The Wawascene was created by Dr. Mark Stock, former Superintendent of the Wawasee Community School Corporation. Due to its local popularity, Dr. Stock has left the blog site to future Wawasee administrators.

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Detroit Dress Code

Detroit Public Schools is considering a strict dress code.

While this dress code appears to be less strict than school uniforms, it isn't far off either.

I get asked privately sometimes how I feel about school uniforms and I admit to being somewhat skeptical. I think it might make some things a little easier in terms of managing our schools but at Wawasee in particular I am not yet convinced that the difference it makes is that great.

In other words it solves some problems and then creates others.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I see the benfits of a uniform policy. When I look at Wawasee I see a lot of clothing that would not be allowed in other school districts. Even cracking down on little things like spaghetti straps, writing on rumps, and hats would be a good start.

We allow our students lots of freedom and rewards, and I am not sure whether that is hurting or helping. Manners, respect, and ESPECIALLY doing work for the intrinsic rewards are slowly becoming a thing of the past.

Anonymous said...

I'd love to see uniforms or an enforced dress code. It would close the gap between the haves and have nots. It would help the males focus on learning rather than on a female's clevage or her thong which is showing from her low pants. It would help in keeping offensive writing off t-shirts. It would keep everyone's "cracks" from being exposed. It would cut down on parent's clothing bills. As a parent and teacher, I'd love to have public schools move towards uniforms.

Anonymous said...

As an educator, I would love to see Wawasee have uniforms! I agree with the reasons of the poster of the second comment. Along with those reasons, I believe uniforms would help with doing our very best at protecting the safety of our students. It's harder to hide things in pants that actually fit and with shirts tucked in. If gangs were ever to become an issue here, it would also help to make it more difficult to show gang affiliation (colors, signs, etc.). I just believe in this day and age, uniforms would be beneficial!

Anonymous said...

As a student at Wawasee, I think that school uniforms are a great idea(and you probably wont hear that from many of us) I think that we have a problem with critisizing kids by their clothes and its something that uniforms would help, in my opinion.

Anonymous said...

How about just enforcing the dress code that's already in place?? It's a battle to make sure my 2 HS daughters stay covered when 'everyone else' doesn't have to adhere to the dress code. I always thought it would be a good idea to have a supply of really ugly muumuus(sp?)and when a student breaks the rules of the dress code, (short skirt, tummies hanging out, thongs where they shouldn't be, etc.)they get to wear one for the day to cover up. A little humiliation isn't a bad thing when egos are super-inflated.......

Anonymous said...

I like the muumuu (sp?) idea,,,but talk about a law suit waiting to happen...sometimes parents don't allow humility to play into education! Enforce the dress code...and parents...enfoce it before they leave the house or when they show you what they purchased with (most of the time) your money!

Anonymous said...

I agree that Wawasee's dress code needs to be enforced. Students know they can wear whatever they want. Warm weather makes it worse. Short skirts, skimpy tops, and low necklines are common. Holes in jeans and shorts (even above the knee) are the norm.

Why not enforce the dress code by sitting a student in ISS until a parent comes with a change of clothing. This will communicate to the student that the dress code is meant to be followed. Students will follow the dress code if it is enforced. Instead we throw up our hands in disguist but it seems nothing ever changes.

Anonymous said...

I also agree that the dress code needs to be enforced, but we will all have to find someplace to shop. Most of the shirts and tops in the junior sections of our local stores look like they belong in the little girls section. Length of shorts is also an issue. While my girls are athletes and wear basketball shorts and sweatshirts most of the time, I admit it has been difficult to find clothes that "fit" the dress code.

Anonymous said...

I've seen quite a few girls in athletic shorts--they are very modest and do not go against the dress code. Capris are also very popular and are a good substitute for the short shorts.

And it is possible for girls to find shirts that are school appropriate. Not everything in the malls is skimpy, tight, and revealing. Sometimes all it would take is a girl buying the next bigger size. Some try to fit into a size extra small when they are truly a medium.