🚀 go-pugleaf

Actually I was looking more for the reason that the opposition to dress
codes is emotional, not especially for intellectual reasons.  But these
will do

Sandy Lemons wrote:

> Dress codes are:
> 
> Sexist:  Females are more often than not forced into dresses or skirts

This is a choice of the local school board.  The dress code need not be
only skirts for girls.  This is a argument which comes after the
decision to have a dress code and is not really relevant to whether any
dress code is right or wrong.

> Elitest.  Unifoms are expensive. Yes, there are programs to help
> poverty line partents, but what of the working class poor?  What of
> children of homeless parent (s) who reside in shelters?

Uniforms save money.  This is from experience.  Because a uniform is
worn only during school (no child would be caught dead after school in
one), it saves the wear and tear on the clothes.  3 sets of clothes last
all school year.  My children have done it both ways and I know that
uniforms are the less expensive way to go.

As far as the homeless children go.  Let's first find a few.  I doubt
that they are in school, but if they are then there are not very many
and I suspect that they are being helped in some other way.

Most homeless people do not have their families with them.

> Racist.  Children /parents who wish to continue celebrating their own
> cultures will not be allowed to.

Celebrating culture is a good thing but it need not be done every day. 
School should be primarily for learning, not "celebrating".

> Anti-religous freedoms. Islam? Menonites? Orthodox Jews? Hindu? All of
> these religions have laws covering clothing.

This one I know a whole lot about.  I am a old-fashioned pentecostal and
my family's dress code differs drastically from the average.  In almost
all situations  accomodations can be made without severe disruption. 
The children affected are quite used to being somewhat different.  This
situation occurs so seldom as to be a very minor problem.

> Enviromently unsound.  Manufacture of new clothing when exsisting
> clothing could be ulitized. Extra useage of water and power *might* be
> a factor.

Same answer as the cost.  Uniforms are not wasteful, they are
economical.

> Controling.  Self explanatory
> Depresses creativity.  I can see where banning obscene words and
> images and maybe even gang colors *might* be useful..but I'm not
> convinced of that.
> Fosters comformity.  No Japanese robot children needed, thank you.

These, I think, may be the nut of the argument.  Should schools perform
any level of socialization.  That is, should children be made to
conform, at least somewhat to societal norms.

While I shudder at the thought of Japanese style conformity (yuck).  I
think a middle road may be useful here.  A little manners training would
do a whole lot of children some good.

> 
> Who is to judge just what clothing is 'correct'? Your idea of
> 'correct' clothing is not always mine.
> 

That is what school boards and elections are for, so that the maximum
number of people have input into the process.

> If you insist on a dress code for children..also insist on one for
> teachers as well.
> 

I couldn't imagine it any other way.  Don't all schools that have
uniforms for children require the same uniforms of teachers. Of course
the catholic schools require an even stricter dress code of the
teachers.

> Just my opinion...been there, done that
> Lemons

Also my opinion, been some places, done some things.

Dale