Uniforms reduce pressure to be 'cool'
In this age of American Eagle, Express, J. Crew and other expensive name-brand clothing lines, few students would argue they do not feel pressure to "fit in" and "be cool" by wearing the current fashion crazes.
However, it seems ironic to me that high school students perceive wearing trendy clothing as a means of expressing individuality. Where are the individuals when everyone is wearing the same brands and styles?
School uniforms would prevent students from buying the same clothes as their peers simply to gain acceptance. With a school uniform policy, students would no longer need to group according to brands and styles and would be forced to get to know each other on a more personal level. With this elimination of pressure and competition to "fit in" and "be cool," students could concentrate on the important task at hand: learning.
Ellen Bullins
Winston Salem
Comments (4)
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Ellen, From what I can ascertain, clothes are about status, pecking order and being elite. Requiring students to wear uniforms will not clear the playing field, students will not have to get to know each other or speak to those with whom they have never spoken. The students will find some other way to express the above themes.
The cheer leader will still want to date the highschool quarterback (status). A positive tho could be that wearing uniforms can take away the financial pressure of buying clothes so that one doesn't feel out of it or get made fun of.
Posted on April 4, 2006 12:40 PM
joejoe, LTE writer, et. al; when I was in HS, I felt proud to have had a few pair of Levi's to wear. That was the "in" thing. I received my first pair in 8th grade. I did odd jobs in the summer to earn money to buy Nike shoes. My parents cound not afford to keep me dressed with the "in" crowd. Amazingly, I was in that group due to my other activities.
I find it to be excessive BS when folks say that they need the expensive cloths to have friends. I saw that crap with a 20yo niece. Sadly, I saw family members support that elitest status wtih her.
I have learned to be content with what I have. Hoping for better is fine, doing it only to have friends, etc. is wrong. Uniforms could prove to be a great thing in the long-term. However, the GCS BOE does not look long-term except in the case of Terry Grier and his salary/contract.
shalom
Posted on April 4, 2006 1:08 PM
Please read today's article about Grier's new plan for poor schools. Includes bonus to teach in poor schools. Would cut teaching supplements to fund the new plan called "Mission Possible"
Posted on April 4, 2006 8:48 PM
It's too bad that the choice was "anything goes" or "uniforms." Another example of the school system, in an effort to be politically correct, either being too permissive or being too restrictive. They could develop a stricter district-wide dress code, with input from parents (who pay for the clothing) and teachers (who have to maintain order in the classrooms). No input allowed from the lawyers, however. Tell them to defend a decision that was arrived at democratically after due deliberation. This could be a lesson in finding win-win solutions, something badly needed in this town and an expample to the kids. Start with the existing school dress codes and the dress codes that most businesses have and work from there. I have no interest in uniforms, but I'd love to see all gangsta clothing and flip-flops forbidden, along with the usual prohibitions on bathing suits, hot pants, wearing hats in the buildings, etc. that already exist. As an experiment, I deliberately sent my child to middle school wearing a Corona t-shirt, and put another shirt in the book-bag in case there was an issue. I really expected that we would be called to be told that wearing a beer ad is not appropriate at school. No call, and so it continues to be worn. Strange times.
Posted on April 5, 2006 2:03 PM