Youth Voice's piece

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Permalink Reply by John Antonelli on July 25, 2008 at 5:08pm

The law of the State of MD and Commonwealth of VA

Permalink Reply by John G. Boyle on July 25, 2008 at 5:08pm

Snyder,

Consider the research that exists on adolescent brain development. Most of what you're going to find indicates that teenagers (and think of the difference between 13-18) are definitely not "for most intended purposes full-grown-adult people." They're incredibly impressionable and their brains are rapidly changing.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/teenage-brain-a-work-in...

Permalink Reply by Christopher on July 25, 2008 at 5:18pm

For the record, Snyder, I am 19, so I do not have kids yet (thank goodness). I agree with you that ideas, tastes, and styles are subjective and can not be labeled as right or wrong. I am not saying with a dress code that one style is right.
However, when kids start getting hurt because they are getting teased for what they wear or a shirt has a racial or sexist slur on it then I think dress needs to be curtailed by imposing restrictions with a dress code.

Permalink Reply by Pete Kang on July 26, 2008 at 4:26am

I agree that kids need other outlets of expression which are much more meaningful than clothing. Besides, given the freedom to wear whatever they want, most kids end up conforming to the popular norm of dress (as you stated, either very provocative for girls or urban/gangsta for boys).

Permalink Reply by Mike Cherlow on July 26, 2008 at 8:25am

what do you say to the parents who have to put their kids in counseling because of all the teasing. Many studies have shown how underdeveloped a teen's mind is and self esteem is hard to develop even without being teased about your clothes.

Also I wonder what you think about the cost argument, school uniforms save parents money

Permalink Reply by Snyder on July 29, 2008 at 10:21am

I would say that there is something not working in the development of this kids' sense of self-worth, and that getting him or her to participate in a sport or another activity couple potentially improve his or her condition. I'm not a psychologist but I would say that just because someone if getting teased it does not mean every student should have their right to wear what they want revoked. Teasing is going to occur in school whether there are uniforms or not. Teasing at the middle-school/high-school age simply happens.

Permalink Reply by Snyder on July 29, 2008 at 10:37am

Teasing is going to happen either way. And although I'm against school uniforms, I am not against school dress code. Something as sensible as banning racist/sexist slurs and overly provocative clothing is not a bad idea. If kids are going to be forced to go to school, they should be not be forced to be subjected to slander in this way.. On the other hand, as far as teasing goes, teasing happens outside of the classroom as well. It is a good opportunity, if anything, for kids to develop a sense of self-worth that is not associated with their clothes or other material possessions and to find friends that they like for who they are not for their irrellevant "social status."

Permalink Reply by Snyder on July 29, 2008 at 10:40am

Kids should have the freedom to conform if they want to.

Permalink Reply by Hilary K. on January 2, 2009 at 5:13pm

Schools that want uniforms should have them, and the kids who want to be able to express themselves with their clothes should have an "optional uniform free Friday," like casual dress Friday in the work place. The two keys to making this work would be (1) if you want to wear your uniform Friday, you can, and (2) you could still have some kind of dress code in place for those who choose not to wear the uniform on Fridays.

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