128 students suspended at Ind. school

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060827/..._st/dress_code

128 students suspended at Ind. school
Classrooms were a little less crowded at Morton High School on the first day
of classes: 128 students were sent home for wearing the wrong clothes.

Fed up with inappropriate outfits, the principal suspended the students for
one day Wednesday, minutes after doors opened at the school. Those suspended
represent more than 10 percent of the 1,200 total students.

The offending attire - including baggy pants, low-cut shirts, tank tops and
graphic T-shirts - are banned from classrooms. Students were also cited for
cell phone use.

"This was the worst year I've seen in a long time," said Principal Theresa
Mayerik. "It's gotten out of control, and we needed to send a message that
we're not messing around."

The Hammond school usually has 20 dress code violations a day.

Mayerik said the infraction would be removed from students' records in 12
weeks if they had no other in-school violations.

School board members said they support Mayerik and the mass suspensions.
"I'd be supportive if half the school was sent home, because 99 percent will
get the message our schools are for education," board president Rebecca Ward
said.



Clearly they are NOT -- they are for teaching kids the appropriate way to
dress -- as teenagers!! In high school!! How does wearing baggy pants
affect a child's education? Why must we always be controlling, controlling,
controlling these kids? This sends the message that we care more about what
you look like than if you learn, that appearance is more important than
education. I don't give a **** what my students are wearing as long as they
are in class!!!! Let them have their little teenage nonsense. Let them
know they can BE THEMSELVES and still learn, still enjoy learning! You know
what? You want to teach kids what is appropriate in a professional
environment? Pick ONE DAY of the week to be Professional Dress Day. Then
let them just be their 14-18 year old selves the rest of the week. Sheesh.
I had a lot of problems with this in the school where I am now. I stood at
the door in the morning and the male dean wasn't letting any girl in whose
skirt he deemed too short. I would argue, pointing out that these skirts
weren't too short (and they weren't -- we had administrators and teachers in
shorter skirts) and what really mattered was getting these kids IN CLASS AND
LEARNING *NOT* sending them home to change (and I don't even want to get
into the legal liabilities of that) causing them to miss an important class.
God, the stupidity DRIVES ME CRAZY! Where are our priorities?

--
nimue

"As an unwavering Republican, I have quite naturally burned more books than
I have read."
Betty Bowers

English is our friend. We don't have to fight it.
Oprah

"nimue" wrote in message
...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060827/..._st/dress_code
Clearly they are NOT -- they are for teaching kids the appropriate way to
dress -- as teenagers!! In high school!! How does wearing baggy pants
affect a child's education? Why must we always be controlling,
controlling,
controlling these kids? This sends the message that we care more about
what
you look like than if you learn, that appearance is more important than
education. I don't give a **** what my students are wearing as long as
they
are in class!!!!

I hope you don't talk like that in class.

Let them have their little teenage nonsense. Let them
know they can BE THEMSELVES and still learn, still enjoy learning! You
know
what? You want to teach kids what is appropriate in a professional
environment? Pick ONE DAY of the week to be Professional Dress Day.

Why just one day? Why not everyday? School is everyday, not just one day.

Then
let them just be their 14-18 year old selves the rest of the week.
Sheesh.
I had a lot of problems with this in the school where I am now. I stood
at
the door in the morning and the male dean wasn't letting any girl in whose
skirt he deemed too short. I would argue, pointing out that these skirts
weren't too short (and they weren't -- we had administrators and teachers
in
shorter skirts)

Then those teachers and administrators need to follow the dress code.

and what really mattered was getting these kids IN CLASS AND
LEARNING *NOT* sending them home to change (and I don't even want to get
into the legal liabilities of that) causing them to miss an important
class.
God, the stupidity DRIVES ME CRAZY! Where are our priorities?

I'm sorry, but you do not have my sympathies. There is a time and place for
everthing. If they want to dress however they want to dress, it's fine. If
school doesn't allow it, then do it outside of school. I prefer kids dress
properly for school; because like it or not, it does set a tone.

toypup wrote:
"nimue" wrote in message
...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060827/..._st/dress_code
Clearly they are NOT -- they are for teaching kids the appropriate
way to dress -- as teenagers!! In high school!! How does wearing
baggy pants affect a child's education? Why must we always be
controlling, controlling,
controlling these kids? This sends the message that we care more
about what
you look like than if you learn, that appearance is more important
than education. I don't give a **** what my students are wearing as
long as they
are in class!!!!

I hope you don't talk like that in class.

What a pointless, ridiculous thing to say. Of course I don't.

Let them have their little teenage nonsense. Let them
know they can BE THEMSELVES and still learn, still enjoy learning!
You know
what? You want to teach kids what is appropriate in a professional
environment? Pick ONE DAY of the week to be Professional Dress Day.

Why just one day? Why not everyday? School is everyday, not just
one day.

Teenagers want to be able to express themselves through their clothing. I
have no problem with that. I don't want to squash their individuality. I
don't want to control every aspect of their lives. I just want them IN
CLASS. Let them have their high school fun; the real world will come along
soon enough.

Then
let them just be their 14-18 year old selves the rest of the week.
Sheesh.
I had a lot of problems with this in the school where I am now. I
stood at
the door in the morning and the male dean wasn't letting any girl in
whose skirt he deemed too short. I would argue, pointing out that
these skirts weren't too short (and they weren't -- we had
administrators and teachers in
shorter skirts)

Then those teachers and administrators need to follow the dress code.

and what really mattered was getting these kids IN CLASS AND
LEARNING *NOT* sending them home to change (and I don't even want to
get into the legal liabilities of that) causing them to miss an
important class.
God, the stupidity DRIVES ME CRAZY! Where are our priorities?

I'm sorry, but you do not have my sympathies. There is a time and
place for everthing. If they want to dress however they want to
dress, it's fine. If school doesn't allow it, then do it outside of
school. I prefer kids dress properly for school; because like it or
not, it does set a tone.

--
nimue

"As an unwavering Republican, I have quite naturally burned more books
than I have read." Betty Bowers

English is our friend. We don't have to fight it.
Oprah

nimue wrote:

Teenagers want to be able to express themselves through their clothing. I
have no problem with that. I don't want to squash their individuality. I
don't want to control every aspect of their lives. I just want them IN
CLASS. Let them have their high school fun; the real world will come along
soon enough.


School IS the real world. It is the job of 14-18 year olds.
And of course they can express their individuality through clothing.
THere are score of options that they can wear that meet the dress code.
Now, if their 'individuality' requires that they go to school 3/4's
naked, or dressed in gang-wear, perhaps their career goals lean towards
exotic dancer or drug dealer ... and neither of those requires a high
school diploma.

Naomi

In article .com,
says...


nimue wrote:

Teenagers want to be able to express themselves through their clothing. I
have no problem with that. I don't want to squash their individuality. I
don't want to control every aspect of their lives. I just want them IN
CLASS. Let them have their high school fun; the real world will come along
soon enough.


School IS the real world. It is the job of 14-18 year olds.
And of course they can express their individuality through clothing.
THere are score of options that they can wear that meet the dress code.
Now, if their 'individuality' requires that they go to school 3/4's
naked, or dressed in gang-wear, perhaps their career goals lean towards
exotic dancer or drug dealer ... and neither of those requires a high
school diploma.


Few teens actually dress to express their individuality. Quite the opposite.
They dress for peer group identification.

Not that that's necessarily all bad, but it's not this vaunted project in
self-actualization that an enlightened institution needs to respect, either. It
can darn well happen during non-school hours, or in more subtle ways within a
dress code.

Banty


--

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5222154.stm

"Banty" wrote in message
...
In article .com,
says...


nimue wrote:

Teenagers want to be able to express themselves through their clothing.
I
have no problem with that. I don't want to squash their individuality.
I
don't want to control every aspect of their lives. I just want them IN
CLASS. Let them have their high school fun; the real world will come
along
soon enough.


School IS the real world. It is the job of 14-18 year olds.
And of course they can express their individuality through clothing.
THere are score of options that they can wear that meet the dress code.
Now, if their 'individuality' requires that they go to school 3/4's
naked, or dressed in gang-wear, perhaps their career goals lean towards
exotic dancer or drug dealer ... and neither of those requires a high
school diploma.


Few teens actually dress to express their individuality. Quite the
opposite.
They dress for peer group identification.

That is their identity.

Not that that's necessarily all bad, but it's not this vaunted project in
self-actualization that an enlightened institution needs to respect,
either. It
can darn well happen during non-school hours, or in more subtle ways
within a
dress code.

Depends on the dress code. But even if they code requires black shoes, they
can choose the brand and style, to suit their needs. Same things with ties
and shirts. And not all dress codes are strick. Apparently, the dress code
that the OP referenced just required that certain areas of the body be
covered and nothing offensive be on the clothing. And, that teens keep their
cell phones off (that's not part of the dress, however - but there were
problems with this, as well).

Jeff

Banty


--

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5222154.stm

wrote:
nimue wrote:

Teenagers want to be able to express themselves through their
clothing. I have no problem with that. I don't want to squash
their individuality. I don't want to control every aspect of their
lives. I just want them IN CLASS. Let them have their high school
fun; the real world will come along soon enough.


School IS the real world. It is the job of 14-18 year olds.

Not all jobs require professional dress, you know. I agree that school is
the job of 14-18 year olds. However, I don't think that they should be made
to dress like office workers while they are teenagers. I am a 38 year old
school teacher and I have come to this conclusion after years of teaching
high school kids.

And of course they can express their individuality through clothing.
THere are score of options that they can wear that meet the dress
code. Now, if their 'individuality' requires that they go to school
3/4's naked, or dressed in gang-wear, perhaps their career goals lean
towards exotic dancer or drug dealer ... and neither of those
requires a high school diploma.

The problem with the dress code is that kids in perfectly respectable
outfits are sent home. In fact, it's usually the girls who are sent home,
at least in my school. I have argued with deans that tell me that a young
girl in a tank top and a jean skirt that stops just above the knee should be
sent home because she is violating dress code. I tell them it's hot; we
have no air conditioning, and this kid is going to miss her first period
English exam. It makes me sick.

Naomi

--
nimue

"As an unwavering Republican, I have quite naturally burned more books
than I have read." Betty Bowers

English is our friend. We don't have to fight it.
Oprah

In article , nimue says...


The problem with the dress code is that kids in perfectly respectable
outfits are sent home. In fact, it's usually the girls who are sent home,
at least in my school. I have argued with deans that tell me that a young
girl in a tank top and a jean skirt that stops just above the knee should be
sent home because she is violating dress code. I tell them it's hot; we
have no air conditioning, and this kid is going to miss her first period
English exam. It makes me sick.

And whose problem is that? She can't stock up on a few light cotton short
sleeve tops for school? The dress code is distributed to all students, right?
(In our district, the parents have to sign it so there are no plaintive excuses
about unseen policies).

Banty


--

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5222154.stm

nimue wrote:
wrote:
nimue wrote:

Teenagers want to be able to express themselves through their
clothing. I have no problem with that. I don't want to squash
their individuality. I don't want to control every aspect of their
lives. I just want them IN CLASS. Let them have their high school
fun; the real world will come along soon enough.


School IS the real world. It is the job of 14-18 year olds.

Not all jobs require professional dress, you know. I agree that school is
the job of 14-18 year olds. However, I don't think that they should be made
to dress like office workers while they are teenagers. I am a 38 year old
school teacher and I have come to this conclusion after years of teaching
high school kids.

Not all jobs require professional dress. But the dress code at this
school (or at our local school) does not require professional dress.
(i.e., jeans and tee shirts are allowed. )

And of course they can express their individuality through clothing.
THere are score of options that they can wear that meet the dress
code. Now, if their 'individuality' requires that they go to school
3/4's naked, or dressed in gang-wear, perhaps their career goals lean
towards exotic dancer or drug dealer ... and neither of those
requires a high school diploma.

The problem with the dress code is that kids in perfectly respectable
outfits are sent home. In fact, it's usually the girls who are sent home,
at least in my school. I have argued with deans that tell me that a young
girl in a tank top and a jean skirt that stops just above the knee should be
sent home because she is violating dress code. I tell them it's hot; we
have no air conditioning, and this kid is going to miss her first period
English exam. It makes me sick.

Well, it sounds like your local schools have dress codes that are far
more stringent than that in the school in the article, or in our local
school.

But, in any case, you presumably are aware of the dress code. If a
denim skirt isn't permitted, presumably some other sort of skirt of
acceptable legnth is permitted. (In a fabric that would be far cooler
than denim.) If she can't wear a tank top, surely she can wear a short
sleeved blouse or polo.

Naomi

"nimue" wrote in message
...
wrote:
nimue wrote:

Teenagers want to be able to express themselves through their
clothing. I have no problem with that. I don't want to squash
their individuality. I don't want to control every aspect of their
lives. I just want them IN CLASS. Let them have their high school
fun; the real world will come along soon enough.


School IS the real world. It is the job of 14-18 year olds.

Not all jobs require professional dress, you know.

As a physician, I can assure you that my brain works just as well when I am
wearing shorts as it does when I have a tie on.

For students to use their brain, pretty much shorts, a shirt and sandles is
all they need. Actually, they will get along fine if they are naked, but the
only science that they will be into is anatomy.

I agree that school is
the job of 14-18 year olds. However, I don't think that they should be
made
to dress like office workers while they are teenagers. I am a 38 year old
school teacher and I have come to this conclusion after years of teaching
high school kids.

Yet a lot of private prep schools require shirts, ties and jackets.

What they wear doesn't make their brain work better. But, by wearing a
uniform, clothing differences between kids are reduced. And it helps them
feel like they belong, IMHO.

And of course they can express their individuality through clothing.
THere are score of options that they can wear that meet the dress
code. Now, if their 'individuality' requires that they go to school
3/4's naked, or dressed in gang-wear, perhaps their career goals lean
towards exotic dancer or drug dealer ... and neither of those
requires a high school diploma.

The problem with the dress code is that kids in perfectly respectable
outfits are sent home. In fact, it's usually the girls who are sent
home,
at least in my school. I have argued with deans that tell me that a young
girl in a tank top and a jean skirt that stops just above the knee should
be
sent home because she is violating dress code. I tell them it's hot; we
have no air conditioning, and this kid is going to miss her first period
English exam. It makes me sick.

Yet the kid had the option of wearing dress that conforms to the published
code.

If skirts above the knees and tank tops are prohibited, she should know and
conform to the code.

Jeff

Naomi

--
nimue

"As an unwavering Republican, I have quite naturally burned more books
than I have read." Betty Bowers

English is our friend. We don't have to fight it.
Oprah