My Turn: Dress codes have a positive outcome | Children

I don't know the ultimate solution to bullying.  But I'm willing to let our school systems try what they need to do to try to stop it, or at least slow it down some.

A few schools in Brunswick County established a dress code this year.  And no surprise, not every parent likes the idea and they'd like to challenge the new rules. 

School leaders say uniforms help level the playing field for students.  The ones with the trendier clothes won't be able to show-off as much.  And once the kids start seeing that they're basically all alike, experts say it tends to cut down on the potential for bullying and actually increases camaraderie.

I've noticed some good reports coming out of Brunswick County Schools recently, especially with graduation rates and especially with minorities.  They're starting to build a pretty good track record.  And I've got to believe they have researched this and thought it through before making this move.  So, I'm of the opinion we should give the Brunswick County school leaders a chance to keep things on a positive trend.

That's my turn.  Now it's your turn.  To comment on this segment, or anything else, email me at yourturn@wect.com.

Emailed comments from viewers:

Since when did purchasing uniforms for children become a requirement to attend a public school? If I was paying for my child to attend private school, then I could understand the need for a uniform. I have several issues with this dress code policy.

First, if the children are supposed to be uniformly dressed, then why are the schools given the option of having a dress code? Why when I put my child in Trask Middle School one year and move and end up at Holly Shelter the next year are the dress codes are completely different and I have to buy a whole new separate wardrobe once again for school? How and when is this saving me money like the opposing argument would have you believe?

Not to mention the cost of the allowed "spirit" wear. At $20 each for a cheaply printed T-shirt I could buy something that would actually last longer than 3 months before it started fading.

Then there is the issue of pants . .  .have you ever actually tried to buy pants for a boy that does NOT have pockets on the side? It is practically impossible now–a-days. And then there is the color factor, they have to be navy or dark blue or khaki. A friend of mine had her daughter sent to in-school-suspension on the third day of class because the color-blind staff believed her navy blue pants were black. 

On the issue of color, how is it that one school claims red is a gang color (Holly Shelter Middle) and yet Trask Middle School and the PTA endorse red as an acceptable color to wear?

And who gets to decide what is and is not the "correct" color and appropriate to wear, but the staff and faculty of either school. So instead of teaching my child, you are going to put them in suspension over whether or not their pants are black or navy blue? What is this teaching our children; the color of their pants is more important to learn than Science, Math or English? Since when did dictating a child's dress in a public setting become more important than teaching? If that was the case, can I make a citizen's arrest for the next idiot I see with his pants hanging down and his underwear showing? Let's all put on our big girl/boy panties and quit picking on and yes, even hazing them for school uniform policies in our PUBLIC schools.

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I couldn't agree more with
comments against a dress code for public school.
In addition to the other emails, I would like to say, my family is not rich by
any means of the word, so my kids have always worn clothes based on our budget
(Maybe a little bit better around Christmas) and they have never come home to
me crying about being bullied over their hand-me-downs. I understand and don't
deny that it happens. I was a kid once, not so long ago, and I remember those
situations. BUT, kids today are soft. Have we ever considered that the reason
why they act out and misbehave is because we continue to try to make it easy on
them? I'm sorry, but life's not fair! Never has been, never will be! There will
always be someone that has more and better things than the next person. It's a
fact of life. Why convince our children that it is going to be a world that
gives them anything they want and that you should always have the same as the
next person?Or that you should look and act and be like the next person? If you
are the kid in school that doesn't have the same shoes as everyone else, and
you feel bad about it, wouldn't that make you want to strive to do better and
get the ones you want one day? No, not anymore, because kids think things
should be given to them, and if they don't get it, they should take them. And
we as a society have done this.

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I have 2 daughters in Belville Elementary. My
family moved from Ohio late in December '11 and their old school had no dress
code. We have definitely noticed a much more level playing field here with the
dress code in place. No more "hey look at me and my fancy expensive
clothes" situations and we LOVE it. As I little note. The parents that are
complaining they had no say or didn't know about the vote I can say that is
false. Towards the end of school in June there was a questionnaire sent home
about that very topic with each child. So as I see it everyone did have a
chance to "voice" their concerns. We are so pleased with the school
system here and are 100% behind the dress code.

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