The time has come that dress codes are a necessity so all children can be treated and educated equally in our schools. The dress codes should be for all school years K1-12. School children do not need to have or use peer treatment in the schools. All children should be dressed to a standard that allows proper education without peer pressure on how they are dressed. The current lack of dress codes is because when the school systems were established and up through the 50's the choices and branding was not an issue. Students are at school to learn, not have fashion contest to see who can buy the most expensive clothes. I would think parent would endorse a dress code just for the cost factor of having to supply a wardrobe for every day of the month. It is not a matter of self expression, its a matter of getting control of the students and the education I am paying taxes for. Children can save their populatrity contests for after school hours, not at school. How a student is dressed and acts should be the decission of the state school system condusive to education, not the parents or students.

Kids may want to choose to drink, smoke or do drugs as well. Those parents who vote because they fear the children will throw fits might as well give in to everything their child demands.

We have allowed the inmates (in this case our students and children) to be in charge of the insane asylum (homes and schools). At what point are parents going to tell their kids "Hey, last time I checked.....I am the dad/mom". We have created a society in which our students are so protected and coddled that they, our students, have lost respect for their elders. (Jeepers, I sound old saying this...) To the young man who didn't have collared shirts...oh well, DI is open for business. To the mom who wanted to keep the peace: The best way to keep the peace is to let your daughter know that YOU are in charge, not her.

Enter commentI think that kids should be able to wear what they want to school, If they want to wear jeans, that is fine, I am a jeans kind of person, I f someone told me that I could not wear jeans to school I am not sure what i would do, and the T-shirt thing is kind of stupid, It is a free country a kid should be able to pick & choose for themselves what they can and can not wear everyday, I myself like Jeans & nice shirts to wear, I think it should be up to the kids, what they choose to wear and what not to wear, It is just like the show "What not to wear" it should be "What to wear"

Welcome to the world. Almost every job out there makes you wear a uniform, so get used to it now.

The job of a parent is to set limits for children so children learn to set limits for themselves. Parents, if you don't want anyone telling your child what to do, send your child to a private school that agrees with your philosophy. You'll get what you want, and the rest of us who are willing to be unpopular, will get what we want.

The parents who allow their children to wear trashy clothes to school have their priorities messed up. They think the most important thing to do at school is to "see and be seen." Education is a secondary concern for them.

While the initial transition may be less than comfortable the result will be well worth it. Even parents who now oppose this will see the benefits of a reasonable dress code.

The students can still wear the khaki pants just as loose as jeans and still show their underwear. Im not understanding how that solves the problem.

The dress code should be no pants that can hang low enough to show underwear. Shirts that don't have writing and pictures that pertain to certain offenses and clothing that is to revealing.

Limits can be set without a uniform policy, it just needs to be enforced.

to: Real World

Theres alot of jobs that don't make you wear uniforms, show the facts when making comments like that.

Let 'em dress the way that they want to dress... all us adults are just jealous that they can get away with it and we can't.

He probably meant "dress standard" more than "uniform". Don't you think you are being a little bit hypocritical when you state "...show the facts when making comments like that." and fail to show any "facts" to support your claim of "There's alot of jobs that dont make you wear a uniform..."? How about you list the jobs that don't have any form of dress standard?

I'm sure glad I'm an adult and that I had an opportunity to wear whatever I wanted to school, oh wait I could not wear what I wanted till high school when my parents let me shop for my own cloths. About every job requiring a uniform-- I am a professional with a title before my name and I am wearing jeans and t-shirt to work today. If you don't want to wear a uniform then choose a different employer. One of the reasons I choose not to work for the Chruch was that they required white shirt and ties.

Clearly, many parents already have given in.

When I went to school (class of 79), we had a very enforced dress code. In fact, we weren't allowed to wear pants until '74!.

If pants had belt loops, a belt was required, if a shirt had tails, it had to be tucked in. Skirts could be no shorter than the tips of your fingers when holding your arms straight down. Boys hair had to be off the collar--and no facial hair of any kind. Detentions were given for violations.

Weird items: no taps on your shoes and when gauchos came out our school board had a huge debate because the dress code called for "full length pants". The ended up approving the gauchos.

No "dress code" is effective unless it is enforced. Each year we were required to read and sign the dress and student conduct codes along with our parents. Failure to turn it in resulted in a detention :)

What I can't understand is why no capri pants at BYU-Idaho. Aren't those LDS shorts?? ;)

In response to EdM: You misunderstood.....
....I am the mom who wanted to keep peace in the home. I voted FOR the new dress-code, much to my daughter's dismay. We were 'keeping the peace' in our home by no longer discussing the issue (until a reporter cornered us ;o})! Neither my daughter nor I could sway the other through debate and discussion over the last few weeks, so I put an end on the discussions/arguements in our home. I have no problem with my daughter having a different opinion than me; it doesn't change who's in charge ME & her father!

Amen, EdM!!!

The kids brought this dress code on themselves. If they wouldn't dress so sloppy, revealing, and pants below the hips (which I absolutely despise), there wouldn't be a need for a dress code. The world has gotten much too sloppy. Enforce the dress code! It's long overdue.

All the parents I have spoken with in my neighborhood like the idea of a code. We like the idea of a strict dress code for public school students. It helps establish an atmosphere more conducive to learning by removing distractions and eliminating competition over who is wearing what. It helps teach students what to expect when they get out into the workplace. Most jobs have an established dress code, and while students are in school, learning is their job.

As with the current dress code, cost shouldn't be a concern for parents. Appropriate clothes can be found at a cost similar to what parents spend now. The D.I., and stores such as Kmart and Wal-Mart offer many affordable options.

I got a job working for the church in samoa. I didn't have to wear pants. just lavalava

Here in California, there have been dress codes because of the way the kids dress. Vote for the proposal, show that you support your school. For those parents who are against the proposal find out if there will be a waiver for you to fill out to allow your child to wear what they want (I did). It is ultimately up to us, parents, to make sure that our children wear the clothes that will show that they have respect for themselves and for those around them. You will soon find that your child will ultimately do what is required of them from you. Show them love and respect. This topic is really a family decision.

In New Zealand many of the schools here have dress codes and it works well .at my daughters school when tey become seniors they can wear the things they like as long as it meet a small guide line .
They also have mufty days , for the whole school & they love them.

Gutless parents who allow their teens to dress inappropriately are the reason schools are pushing for a dress code. Does anyone really think the best learning environment for teens is a place where girls dress like street walkers and boys wear pants below their butts? Gang apparel is a growing problem as well. So for all you undecided parents, it's a proven fact that students behave better and do better when they wear uniforms. And, if that's not enough, they're cheaper....lots cheaper...than the must have fashions you're now paying for now.

Vote YES on school uniforms. Teens should express their individuality OUTSIDE of school. While they're in school learning, their clothes should be the least of their concerns.

One thing that many people may not be aware of is that there is already a dress code for all of Provo School District. It deals with many of the things that parents don't like. We should focus on keeping the dress code that is already in place rather than make up and pass a new one. i vote no.

This is all wrong! Parents can tell their kids what to wear right? If parents want to restrict their attire and not allow jeans, they should do this within their own home, but jean-haters shouldn't force the children of other parents to dress the way they want their child to.

Modesty is important, so why not just make a rule against clothing that reveals too much skin (or underwear). It's not that complicated.

As far as gang attire goes, you're still going to get divisions, one group will wear brown pants, another will wear red polos etc. You would need either an extremely restrictive dress code to fix this or you would need to do more to somehow teach tolerance. Swapping t-shirts for polos won't do the trick.

I am for school uniforms.
When I was in Jr. High and High school (91-96) it was incredibly obvious that the most important thing was WHO you hung out with, and WHAT you wore. Not your education, that was just a by-product of being in School. The social divide was incredibly tangible in the hallways. There were those who shopped at the Mall, and those who shoppped at K-mart. And the praise or scrutiny followed depending on which group you belonged to. If you had Gerbaud jeans, you were seriously rich. If you didn't, you were Kmart trash. And this is what I remember MOST about school. Sad. If all wore uniforms of some sort, then social class and distinction wouldn't interfere with education. The reason many employers require a dress code or uniform, and sports teams wear uniforms is because it identifies you as a "team" and keeps you focused on your task at hand. I think the school system needs that.

I went to a school that adopted a uniform policy about halfway through my highschool career. Parents thought that we would all equalize and focus and education and not the daily fashion....Well parents let me tell you we worked around the uniform policy so fast your heads would spin. The upscale students still looked upscale because their Khakis and polos were from highend stores rather than discount retailers, and yes you can tell the differnce between a k-mart polo and banana republic.
Students that are serious about school are focused irregardless of the jeans worn by the student in front of them and visa versa for student who don't care. Clothing does not indicate a persons capacy or desire to learn. whether the students do or do not wear uniforms pants will not change human nature the high school social dynamic.