More Knox County schools could have their own dress codes next year

[Lola Alapo]

After the success of dress standards at two Knox County high schools, about 20 other schools are thinking about implementing their own.
They're careful not to call them uniforms.

See the story at http://knoxnews.com/news/2009/jan/21/20-more-knox-schools-interested/

What do you think about schools having their own dress standards? How do you think this will impact students? parents' wallets?

Lola Alapo
K-12 Education Reporter
Knoxville News Sentinel

[Roxy Hodge]

Will teachers/staff/admin/janitors/caf workers/principals all wear this "uniform" also ? what about visitors to the school? We need to feel we belong and not be singled out...

[Ginevra]

Mike, it's been some years ago since I listened to a Knox County middle school student who had recently transferred in from Webb. She said that she missed uniforms because they made her mornings so much simpler. Her mother concurred.

I attended a parochial school with uniforms for several years (although I'm not Catholic) and I definitely think uniforms make a young girl's life easier. Knowing what you will wear each morning gives you more time to focus on hairstyling, makeup... and your studies.

When I looked at promotion from women's colleges for my children (none of them went to any of these schools, but still) one of the things that the students from those schools emphasized was that they had more time for studying instead of focusing their attention on their wardrobe.

As a parent, I wish my kids had had the opportunity to wear uniforms. School uniforms save time, reinforce a focus on academics instead of wardrobe details, and even the playing field for different economic groups. The kids know whose parents can afford mall clothing vs. those who obviously shop at Kmart, and some have been taunted painfully about this. Uniforms are easier to "hand down" than many other kinds of clothing.

You may have different opinions and I respect your right to your opinion. But the above is my two cents' worth

[Ahnna]

I agree we should listen to the people who are in the trenches. The students at both ae and fulton have told me that they see a difference in other students attitudes.

[Mike Norris]

These replies are still subjective. Have grades improved? Have administration and staff documented a decrease in disciplinary actions? Has there been a decrease in absenteeism? I can see how this could save time for the girls, but a young lady from Fulton said you would not believe how creative the students have become with the UNIFORMS. HMMM, sounds like our current dress code at SD. The argument that this would even the economic playing field is often quoted, but the kids that this would matter to still know if they are Wal-Mart brand or American Eagle jeans. All I am asking for is some objective data to help parents like me to be informed. And I'm still waiting on an answer about the students on free or reduced lunches. Who buys their UNIFORMS? In these hard economic times should parents be forced to buy more clothes that will not be worn anywhere else?

[Lisa Starbuck]

One of the objective comments in the story was that tardiness had decreased and they attributed that to the dress code.

[Cathy McCaughan]

I attribute it to the way adults are reacting to students in uniforms.

[Ahnna]

How so?

[Mike Norris]

The article reads ( While the improvements have largely been due to breaking students into one of four learning programs with their own floors, "you can't take dress codes out of the mix" said Fulton's Executive Principal Jon Rysewyk). Did you notice how many subjective words were used? "seemed to improve tardiness", "dress requirements could help students concentrate less on clothing and more on academics", "could be a financial equalizer". Did you notice that a 12 year research study showed no effectiveness whatsoever? Maybe perception is not reality!

[Cathy McCaughan]

This is all about perception. The adults perceive the students better when they are all dressed alike. I have no doubt that the students are treated better when they are wearing khakis and polos than when they wear saggy jeans and hoodies. The only study that would show students in uniforms perform better academically than students who are allowed to dress like teenagers would be a study of private school students.

I was at the PTA meeting for one of the schools who will start requiring uniforms next year when they announced that they are going to have a dress code. Actually, they said, "We are using the word "dress policy" instead of "school uniform." There were less than 20 people in the room and comments included, "That would make it so much easier to decide what to wear in the morning." I don't know what their closet looks like, but my only concern is that my children have something clean to wear that wasn't outgrown overnight. I think my favorite comment was, "Poor people should LIKE this policy." Why is that exactly? One parent in the room asked who would buy uniforms for students who can't afford them. The response was that parents have to clothe their own children. Another quote from the room, "Most of the kids are wearing North Face and Ambercrombie anyway. They can afford it." There is a housing project directly across the street from the school. Not all parents can afford to have special clothes just for school.

[Debi]

Just because a kid has a North Face jacket doesn't mean parents can afford things. It may mean it was a special gift that took lots of sacrifice to get. Lots of doing odd jobs and saving allowance money. Maybe sacrificing any other Christmas presents to get the one jacket.

[Shelley Rogers]

I am not an expert, but I believe the school/school system would have to provide uniforms for fee waiver students. I'm basing this on the fact that they cannot be required to pay for field trips, school t-shirts, etc. There is no way these families would be forced to comply at their own expense (nor should they be).

Of course, Austin East and Fulton both have high percentages of students who receive free/reduced lunches. Perhaps someone from one of these schools could answer from experience?

I am against uniforms. Like Mike mentioned, I don't want to buy a second wardrobe that we won't wear outside of school.

[Mike Norris]

I have been told that the % of students @ SD maybe as high as 40-50%. WOW! This would impact say 400 students on the low end estimation. At, say, 60$ per student that is 24K per year. Surely this would be cost prohibitive.