News-Record.com

To keep and expand all the arts in the schools, and expand it to the elementary schools. Being in band helps students in all of their other core classes. It raises grades, improves discipline,
and makes beautiful music. Imagine parades without bands, no symphony concerts, no local rock bands. Take away music from schools and you take away music for life!

Mr. Green needs to keep his promise to communicate. My two emails have yet to be answered. Even he doesn't have time, he should forward the email to someone who will answer the question or request. Mr. Green wasn't my choice for superintendent; however, after meeting him and listening to him, my mind was changed. Too bad, though, because now I feel he is just another "talker."

To focus on being on message 24/7. Feel good things like watching the Inauguration on TV has to take a back-seat to reading and fulfilling dreams of educational excellence. Education has to become a prime motivator in our children's lives. The current system of working it in if there is not other things to do, just does not cut it. I have watched this system decline from about 28th in State to about 55th. It is our fault because we forgot structure in the classroom and that reading is more important than anything else. We can turn it around, but we can't if we don't get help from Mo and the BOE.

Mo,

Dont listen to idiots that make mountains out of molehills!

Anonymous,

Would you like for us to call you an idiot? Is the term helpful? Why do you want to posion the blog? Do you care about anything except yourself? I hope tomorrow will be a better day. We have so much to be thankful for.

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Joe,
I cant condone the above posters comments but there are too many people in this County who look at the glass half empty.
As you say, there is so much to be thankful for!

see
http://guilfordschoolwatch.blogspot.com
/2008/12/thoughts-for-2009.html

Mo Green has been on a "listening tour" since he was hired. But how much actual listening has he done? Mo Green supports two ideas that I know many, many Guilford County School parents are diametrically opposed to: mandatory school uniforms and extended the length of the school day.

Both are dreadful ideas. This is a situation that will have to be watched most carefully.

I really don't have much faith in our new superintendent. I believe he is in over his head and many bad decisions will be forthcoming.

John:

I would be very interested to know why you believe that school uniforms, or SMOD as we call it is a bad idea?

Please email me or call.

Thanks,

Paul Daniels

SMOD might create an atmosphere that makes the students look all alike, no difference in those that have and those that don't. Let's face it, that is the way of the world, some have; some do not. The real reason is that the teachers don't want to spend time correcting those that dress inappropriately (read don't follow the current policy) and that the HS students dress very risque, with low tops, midriff showins, pants hanging around the knees, oversized shirts( easy to hid weapons)

There has been little if no proof that SMOD helps education or safety for that matter. In our own schools those that have SMOD can't agree on the benefits, if any.

Some parents like it, cuts down on fights at home about appropriate dress, I see it as the parents copping out, easier to say the GCS is the bad guy than the parents being the bad guy.

Our school, Southwest implemented SMOD the year before this one. I was against it at first. Now I really like it. There have been some problems but overall I definitely recommend it. The kids look so smart going in and out of schol everyday. It certainly gives a smart look to the school and I am convinced that it must pay off in the classroom!

Dear SW parent,
do you think the kids are learning more? Are there less discipline issues? I can imagine that the 'look smart' but what are the true benefits. Is it easier to monitor the look, or are there still issues? I ask with all seriousness, I am not being cocky.

I like SMOD because it cuts down on the kids clothes bill. Not so many trips to Abercrombie and Holister. I can now get my kids SMOD from Target and Walmart instead.

There are a lot of Have's up in the Northwest region so they probably dont need SMOD.

Are there tattoo, body piercings and hair color /style
standards?

Should there be?.

so you think the pressure is less to buy the 'it' clothes? My son isn't it to that at all, so I have never had to deal with the Mall, haven't been there in over 10 years-yea!

We are at Northern now, and trust me, the have's don't dress better than the 'have-nots' many of the FRL kids have much more expensive clothing than my son. I do think that the low cut tops, the baggie pants can be a real issue. I personally hate the belts around the thighs. It is of course against our dress code, but most of the teachers are blind to it, or don't care.. not sure which is worse :) We don't have issue with hoodies/hats/etc, no head coverings allowed and the kids seem to respect that. At games etc it is much more relaxed.

I remember when I was in school, girls couldn't wear pants until I was in the 8th grade, I think. I just pesonally don't like the thought of little clones all dressing alike. If I thought it helped either safety or education I could get behind it better. If it is for social reasons, I have an issue with that. If it is to make us all alike, we aren't! The dress will not make that any less so.

The Rhino Times reported in an issue about three weeks ago that Mo Green supports actual uniforms. SMOD, as I understand it, is a Standard Mode of Dress, which fall in the category of restricting what a school kid can or cannot wear.

Uniforms, obviously, would be something like navy blue pants and white polo shirts for boys and plaid skirts and white blouses for the girls.

That is what Mo Green is in favor of for GCS.

I believe this is simply more cosmetics that do not address the real and very serious problems of classroom disruptions, student-on-teacher violence, gangs, sexual assaults and fighting. It's a feel-good, "we give a damn" band-aid approach that school administrators use to avoid tackling the tougher issues.

Another idea the Rhino Times reported that is high on Mo's to-do list is extending the school day. Again, for what purpose? Longer days do not equate to more learning. For bus riders, the day is plenty long enough. Not to mention kids who have to work part time or are involved in after-school activities (sports, band, drama, etc).

Shouldn't we expect more from this "out of the box" non-traditional superintendent than these warmed-over ideas?

Uniforms are not warmed-over ideas. Uniforms are a good idea. I mean real uniforms, not that fake "uniform" smod thing.

Many professions have uniforms. You feel professional, like a team, etc. I would totally support the idea.

I Love It,

I don't doubt your passion or sincerity, but please tell me (and I'm not being a wise guy here) how a school uniform will help a school kid learn better, behave better, retain knowledge better, and elevate his/her learning ability to at least the level of the grade he or she is in.

John,

I dont know how it helps but tell me how it will not help?

Tell me why you put on that suit to go to work everyday? Why you wear it to church?
Why do you dress up nicely to go out for dinner with your wife.
Tell me John?

Why?

I wear a suit because that is the policy of the company for whom I work.

However, the fact that I wear a suit does not determine how well I do in my job. I am measured on how well I perform, not how well I knot my tie.

If there are hard cold facts that prove school uniforms improve classwork and behavior, by all means, let's see them. That's all I am saying.

What is the reason for your Company's Policy of a suit? Are there any facts behind it?

Funny John, You dont question your Company but you do question GCS?

A lot of people also pay tuition to private schools and have their kids use a uniform but GCS cant spec one?

A suit is a dress code for his company. GCS has a dress code already. If he was required to wear a black suit, a white shirt and a black tie that would be a uniform. If he could only wear blue pants and a white, or blue, or beige shirt that would be SMOD. That is the difference in my opinion.

GCS has a dress code but often it is not followed. Some schools have gone to SMOD, what I would like to know is, what are the facts about the difference in education that the SMOD has created. Less expulsions? Better Grades? Less fighting? Less harrasment? Better reading? Can anyone tell me the facts, not opinions?

Anonymous,

Answer my question, please. Does any data exist that proves a correlation between public school uniforms and improvements in academics and behavior?

A suit is a dress code but SMOD isnt?

Whats the difference?

Does any data exist that shows a Company that makes employees wear suits performs better than a Company that doesnt?

If Companies dont have dress codes employees come to work like trash collectors. These are the same parents that complain about SMOD.

Parents are the worst when it comes to making their children conform to dress code. They do not back up the schools making enforcement a nightmare for schools.
Uniforms are the only solution.

Hands up who went to church in their dress code today?

Most of the top corporations and businesses in the World do not have a written dress code, if an employee comes dressed inappropriately they are fired. Why? If they have not learned the importance of dress by the time they arrive they are shown the door. I realize that we in America express ourselves with dress, but in corporate America your shoes, shirt, posture, eye contact, tie belt etc. say it all. There are always exceptions, but alas learning the basics of dress and grooming can only put a child in better standing and not worse.

On the throw it up and see what happens theory what is the possible damage vs. possible reward? I was against SMOD until I saw it work with my own eyes. I know I am a tad slow, but I can still learn if you rub my nose in it hard enough.

I just dont understand the very grownups who go to work everyday in a dress code refuse to accept that a school system can ask for their children to dress to a similar standard.

There are people in this County who just do not want to give the public school system a chance. They say they support pubic schools but when it comes down to they just cant be happy unless something is going wrong with it!
Thats half the people who come on this blog!

John:

In all fairness to Mo, I did not read the Rhino Times article as saying that Mo favors uniforms in the traditional sense, like I wore in the military. What I think it says is he thinks that it is important that students have a "uniform dress" at school in the form of SMOD. SMOD has always been adopted on a case-by-case basis by our schools and it appears to have shown some good results when it comes to discipline. The anlogy is that school is our childrens' "work" and that they should dress appropriately, just like adults are expected to do. By the way, my 16 year old daughter hates the idea; she says that they should not have to dress alike at school. But I explained to her that they all dress alike now with their ripped jeans and Hollister tee shirts.

I agree with your position about longer school days. The research indicates that longer school years don't seem to result in improved performance. From that I infer that longer school days won't either. What I am suggesting, however, is that we keep an open mind. If what we are truly concerned about is ensuring that every child gets a good education we need to be willing consider non-traditional approaches to education such as SMOD, single sex schools and even tax credits to allow parents to send their children to private schools.

Garth

What you said about dress was true.
Times change.

Creative places have learned to tolerate the
eccentric. as long as the don't offend.

SMOD, Yes.
Longer days. NO, NO, NO, NO!

Dont even think about it!

Dear Paul,
You are wrong about Mo, he likes uniforms... heard him with my own ears.. uniforms where everyone is exactly alike, like Catholic uniforms, not what we call SMOD... he also said that he thought each school with buyin from the parents/community should be in charge of that decision

For the parents that want SMOD so they do not have to buy Hollister and Abercrombie.....

Grow up!!! You are the problem!!

It is your job to teach your child the value of money and teach your child how to dress.....
not the schools....Just say NO....be the parent!

I am against SMOD .... I am for a dress code....
You remember....what we had when we were growing up...Our parents made us wear appropriate school clothes........

IF you go to Dudley it must be solid royal blue...Norheast solid navy Southwest .... solid green.....and khaki....

What professionals dress like this? None...

Only your lower class labor workers are required to dress like this and your communist worker party/socilist government institutions....menial blue collar workers like McDonald's, Lowes, Harris Teeter are required to wear polo's and khaki pants.

Boring....

What is wrong with stripes!...mixed colors....

Cover it up...and tuck it in....dress to impress...

Professionals dress appropriately.....
define appropriate and leave well enough alone...

This is not a socialist government and I am completely against the socialism institutionalization that is going on in our schools!!

I would also like to know who is paying for these uniforms!!!

By law...if the schools require uniforms...they must provide them to students that cannot afford them....thus we provide a "free education".....

With the numbers of free lunch students in our schools....where is the money coming from to clothe these students!!!! I know our PTSA spent over $18,000 dollars on uniforms at our school.....Money that could have went for supplies in the classrooms!!!

AH....they have probably not figured this out yet.....Paul....Garth....are you putting this in the budget for next year.....

Is it coming out of our supply funds????

In my opinion 18,000 of PTA money for clothing is wrong. That money sould be spent for the benefit of all children at the school, not just those that say they need help with uniforms. Of course I realize that the board of the PTA would have to vote for that, but were they pushed into it by the administration. The school should have to pay that money-- ridiculous

Deborah...

If you research, you will find out that thousands of dollars raised by PTA's in this county are going to pay for uniforms in SMOD schools.

Why? Because legally, schools must provide for students that cannot afford it. When all of the parents that cannot afford it (frl) find this out, all of our PTA funds will be going to pay for uniforms....

The sad part is that the schools are not telling all of the frl parents this and we have parents spending money on uniforms instead of paying the heat bill or buying their medicine.

I don't think that SMOD qualifies for a school uniform, if so then GCS would have to buy the clothes.. is that not so.. how about it Paul or Garth.

Debora,

You have it Debora....SMOD is a smart way to avoid the legal requirements of the school uniform
see...

The 1996 Manual on Mandatory Uniforms in Public schools document presented by Bill Clinton.

If this does not meet the definition of a uniform if legally challenged then what does?

-Solid navy blue, white, grey button down polo
-Khaki, navy, black pants
-black/brown belt

The minute our school goes to SMOD we will find out what the legal definition of a uniform is because mine will be the first Guilford County lawsuit

.....requiring the school not the PTSA to supply these uniforms for FREE......

....public schools dress code requirements can not be as strict as some are now unless they have a compelling reason to and tried dress codes have not worked....

.....Eastern has implemented a common sense dress code....and it is working...yet kids are not having to go out and buy a completely new warddrobe....

Since the dress code is working, when enforced to the same level SMOD would be enforced
.....there is no need for SMOD!

Most schools in our county are going to SMOD because other schools are doing it.....or because they are afraid of and are being told by Central admin that the schools that don't do so will inherit all of the "rough" kids from the schools that go SMOD.

(This is what our admin was told...I heard it...! GC coerhion at its best.....)

By the way, it didn't happen!!

There are no documented improvements within the schools that are doing this that cannot be attributed to disciplinary measures that were implemented at the same time....NONE!

Enforce dress codes to the same degree that SMOD is enforced.....it works...The problem is that our administrators gave up on enforcing any type of dress codes....

The principals are not even able to control how the staff dresses..

Let the staff step up and dress like they are professionals at work...then the students can follow suit!!

Prove...this is no more than the next school FAD!!
(By the way, this fad started 10 years ago in California and schools that tried this so absolutely no improvement in test scores, drop out rates, and discipline....They are ditching this idea....so let's skip the next 10 years of uniforms in NC....
for once....let's learn from California's mistakes...
not repeat them.....
Johnny still cannot read in a suit and tie!!

By the way, a $20,000+ dollar study on the effect of school uniforms in schools within Guilford County had no positive results at all.......
Y
ou can see the presentation by looking at the minutes....and notice that Amos Quick said...
my daughter will say "I told you so" when speaking about the fact that uniforms have had no effect on behavior at Dudley, which has one of the strictest uniform high school policies in the county.

Why did our school board not listen to this expensive result and ban SMOD from our schools before the lawsuits start rolling in?

Kirkland Parks uniforms have definitely made no improvement in their situation...

and they call them Uniforms...

There is enough rooom with Smod for everyone to be different.

To all the nay sayers. Go and look at some of our High School's with SMOD and then comment.

Do that instead of sitting behind your computers and complaining all the time about anything good that GCS tries to do!

I visited Dudley, Southwest, Southern, and Eastern Middle multiple times. I have spoken with teachers, parents, and students. I have read the research ..what little there is of it... and I have read the law.

I have spoken with parents that could not take their children to school the first two weeks of school because they could not buy uniforms for all three children at the time.

I have spoken with students that have missed classes and spent days in ISS because teachers perceived that their neat black pants to be denim instead of khaki...or the faded blue to not be the right color....or they forgot a belt!

There is absolutely no research that supports any of the reasons presented by our schools for SMOD. Too many students are missing valuable time in class...because of SMOD...
grades are not improving...

Even Terry Grier had enough sense to know that SMOD was nothing more than a socialist feel good cover-up.

Educationally nothing is accomplished!!

If you have proof otherwise...provide it!!

It does nothing more than divert classroom funding to provide alternative clothing for students that have clothes that they could wear.

If it is such a great thing...why are our highest performing schools not in SMOD attire. Why did this start in our lowest performing schools?

Weaver-no smod
Early College - highly successful...no smod

If you have documented proof....that SMOD has improved anything at Dudley...High Point Central, Southern, Southwest..provide it!!

Improved test scores...
Improved graduation rates...
Lower Iss/OSS numbers
Less teacher turnover

I dont care if there is not any proof. The kids look great. These schools looks great. They look like they have a thriving learning enviroment!

End of story!

I fully agree. I like SMOD. I am going to talk to our Principal at Western about implementing at!

...but they can look better by ..implementing and enforcing a simple dress code...and it needs to start with the staff!!

Why is it necessary in this county to make all students at each school wear school colors only?

Some of our school SMOD definitions are ridiculous.

I would hate to go to Western....all you will be able to wear will be that awlful ugly gold and black....ugh!

Poor Western students....say SMOD!

Anomynous,

The courts will never support the public school enforcment of uniforms because "it looks good"!

Look and listen we are about to prove it...

Your SMOD definitions better look more like a dress code and less like a uniform.......

The more it looks like a uniform...you better have an Opt out provision in it.......

Now hear this, especially you, John the supposed Catholic:

Uniforms do not take tests or make the grades for the student. DUH!

Uniforms DO start the student down the path of FOLLOWING RULES.

Simply put, uniforms teach kids they MUST abide by a set of rules (of which they may not like), just like in that real harsh world out there..

Amazingly enough, with time, the concept of following rules starts to permeate into other areas of life.

It's not a fix-all. But it's a good start.

I am all for uniforms. Also, it is cheaper than jeans and the usual status quo-type clothes.

I buy uniforms and I can tell you for a fact that it's cheaper and mornings go much smoother around our house.

I seriously don't get it. What could hurt? Doctors, nurses, fireman, policeman, military, etc. get up every morning and respectfully put on their uniforms. Are some of you naysayers just in denial that possibly your little Johnny might be in need of learning a little respect?

I dream of the day our kids all arrive at school dressed to learn. Really, how ready to learn are they when their pants are down to their knees and their shirts have sexual slogans?

Get over it. Our youth need a wake up call. Let it begin with matching uniforms.

Wearing pants to their knees...interesting that you bring this up.

Get out from behind your computer and visit Dudley, HP Central, Southern, Northeast, Eastern Middle....bagging and sagging are not cured by the infamous SMOD.....

Khaki's actually drag/sag a lot better than denim...

While I was touring our SMOD high schools I noticed multiple young men with pants barely staying up by their hand holding the crotch of their khaki's....

SMOD does not stop .. sagging and bagging.....
SMOD does not eliminate gangs
SMOD does not eliminate violence
SMOD does not eliminate weapons on schools
SMOD does not improve test scores, graduation rates, ISS, OSS numbers, or teacher turnover
SMOD does not eliminate the have from the have nots

It is a distraction away from the real issues in our schools and causes the administration to hyperfocus on clothing instead of the important things like......
..............education!!!!!

Staff members easily "waste" 30 minutes - 1 hour ad day examing kids clothing to make sure it is SMOD approved....

Other hours are spent in write ups...
Other hours are spend contacting parents..
Many more hours are spend in ISS/OSS because of missing belts, wrong shirts, mismatched socks....

It is a waste of hours of precious educational time....

I personally don't care if every student comes to school in a tshirt and jeans.....we should still be willing and able to teach them...

In a few years....Our children will be like the children in the televsion ads that cannot go to the local govenmnent schools because they cannot afford the uniform!!

Wow!!! It actually already happened....google Houston City schools.....New Orleans children were not allowed to attend until they had appropriate Houston City School Uniforms....Children and families that lost everything were "denied" and education until someone donated or provided them with uniforms...and it was not the school.

People ... something is wrong...with this picture......

I hope to never be part of a country that would deny a child an education because they do not have a uniform.

I

We bought items conducive to the GSO clothing policy and didn't find it anymore expensive than buying the usual school clothes prior to the implementation of that policy.

At least the kids aren't wearing suggestive and thug orientated clothing as they have in the past at my child's school.

I would hope I am living in a country that would deny an education to those who cannot follow a simple set of rules. It should be like driving. Follow the rules, drive all day. Disobey the rules, your license is yanked. Until we use a little tough love, thugs will rule our school yards. Smod is good, but real uniforms is better.

The single biggest problem we have in the school system is lack of structure. If uniforms or SMOD will introduce our kids to structure that may spill over to other areas, we will be ahead of the game. We operate public schools not private schools. What is in the best interest of student achievement should govern?

The biggest problems we have in our schools is because of these self righteous parents such as
"SMOD is the Worst Fad since New Math" and "ACLU".

Just because the school system want it you dont.

Its petty, small minded people like this that spoil this County.

Joe,

Guilford County's own study and others like it have proven that SMOD has ZERO effect on education, test scores, graduation rates, discipline rates, etc...You were probably in the meeting where this was presented and Amos Quick said his daughter would say...Dad I told you
so....SMOD does nothing...

Did you have a dress code...yes...
Did it work .. yes....

SMOD is nothing more than a waste of funds that are desparately needed elsewhere. SMOD is not free....our PTAS are spending thousands of dollars. Ours spent $18,000.00.

Schools are spending their magnet funds on uniforms.....yet they are seeing no return in educational improvements....perfect example...Kirkland Parks..

So let's stop wasting time and money talking about something that has proved to do nothing in the last 10 years it has been practiced across the country....and start spending time teaching kids to read and providing teachers with the tools that they need to do so!!

As long as our schools and PTA"S are wasting donated funds buying uniforms, I will not give another cent to the PTA or schools.....

Teachers should not be on television begging for classroom supplies in the classromm while schools are spending magnet money and PTA"s funds buying school uniform! This is absolutely ridiculous....The kids can learn in sweat pants and tshirts....but they need books to read and paper to write on...

Uniforms is were the school suppply money is going instead of to the teachers and in the classrooms!!

I totally disagree! I would much rather see our kids in a UNIFORM (not "smod") and be writing on individual chalk boards! We don't need "glue sticks, erasers, scissors," and the other supplies listed on the news this morning. We don't need THINGs. To learn you need an open mind and an engaging teacher. You need students that adhere to RULES. I don't need any study to tell me that uniforms make a difference. I have seen it for myself.

WRONG,WRONG,WRONG,

Why don't we just try ENFORCING "dress code" rules?

If we see anything around the county with the various SMOD descriptions, it is the fact that whether it is very stringent or has various options...the staff says it works.

The ones with more options are "working" in the eyes of the parents and staff members and they read more like dress codes.

The staff is singing the same song..regardless of how restrictive it is.....I say it is because they have a defined behavior expectation which the parents and students understand and are following....
and the rule is ENFORCED......It does not matter how restrictive it is.

Define the dress code, enforce the dress code...
and it will not cost the PTA and schools a dime....
for uniforms or litigation....(which is where this is headed by the way)