school uniforms

[jtouchton76]

What is the name of your state? Florida

I have done extensive research on mandatory school uniforms, but have been unable to come to a clear understanding of the matter. Are they or aren't they unconstitutional? Our school district is imposing a mandatory uniform policy as of the 2006-07 school year. As a parent, I would like to know the legality of this. The school board made references to Tinker vs. De Moines and how they would allow peaceful demonstrations using clothing in order to avoid infringeing in the students 1st amendment rights. Although I do not understand it, I have read how a mandatory policy is also an infringement of student's 14th amendment rights. Could someone please explain this and the legality of it all to me?
Thanks from a concerned mom in Fl.

 

[BelizeBreeze]

School uniforms are not against the law nor do they infringe.

You are lucky to have a school board who recognizes their responsibility under Tinker and allows such deviation from the normal Uniform policy.

However, they are perfectly within their rights to institute such a policy.

 

[Crazed98]

What is the name of your state? Florida

I have done extensive research on mandatory school uniforms, but have been unable to come to a clear understanding of the matter. Are they or aren't they unconstitutional? Our school district is imposing a mandatory uniform policy as of the 2006-07 school year. As a parent, I would like to know the legality of this. The school board made references to Tinker vs. De Moines and how they would allow peaceful demonstrations using clothing in order to avoid infringeing in the students 1st amendment rights. Although I do not understand it, I have read how a mandatory policy is also an infringement of student's 14th amendment rights. Could someone please explain this and the legality of it all to me?
Thanks from a concerned mom in Fl.

Before you start looking at all the negatives of having a school uniform why don't you look at the positives.

 

[jtouchton76]

I can't find any positives

In my research, I have come across several websites devoted to this subject. I can't seem to find any positive effects. I say this having read many cases where uniforms were attributed to positive changes in schools. In every case that I read, other changes were implemented at the same time as the uniforms, so noone could say for certain that it was the uniforms that made all the difference. I am not against school uniforms. I am against MANDATORY school uniforms. I do believe that they influence certain situations. However, I do not believe that they are the cure-all that they have been painted as.

 

[BelizeBreeze]

Then put your child in private school because this is a legal advice forum and as I told you, the school is well within their legal rights to require the uniforms.

 

[Crazed98]

In my research, I have come across several websites devoted to this subject. I can't seem to find any positive effects. I say this having read many cases where uniforms were attributed to positive changes in schools. In every case that I read, other changes were implemented at the same time as the uniforms, so noone could say for certain that it was the uniforms that made all the difference. I am not against school uniforms. I am against MANDATORY school uniforms. I do believe that they influence certain situations. However, I do not believe that they are the cure-all that they have been painted as.

Usually school uniforms are to bring unity to the school and it gets rid of children wearing offensive clothes or "gang colors".

Most parents usually find it better because in some cases it is cheaper to buy 5 pairs of uniforms that will last 2 years or more then having to go clothing shopping the begining of every school year.

Also it easier for the parents who have younger kids so they don't need to worry about what to dress them in the next day.

Those are a few of the positives.

 

[notsmartmark]

Here's a site that has some of the court cases: "http://www.geocities.com/school_uniforms/"

The school board will have no doubt included an exclusion clause or reasons for exclusion similar to those identified from the Tinker case and those that followed. Note the Texas philosophical objections to uniforms granted case on the site I referenced above.

Please remember that your child will be different if you win. Kids will have not thought through all of the outcomes when it comes to this. Students and administrators who are frustrated with the stance will target her. If your child wants to take a stance, she needs to understand stances have costs that are associated with them.

 

[jtouchton76]

I said that I am against mandatory school uniforms, not that I am planning a crusade against them! LOL My daughter is in kindergarten, and has expressed that she wants to wear her own clothes. She has friends who attend private school and has seen them wear "the same clothes" every day. As for the parents who can buy 5 sets that will last 2 years....I'd love to learn where they shop! My child has grown 2 1/2 shoe sizes and 1 pant/shirt size since March! I realize that she's just in a growth spurt, but I do not believe that she is mutating into a giant! There is NO WAY that uniforms will last 2 years on any child! Nevermind that kids are messy, careless, and basically don't pay that much attention to their clothes. I have read the cases from Texas concerning philosophical objections, and I agree with them. In our school district, the way that the board announced how they were protecting the rights of our children made it seem as if they were using Tinker as a front to protect the boards interests. Kind of like a theif returning $50 dollars that he stole, while hiding the fact that he has another $50 behind his back. I would have no problem with an opt-out policy like Long Beach used. I actually feel that that would be the ideal situation. I feel like the children who abide by the current dress code are being punished because of the ones who don't.

 

[pty]

I have no legal advice for you, but I thought you might like to hear from a parent who has children that are required to wear uniforms (and they previously attended schools that didn't require uniforms). Merely my personal opinion, but I prefer the uniform policy better, and I do find it to be much cheaper. For our school it is very much about 'unity'. One plus for the teachers is that they can tell at a glance if someone doesn’t belong on campus (naturally because they’re not wearing a uniform) and they never have to send a child home for breaking dress code, which they dislike doing because then the child loses class time. It was not a big deal for my kids. I simply told them, "That’s the requirement and everyone has to wear them." Although, I do have boys, so maybe it’s different with girls.

 

[jtouchton76]

florida

Thanks for the insider point,pty! It's not the uniforms themselves that I have a problem with. I mean, the kids have to wear something to school. I have the prolem with the school board making them mandatory. My girl is in KINDERGARTEN....she has never worn a shirt that showed cleavage, or pants that showed her butt crack, and those are two of the arguments that the school board is using for the policy. The problem here isn't even in the elementary schools. I have been to the high schools and middle schools and have seen kids wearing things that made me think, " I would ground my kid for life if I saw her wearing that!". The point is that those kids were not sent home to change. The uniform policy only punishes, it doesn't discipline. It doesn't teach responsibility to the kids. It only takes away the opportunity to make a good choice versus a bad one. And as for the looking out the window and seeing who doesn't belong, well that;s not quite accurate. We have a high school here whose colors are hunter green and orange. I happen to own a hunter green polo shirt and a pair of khakis. If I chose to wear that outfit and go walk aroung the campus, they would never know that I don't belong there. I wish I knew the right answer for the school board, I would tell them if I did.

 

[truthwalksin]

florida

Thanks for the insider point,pty! It's not the uniforms themselves that I have a problem with. I mean, the kids have to wear something to school. I have the prolem with the school board making them mandatory. My girl is in KINDERGARTEN....she has never worn a shirt that showed cleavage, or pants that showed her butt crack, and those are two of the arguments that the school board is using for the policy. The problem here isn't even in the elementary schools. I have been to the high schools and middle schools and have seen kids wearing things that made me think, " I would ground my kid for life if I saw her wearing that!". The point is that those kids were not sent home to change. The uniform policy only punishes, it doesn't discipline. It doesn't teach responsibility to the kids. It only takes away the opportunity to make a good choice versus a bad one. And as for the looking out the window and seeing who doesn't belong, well that;s not quite accurate. We have a high school here whose colors are hunter green and orange. I happen to own a hunter green polo shirt and a pair of khakis. If I chose to wear that outfit and go walk aroung the campus, they would never know that I don't belong there. I wish I knew the right answer for the school board, I would tell them if I did.

Don't you have anything better to do with your time and energy?

 

[stealth2]

Obviously not.