Some students are returning to school with new bans in effect

[SEWIGuy]

Maybe I'm the only one who doesn't mind a school uniform? For elementary school (JK-Grade 8), there was no uniform, but high school (Grade 9-12) had a uniform. The uniform didn't bother me at all, and it was actually kind of convenient.

I think school dress codes in general suck.

They're anti-American.

Because the American military doesn't have a dress code or anything.

Should we run public schools like the military? This is the dumbest thing I've heard since the school's justification of wearing black clothes.

You were the one that extrapolated something that happens in the schools to be "anti-American". I just provided an example to show that America has plenty of official dress codes.

For sure! Retail jobs often have uniforms, some professions have formal dress codes, etc. Also, is there anything more American than the military?

All sorts of jobs have dress codes or "dress expectations." That doesn't mean that should extend to the public schools.

[Big John]

Some people will need to wear a uniform sometime in their later life, therefore all schoolchildren need to wear school uniforms.  

[ZLoth]

From my perspective, the emphasis is to prepare young people for the adult workplace. It's not a place for a fashion show or the high school athletic heroes. Only a few lucky athletes actually make it to the pros. The rest of us will end up working almost every day from the time we graduate to the time we (hopefully) retire. In adulthood, there is no three month "summer vacations" or "breaks". For most of us, we take up a second unpaid job of becoming parents. Depending on the choices we make, the result careers can mean engineering roads, software development, sales, or saying "Would you like fries with that?" and the associated paycheck. It will more likely mean, at times, working very late, or arriving at work while it's oh-so-dark outside, or weekend work. Sometimes, it also means that you are working a holiday while other folks are at home opening presents.

The worst part? The young people graduating today will probably have a worse life than their parents had.

[ZLoth]

Some people will need to wear a uniform sometime in their later life, therefore all schoolchildren need to wear school uniforms.

If not uniforms, then there is an acceptable dress code... especially if you are interacting with customers.

[SEWIGuy]

From my perspective, the emphasis is to prepare young people for the adult workplace.

No grade school child needs to be prepared for the adult workplace via a dress code. That's nonsense.

[JayhawkCO]

We should all be able to agree that the burgeoning fascism must end.

Wholeheartedly agree. What I would recommend through, is investigating what fascism is. Because 99% of the time that word is invoked in this country, it's to discuss something that isn't remotely similar to fascism.

[ZLoth]

From my perspective, the emphasis is to prepare young people for the adult workplace.

No grade school child needs to be prepared for the adult workplace via a dress code. That's nonsense.

You want to establish good habits while they are young. Dress shirts and ties? Nope. T-shifts with questionable messages? Probably.

[SEWIGuy]

From my perspective, the emphasis is to prepare young people for the adult workplace.

No grade school child needs to be prepared for the adult workplace via a dress code. That's nonsense.

You want to establish good habits while they are young. Dress shirts and ties? Nope. T-shifts with questionable messages? Probably.

Absolutely not. I have three kids, never once cared what they wore to school, and they are all adults with stable jobs where I assume they know how to dress correctly.

The idea that these are "habits" that they somehow won't be able to break is silly.

"Dad, I got fired today because, even though everyone around me wears a nice shirt and slacks, I can't help but wearing a hoodie and sweatpants because of what I wore in high school."

[NWI_Irish96]

To me, there are three reasons to restrict what is worn in school:

1) Safety - banning hoodies can fall into this category along with other outerwear that could be used to conceal dangerous items

2) Obscenity - self-explanatory

3) Too revealing - people's opinions on what is exactly too revealing will differ, but as long as the policy is clear and consistently enforced, that's good enough

[JayhawkCO]

1) Safety - banning hoodies can fall into this category along with other outerwear that could be used to conceal dangerous items

But if you need to wear a jacket into school during the winter, is that not just as "concealing" as a hoodie would be?

[NWI_Irish96]

1) Safety - banning hoodies can fall into this category along with other outerwear that could be used to conceal dangerous items

But if you need to wear a jacket into school during the winter, is that not just as "concealing" as a hoodie would be?

I wasn't talking about wearing it to school and then putting it in your locker or hung up somewhere. I was thinking more of wearing it all day. Not even letting them wear the hoodie to school is extreme.

[Max Rockatansky]

1) Safety - banning hoodies can fall into this category along with other outerwear that could be used to conceal dangerous items

But if you need to wear a jacket into school during the winter, is that not just as "concealing" as a hoodie would be?

Also, where is the actual safety?  If some kid is motivated enough to do something bad they'll find a way around security theater.

[SEWIGuy]

To me, there are three reasons to restrict what is worn in school:

1) Safety - banning hoodies can fall into this category along with other outerwear that could be used to conceal dangerous items

2) Obscenity - self-explanatory

3) Too revealing - people's opinions on what is exactly too revealing will differ, but as long as the policy is clear and consistently enforced, that's good enough

I agree with 2 and 3. Cover yourself and keep it clean.

Agree with Max on 1.

[jeffandnicole]

Might as well ban book bags too if we're worried about #1.

Ban books too. Never know if one is actually a fake storage book with a secret compartment.

[bandit957]

Might as well ban book bags too if we're worried about #1.

Some schools already have.

Ban books too. Never know if one is actually a fake storage book with a secret compartment.

They've done that too.

[JayhawkCO]

Ban books too. Never know if one is actually a fake storage book with a secret compartment.

They've done that too.

And, to reference an earlier post, THIS is fascism!

[SEWIGuy]

Might as well ban book bags too if we're worried about #1.

Ban books too. Never know if one is actually a fake storage book with a secret compartment.

That's the price we pay as a society for the Shawshank Redemption.

[ZLoth]

2) Obscenity - self-explanatory
3) Too revealing - people's opinions on what is exactly too revealing will differ, but as long as the policy is clear and consistently enforced, that's good enough

These two items are the big ones right there in my opinion. Safety is also a factor.

Might as well ban book bags too if we're worried about #1.

Actually, some school districts require clear bags.

[Molandfreak]

From my perspective, the emphasis is to prepare young people for the adult workplace. It's not a place for a fashion show or the high school athletic heroes. Only a few lucky athletes actually make it to the pros. The rest of us will end up working almost every day from the time we graduate to the time we (hopefully) retire. In adulthood, there is no three month "summer vacations" or "breaks". For most of us, we take up a second unpaid job of becoming parents. Depending on the choices we make, the result careers can mean engineering roads, software development, sales, or saying "Would you like fries with that?" and the associated paycheck. It will more likely mean, at times, working very late, or arriving at work while it's oh-so-dark outside, or weekend work. Sometimes, it also means that you are working a holiday while other folks are at home opening presents.

The worst part? The young people graduating today will probably have a worse life than their parents had.

What if kids have decided early on that they don't want to have a desk job? My primary job is outside, and my supervisors don't care what I wear as long as it isn't potentially offensive to others. Whatever I'm wearing is always covered up by hi-vis PPE anyway.

School isn't just about preparing students for the workforce, it's also about teaching critical thinking skills, enlightening minds, and making social connections. In what way do alternative aesthetics hinder those goals?

[JayhawkCO]

1) Safety - banning hoodies can fall into this category along with other outerwear that could be used to conceal dangerous items

But if you need to wear a jacket into school during the winter, is that not just as "concealing" as a hoodie would be?

I wasn't talking about wearing it to school and then putting it in your locker or hung up somewhere. I was thinking more of wearing it all day. Not even letting them wear the hoodie to school is extreme.

The only thing I would say re: hoodies, is that they shouldn't have the hood itself on to "hide" in class. That seems to be more the issue than hiding weapons.

[Molandfreak]

1) Safety - banning hoodies can fall into this category along with other outerwear that could be used to conceal dangerous items

But if you need to wear a jacket into school during the winter, is that not just as "concealing" as a hoodie would be?

I wasn't talking about wearing it to school and then putting it in your locker or hung up somewhere. I was thinking more of wearing it all day. Not even letting them wear the hoodie to school is extreme.

The only thing I would say re: hoodies, is that they shouldn't have the hood itself on to "hide" in class. That seems to be more the issue than hiding weapons.

Context matters there, too. They could just be cold, and a lot of schools don't allow hats in class.

[JayhawkCO]

1) Safety - banning hoodies can fall into this category along with other outerwear that could be used to conceal dangerous items

But if you need to wear a jacket into school during the winter, is that not just as "concealing" as a hoodie would be?

I wasn't talking about wearing it to school and then putting it in your locker or hung up somewhere. I was thinking more of wearing it all day. Not even letting them wear the hoodie to school is extreme.

The only thing I would say re: hoodies, is that they shouldn't have the hood itself on to "hide" in class. That seems to be more the issue than hiding weapons.

Context matters there, too. They could just be cold, and a lot of schools don't allow hats in class.

Eh. I don't think I've ever worn a hood inside for warmth, and certainly not in any situation above 60°. If the classroom is less than 60°, we have other issues with that school.

[Molandfreak]

1) Safety - banning hoodies can fall into this category along with other outerwear that could be used to conceal dangerous items

But if you need to wear a jacket into school during the winter, is that not just as "concealing" as a hoodie would be?

I wasn't talking about wearing it to school and then putting it in your locker or hung up somewhere. I was thinking more of wearing it all day. Not even letting them wear the hoodie to school is extreme.

The only thing I would say re: hoodies, is that they shouldn't have the hood itself on to "hide" in class. That seems to be more the issue than hiding weapons.

Context matters there, too. They could just be cold, and a lot of schools don't allow hats in class.

Eh. I don't think I've ever worn a hood inside for warmth, and certainly not in any situation above 60°. If the classroom is less than 60°, we have other issues with that school.

A 60° indoor temperature could feel very cold to someone from a tropical country. Or, well, southern Florida or Louisiana.

[ZLoth]

What if kids have decided early on that they don't want to have a desk job? My primary job is outside, and my supervisors don't care what I wear as long as it isn't potentially offensive to others. Whatever I'm wearing is always covered up by hi-vis PPE anyway.

If you are talking about Personal Protection Equipment, that is your job's "dress code".

School isn't just about preparing students for the workforce, it's also about teaching critical thinking skills, enlightening minds, and making social connections. In what way do alternative aesthetics hinder those goals?

The words that I used at the start of this thread is "skills to be self-sufficient adults and contributing members of society". As such, reducing the distractions helps in this aspect.... especially when we are talking about an age range where hormones are "raging".

[JayhawkCO]

1) Safety - banning hoodies can fall into this category along with other outerwear that could be used to conceal dangerous items

But if you need to wear a jacket into school during the winter, is that not just as "concealing" as a hoodie would be?

I wasn't talking about wearing it to school and then putting it in your locker or hung up somewhere. I was thinking more of wearing it all day. Not even letting them wear the hoodie to school is extreme.

The only thing I would say re: hoodies, is that they shouldn't have the hood itself on to "hide" in class. That seems to be more the issue than hiding weapons.

Context matters there, too. They could just be cold, and a lot of schools don't allow hats in class.

Eh. I don't think I've ever worn a hood inside for warmth, and certainly not in any situation above 60°. If the classroom is less than 60°, we have other issues with that school.

A 60° indoor temperature could feel very cold to someone from a tropical country. Or, well, southern Florida or Louisiana.

But the likelihood of having an indoor temperature that cool is incredibly low, which is the point I was making.