School Uniforms

     School uniforms... are they a help or a hindrance?  Who would think we'd have to ask that question?  Afterall the idea of school uniforms was implemented to help alleviate some of the burdens of parents in buying clothes for their kids.  But in Beauregard Parish, some parents are complaining that the dress policy has become too strict.  Parents say the confusion the code causes takes the emphasis off of education.  What do you think?  Have school uniform policies become to burdensome?

Comments

[Pat]

Uniforms are a burden because they cost so much. For a single mom with 2 children, the uniforms cost much more than ordinary school clothes.

[Gerri]

I think it has become ridiculous how the schools have taken the uniform policy to the extreme. I remember when I was in school we had a dress code to follow not a uniform, but the uniform issue has become greatly out of hand. My children attend Calcasieu Parish schools. I was told by my Middle Schooler that she could not wear the jacket that I bought her for her birthday to school because it was denim and not a school jacket or sweatshirt that was more expensive. I was told she could not wear certain logos on clothing, but yet there are not too many clothing items that you buy that do not have these labels. My child has actually recieved detention for this. She was a straight A student until this incident that brought her grade average down. What is next??? Will we end up having to spend more money on school clothes by buying the whole uniform from the school? These are PUBLIC schools, not private.

Thank You for addressing this issue.

[Renee]

My child was singled out this year because his shirt wasn't tucked in far enough to please one teacher on the first day of school. He had gone through the entire day with his shirt tucked in in the same manner until one particular teacher forced him outside of her classroom twice because she said she couldn't see his belt buckle. The other problem is with outerwear. It is very difficult to find a winter jacket that is acceptable to the school regulations because most of them have logos or are not the correct colors. Then you have to find clothes without hoods, hopefully your kids will make it to school without getting sick. More emphasis needs to be on teaching instead of what the children are wearing. Sometimes, I believe that this is just used as a tactic to single out or intimidate children. Good luck with talking to the principals, because they are never available to discuss problems your children may be facing with a teacher who goes as far as to tell them that she failed 60% of her students last year, possibly because they are too busy preparing for other jobs!

[Tressa]

Society's attitude towards morality requires schools to enforce a uniform dress code. Without this code, girls would show up half naked (like they do in the mall), and boys would show up with their pants falling off, underwear showing (like they do in the mall.) While walking in the mall this past Labor Day, my almost 7 year old daughter was astonished at how the young girls are dressing. I pray she continues to feel this way. It's bad enough what the kids are learning from other kids at school. The least we can do is make them dress appropriately, if only for 7 or 8 hours a day. Uniforms cost no more than what regular clothes cost. And if you wash often enough, you can buy less. Who would ever know if you are re-wearing the same thing...it all looks alike.

[C.T.]

My children attend Beauregard Parish schools. I find these strict rules on school uniforms are becoming unbearable. It is very hard to find uniforms that the schools approve of. It is also difficult to find the correct sizes to fit your children and it is very costly. It is so frustrating when these children are being wrote up, sent to the office, and even sent to in school suspension over one little flaw in their uniform. This is taking time away from their education. Our children are sent to school to learn, not to be put under so much stress over their clothing. Though I do not like the school uniforms , I think we could all deal with it a little better if our children did not have all these strict uniform dress codes.

[Kelly]

I am a parent of a children who attend school in Beauregard Parish. There are issues that are being taken to extremes. Uniforms are just one being at the top of this list. I beleive we need documentation of the dates and times these children are pulled out of class. I have instructed my children to respect the school rules as they stand. I have also instructed them to keep a personal log of dates and times that pertain to uniform violations. As a graduate I am dissapointed that this issue takes focus away from my childrens education and simply takes more control over our American lives. We need to stand together as parents and say no more uniforms.

[Brittany]

School uniforms that we have worn for the last five years have now become a big issue. I am a student at East Beaurgard JR. High. It's not necessary to put kids in ISS or Saturday School Detention because your parents are at work and can't bring you a pair of pants because they have a logo on the pocket. The punishments have went overboard. So now it's time to rock the boat.

[michelle]

My child goes to school in calcasieu parish and was told that the navy blue pants that she wears is not dark enough. She wore these pants for the last couple weeks without one word then one teacher decides they are not navy blue enough. I think these rules are getting out of hand and we need to be focused on more important things like education. They are not allowed to wear jackets or coats with hoods because of safety and the school my child goes to decided they would make their own rule that no other school has to follow.....they are not allowed to wear shorts from November to April. We live in Louisiana where its warm most of the year. These are not safety issues....these are rediculous rules that these schools focus on instead of what they are here for....education. I was one of the parents that was in favor of uniforms but now its getting out of control.

[priscilla]

I'm a mother of 6, 4 of my own and two step. two graduated from EBHS. When uniforms were first brought about at EBHS the parents voted them down but they were forced on us. this is america is'nt it? my daughter was sent to the office the secound day of school for a butterfly on her shrit. then she was sent last week for the back of her shrit untucked and gave saturday detintion. I'm not sending her to sat. detention and she is not being punished for this.... even if I have to get a laywer...this uniform thing has gone way to far... and it is time we as parents take a stand and do something about this...this is america??????...we can put a stop to this if we all band together....

[Crystal]

I am also and East Beauregard parent. Plain and simply the uniforms just need to go they can give all the excuses they want The people voted against them and they were ignored. Now its gone as far as the assistant pricipal having the students take off their shoes to look for colors and logos on their socks thats pushing things. These kids are there to learn not to worry about what uniform rule they violated. These teachers go to school to be able to teach our children. Not to have to spend the time worring about the uniforms. but because of the school board and pricipals they are forced to spend less time teaching them, and more time with uniform enforcement. Uniform violation earns you in school suspention, write ups or hours in the office waiting on a parent to bring you something else to wear, Now just how much education time is being wasted?????

[Susan Anthony]

It is ridiculous. At first it seemed like a good idea but the administration is taking it too far. And on Fridays children in some shcools pay to have a free dress day..is this even legal? Where is this money going to? The school board along with other parish memebers needs to start focusing on the important things. Today I saw three cop cars near the mall and was wondering if soemthing happened. As I followed one cop he stopped two boys walking home and had the boys put their hands on the car and from what I observed they were stopped for sagging pants (which I am not a fan of but these boys pants were not dis-tasteful at all). It hurted my hurt to watch this. I think those cops could have been attending to more serious situations, just like administration. ...they need to realize that logos, style of clothes, etc will not make the world a better place. WaKE up PeoPle!!!!! These kids do not deserve this..

[kirk]

my daughter goes to school in calcasieu parish and im fed up with these uniform rules. i understand that in private school there are uniforms but in public schools we should have a choice. we are responsible enough parents to dress our children in appropriate clothing instead we are forced to dress our children in clothes that someone else has chosen. this is america!! slowly our rights are being taken away. as much as i disagree with the uniform rule, now they are taken it too a new extreme and ridaculing these kids for every little thing.

[Toby]

Let us teach our childeren to salute their teachers with their arm fully extended and repeat these words, HO HITLER. This will come in handy later in life because our government will have total control over their lives. School uniforms are just the begining. My wife has had to bring my son his belt to school so he would not be crusified. He cannot wear one of the dozen pairs of ankle socks we bought over the summer because you CANT see them!! How stupid is that!! Dont get me started. Have a nice day!

[jw]

I have two children one graduated and one is in the sixth grade. So far we have had no trouble with the uniform policy.

[kat315]

I am a single mom and my daughter has been wearing the same kind of shirts for the past four years with no complaints and now that she is going to a different school, but still in Calcasieu Parish the shirt is not acceptable because it has a butterfly on it that is barely visible. I can’t afford to purchase food and medicine for the month because I have to go buy new shirts.
I just want to know what happened to

“A FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION”

I say do away with the uniforms.

[Pete]

I was at the uniform meeting and I would like to thank KPLC and Natalie for being there as well.
Natalie had to leave before the showing of hands.. The hand were in favor of saying bye- bye to uniforms.. The ball is now in play and this is not a game where losing is an option. I'm not going to bog down this thread with my opinions, but my opinions are available on Cynthia's Back To School blog.. Thanks Pete

[My Thoughts and Don't Care]

This is not Beauregard Parish. SO.... Don't care.

School uniforms are best I think. It keeps the girls from dressing like little ho's and the boys from wearing saggy pants.

It is cheaper then having to go on a shopping spree and spend a crap load of money.

Keep them wearing uniforms. Best way to go

[Carrie Ancelet]

I still think uniforms are a good idea. The children look good going to school, but when they get there the shirt comes out and the pants slide down. Somewhere the control got out of hand. Calcasieu allows any coat to be worn outside. Once in the building, the coat must go in the locker and only a specific color with no logo can be worn. The children are cold in class and that does not promote a comfortable learning environment. Not many stores sell solid blue jackets and those that do shrink, don't fit well and look tacky. The specific style of belts and socks do not make since either. Lets get back to the basics.

Thanks, Carrie

[Pete]

one question I will through out there to the uniforms supporters is, if uniforms did half of what they were put in place to do wouldn't LCB still be open??? Uniforms did nothing to help these kids keep their school open...Peace Pete

[Dawn]

The whole idea of school uniforms was ridiculous in the first place. My kids attend a Cameron Parish school. When it costs over $700 to outfit 4 teenagers, that's a problem! They need to go back to just enforcing a dress code at school. It wasn't broken, so they didn't need to fix it. I believe someone on the school boards are getting kickbacks from all these uniform sales.

[mattie]

My thoughts on school uniforms is that, the kids can't wear name brand clothes like AE,hollister ect. but they can wear name brand shoes. I think this whole idea of school uniforms are getting way out of hand,they need to be putting all of this energy on education.

[Terri]

the bad thing about school uniforms are some of them are hard to find. Some are so expensive I can buy regular clothes cheaper than the uniforms. The uniforms were to help the schools not the Parents.

[angela]

Scholl uniforms are not more expensive than regular clothes. They make them affordable. You can get them @second hand stores in good condition. I do believe they keep some order but are not the solutions for a lot of things that "the school board thought they would be". Although checking the socks inside the shoes is carrying it a bit far. What are you going to do next, check the undergarments for brands.

[Sarah]

I have no problems buying the proper uniforms for my daughter. She doesn't especially like the style of her skirt but it is the uniform and stylish or not all the girls weat the waist high skits. She goes to Saint Louis and everyone having children in private school simply go the the two or three uniform shops and but the standard uniform for their children's school. It seems the public school children and parent are still trying to make a statement with style in the uniform instead of simply following the code. Buy the uniform from a uniform shop and be done with it and quit crying over free education and limitations. Private schools have a much stricter code and no one had problems with dress violations because everyone follows the rules!

[Donna Stewart]

As a teacher in Allen Parish, we don't have that many problems with dress code violations. Our biggest problem is students untucking shirts - this is done on purpose. I have watched them untuck them on purpose. But we have a bigger problem with body piercing, and boys facial hair. I remember the days before uniforms. We were constantly sending students home for pajama pants, t-shirts inappropriate for school, baggy pants, Spaghetti straps and you name it. Did parents even look at their children before leaving home? Now as a teacher that teaches at a school that serves Middle school and High school, it is nice to know which students belong where. And yes our students are allowed to wear jeans on thursday if they have no tardys and on Fridays if they have no dress code violations. Our tardys and Dress code violations have dropped tremendously. They like the reward.