dresscodes for their employees ;)

Just because you want to express yourself and would prefer not to wear a school uniform doesn't mean you will flip burgers the rest of your life. The clothes you choose to wear shouldn't be a privilege to earn. It is a personal freedom. I agree that it isn't always imployed tactfully, which is why a dress code is necessary these days, but they should not be overly restrictive.

Would jumpsuits for everyone be too restrictive ? I mean .. you could get the choice on what color of jumpsuit you want to wear.

I spent the first 5yrs of my academic life wearing uniforms; we were poor and it still showed.
My sweaters were worn and skirts were shiny from repeated ironing.
Everyone knew what to look for.
The next few years in public school were much more productive because I was able to make fashionable clothes to suit my choices of activities.

Don't stiffel children with clothing choices.
There are bigger problems to address.

Remember: When dealing with teens, choose your battles wisely, because it is their responsibility to challange standards as they mature. Tolerence and close observation is all that is needed to guide your teens to a better life with greater understanding for both of you.

i think dress codes are ridiculus. our school says you can't wear holes in your pants. oh yeah and we can't wear shorts from oct. 31- march 1,

school dress codes have been at the center of debate for years. people have been stating their resons for or against the topic in a never ending chain. Why not suggest some compromises? Some compromises would be clear backpacks. That way you can see what is inside them, if they are hiding any weapons. Another compromise would be to have dress down days where students could wear whatever they wanted once and a while. Or, perhaps, make the uniforms look modern and appealing but at the same time cheap.

a dress code is a good idea

I go to a private school where there is a dresscode. It is not a uniform, but it is a dresscode. Some items not allowed are a little strange, like no flip flops since they are dangerous outside (but we don't have any recess, ever!) Or jeans. I find jeans perfectly acceptable.
I think the people who say a uniform takes away the focus on learning are wrong. When people say, "Oh, I like your outift, where did you get it?" I feel good about myself. Don't you tend to do better if you feel good about yourself? I don't know anyone at my school that is so poor they can's afford an outfit that anyone else is wearing. We are all balanced. And no one ever comes up to you and says, "Hey, your outfit is totally ugly today." That is absolutely rude.
Yet I agree that school is not, what did you say, a fashion show? I think we need to have rescrictions, but the restrictions need to be clear and absoltely straightforward. And they need to have a reason behind them. One of our rules is that guys have to tuck their shirts in. They think that is totally unfair, and complain that the girls don't have to, so why should they? And now there is rumor that next year the girls will also have to tuck in their shirts. That's insane. Why don't we just cut the rule alltogether? And then there is the ever-pressing issue that we should go uniform. Every year, that idea is declined. But with the ways things have been going lately, I guess you never know.
Freedom of expression people. I see that there are limits (obviously no descrimination or harrassment or that sort of thing,) by why not cut us a little slack?
One last thing- going uniform would be absolutely awful. Our colors are...not the best. I hate or school colors, they go awfully with my skin tone.
As I said, cut us some slack. We deal with a lot too, you know.