Should Students Dress for Success?

In our special January Education issue of Northern Connection magazine, I started the conversation on the whether students should be required to “dress for success” whether that be adhering to a dress code or wearing a uniform.

As I mentioned, I loved the ease of wearing a uniform at school. My sister also loved wearing a school uniform because it made everyone (especially all the girls) even – no status of high fashion and expense, no competition. At least not in that regard.

Studies across the country have proven time and again that students behave better and performance increases when wearing a uniform or adhering to a strict dress code. As in this report from education.com points out regarding a dress code policy in Long Beach California:

“Long Beach Superintendent Carl A. Cohn reported that during the first year suspensions decreased by 32 percent, school crime by 36 percent, fighting by 51 percent, and vandalism by 18 percent (Cohn). At Whittier Elementary, attendance rates have risen each year since the policy went into effect, reaching a high of 96 percent (Caruso). Schools in Chicago, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, and Virginia have made similar claims (Caruso).”

(Visit http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Student_Dress_Codes/ to read the whole report.)

Of course, some students (and their parents) have rebelled against dress codes citing everything from freedom of expression to civil liberties, in spite of the positive data from study after study that proves otherwise.

To learn more about student rights and dress codes, visit http://education.findlaw.com/student-rights/school-dress-codes.html.

So what are your opinion, thoughts and experiences? Do you think dress codes should be stricter? More lenient?  Should they be mandatory, better enforced? Have you ever heard of a case that was taking the rules a bit too far?

Be sure and leave your comments below and let’s Continue the Conversation:

 

How Do you Put The FUN in Dysfunctional?

It’s that holiday season again and when was the last time it was filled with rest and relaxation? For me, I think it was elementary school but perhaps I’m just remembering a gentler time. In the December issue of NorthernConnection magazine’s ‘Starting the Conversation’, I asked for much needed advice on how to put the FUN in “dysfunctional”. How do you create a balance among everyone who wants your time? Do you eat two dinners? Do you take annual turns? What have you found that works for you and yours to make the holidays "fair"?