Embrace the Uniform

School is not a fashion show

By Kelvin Wade | | August 07, 2008 17:14

Dan O. Root Elementary became the second school in the Fairfield-Suisun School District to adopt a uniform policy. The principal and teachers encourage the uniforms as a way to combat inappropriate attire and focus on learning. More schools should follow suit.

Kids feel pressure to wear the 'right' clothes.

Would I have liked school uniforms when I was in school? Of course not. While I certainly was no clothes horse, I knew when to get with the program. When my Kmart-brand tennis shoes got me clowned at school, my mother took me out to get Nikes and Vans that evening.

(Unfortunately) the girls I went to school with back in the day weren't wearing the revealing clothing that they wear these days. My girlfriend's 11-year-old granddaughter, Lauryn, wears clothes that often leave me in need of a defibrillator.

I once told her what I thought she should wear to school, and she went to her mother and asked, 'Mom, what's a burlap sack?'

Uniforms would eliminate all of that time and money spent on that game of trying to outdo one another that so many kids get caught up in. Not only does the policy take pressure off of the kids, but it also removes the pressure from mom and dad.

No longer would parents have to worry about their kids going to school dressed one way and changing clothes once they get to school.

It also helps put the focus on what school should be about: education. It's not a fashion show.

What about individuality? While I know kids like to demonstrate their individuality (or their conformity) by their clothing, how about standing out by achievement? Being able to afford designer clothes and a trendy hairstyle isn't an accomplishment. Anyone with the means can duplicate it.

Why not have pins on the uniform just like military fruit salad that reflects achievement? Why not have pins for honor roll, perfect attendance and extra credit? They can sport pins from clubs, sports and other school activities. That would be a positive way to stand out.

By the same token, if you get suspended or detention or you're just a garden variety troublemaker, why not have pins to show that? And why not offer those kids incentive to lose those pins?

However, I'm sure some parents would complain about the demerit pins.

It reminds me of a story reported by the Associated Press this week. The school district in Gonzales, Texas, added some teeth to its dress code policy. Violators will have to don navy blue jumpsuits.

Of course, some parents are whining that the jumpsuits go too far and treat students like criminals. Others are concerned about students' feelings. That's the point of the exercise. They should feel singled out. If you violate the rules, there are consequences.

Yeah, I would've hated a uniform when I was in school. But it would've quickly taken everyone's attention off of how everyone looked and focused it elsewhere.

A uniform policy saves parents money, saves time for the student figuring out what to wear and eliminates gang colors. A child's individuality can still be expressed in their accomplishments. Hopefully next year will see more schools making the change.

Peace.

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NOTES: I hate seeing guys walk around holding up their pants with one hand. That's why they invented belts. I don't want to see your underwear. That's why they call it UNDERwear, okay? It goes under your clothes. I should never have to look at it in public. And I damn sure don't want to see anyone's ass crack. As for teenage girls walking around with their hahas hanging out... Sure it's titillating to the fellas but you're gonna attract the wrong kind of attention. Maybe you just want to show off your fit body and don't mean anything sexual by it. The male brain will never see it that way. Breasts to the straight male brain are like blood to a shark. Okay? Jr. Gangbangers, wannabes, little G's...we don't go to school to represent. It's not about thug life at school. It's about learning something. It's about learning how to learn.

Uniforms will cut out a lot of nonsense. I think starting kids off in elementary school with uniforms is a good idea. Then extend it to jr. high. It will, I believe, have a calming effect on the student population. It will help them focus.

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I apologize for any typos you may discover on this page.

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San Francisco requires chain restaurants to display nutrition info on their menus, as if this alone is going to stop porksters from porking up. I know what needs to be done. Check it out on the Other Side DR Blog.

Sometimes people do stupid stuff in public that deserves a response. I think I have an idea of how we can punish people for their stupidity. Check it out on the Wading In Blog.

Finally, my friend Joyce recently beat me in a game of Scrabble. It's too bad she had to cheat to do it. I played fair and square and she was putting down crazy words that weren't words, eyeballing the letters she pulled from the bag, working fuzzy math on the scorekeeping. I didn't have a chance. It's because....it's because....it's because I'm a BLACK MAN!!!!!! The white man (woman) is trying to keep me down!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL I'm just kidding, obviously. She did not and would not cheat. She won fair and square and it was a lot of fun! I highly recommend people take up the game.