Dreadlocks are distracting.

[daleduke17]

Writing a school uniform code is trickier than it looks - I'm writing a fictional one and it's difficult to keep the balance between realistic expectations and, well, a school uniform.

If administrators didn't have to either A-write everything in such detail even an idiot can understand, and B-have to be careful not to hurt anyone's feelings, not be racist, or against some religious code it would be a LOT easier.

My thoughts for a dress code:

1 - no non-naturally occurring hair colors (ie: green, pink, etc)
2 - no dreadlocks, mohawks, afros, shaved heads (except for medical reasons), unkempt hairdos,
3 - no more than two piercings in each ear.
3a - no gauges
3b - only basic studs* small hoops (no more than 1/2" diameter) small dangles (no more than 1/2" length)
3c - no piercings on the body other than the ear
4 - clothes must be well-fitted to the person (ie: no overly baggy or too tight of clothes)
5 - pants must be worn at the waist (no sagging clothes)
6 - clothing cannot show midriff, cleavage or underwear
7 - no derogatory sayings or images
8 - no gang related symbols or images
9 - no holes in the clothes
10 - no writing on the backside of pants/shorts/skirts
11 - no hats
12 - no flip flops, houseshoes/slippers or shoes without a backstrap (basically if it doesn't go around your Achilles tendon area it isn't allowed)
13 - no pajamas
14 - shorts and skirts must be no more than 1/2" above the knee (top of kneecap)

To me, that is a pretty decent list that does not discriminate against any nationality or ethnicity and it doesn't limit people to a "uniform" either. What it says is "dress with some respect for yourself".

*- I couldn't think of a better term as I don't know a lot about earrings.

[hinakiba777]

Wait. They couldn't figure out if NON dyed hair was breaking dress code?

Yes, because the school dress code allowed for dying of hair so long as the student kept it within the spectrum of blonde, brown, natural reds, and black. So a blonde student could go brunette or a brunette could go auburn etc. So long as it looked natural (No bright red, not overly bleached, no blacks with blue or purple bases, etc). But grey hair wasn't included in that list, as most teenagers don't have grey hair. The dress code was so strict that it didn't they weren't sure how to deal with this.

I'm rather sure that some kid wanted to bleached their hair or break the dresscode in some other fashion, and got in trouble, then noticed my friend with her grey hair and had their parents make a fuss about it. Or maybe one of the teachers was just really strict. Don't know really.

[violiav]

12 - no flip flops,

As long as it's applied across to board and people that wear the "sandal" type flip-flop are can't wear them just because it has a bow/flower on the top*.

Yeah, not too long ago I had a tiff with my boss about what is a flip-flop. Basically since mine didn't have any bow or rhinestones and was comfy (just a basic black Reef flip-flop) I couldn't wear it. Even though my pants cover my feet, and this new annoying chick always wears her crappy flip-flops.
fine. I'm just gonna buy me some Birkenstocks in a couple weeks.

[Nekojin]

Just take it to the logical extreme - no clothing in school, all students must be naked while on campus. It stops being titillating after the first few days, and stops being embarrassing after the first week.

(Edit: Note that I'm actually making a semi-serious suggestion - it's impossible in today's societal climate, but it's eminently practical.)

[Andara Bledin]

By banning anything that is "different" or "unusual" in grade school and then punishing anyone who doesn't conform, we're teaching kids that it's not ok to be different.

And then we wonder why a few years later anyone who is different gets teased and bullied. >_<

[Amanita]

^This. I feel exactly the same way.

[Hyena Dandy]

What it says is "dress with some respect for yourself".

And why, exactly, does "Dyed hair" mean "You don't respect yourself"?

[SongsOfDragons]

Just take it to the logical extreme - no clothing in school, all students must be naked while on campus. It stops being titillating after the first few days, and stops being embarrassing after the first week.

(Edit: Note that I'm actually making a semi-serious suggestion - it's impossible in today's societal climate, but it's eminently practical.)

Problem: Winter. Brrrrr!

I did specify 'uniform' as I'm writing it for a British school. I think as I've been exposed to the concept all my life I think more fondly about them and less so at the idea of letting kids wear what they want - that's a foible of mine. I've managed to get the clothes to a good level of what's barely distinguishable from workwear, not silly or ostentatious and is able to be customised slightly - it was just the person bits I was having issues with. But the list's pretty good, I'll have a look at what I've got down tonight and compare the two.

[daleduke17]

And why, exactly, does "Dyed hair" mean "You don't respect yourself"?

I'm not talking any dyed hair, just outrageous colors. If you're doing it for Comicon, yes, dye your hair. Halloween, yes, dye your hair. For school or anything else, it just looks ridiculous. It shows you aren't respecting yourself enough to get a good education.

[Andara Bledin]

It shows you aren't respecting yourself enough to get a good education.

As someone whose hair is part brown, part blue, and part neon pink, let me just tell you that you are utterly wrong.

I work in an office environment and am damn good at my job and take pride in my work. The fact that my hair happens to be fun colors says nothing about whether I respect myself.

When you get right down to it, the fact that I allow myself to do what I want instead of bowing to meaningless tradition speaks more for the idea that I do respect myself than otherwise.

[s_stabeler]

and I have a cousin who dyed her hair purple. It actually looked pretty good.

though I CAN understand why there are restrictions on hairstyle- one of the reasons for uniforms is to avoid people showing off their family's income/wealth. Basically, if everyone has to buy the same uniform, then no-one can show off by ( for example) wearing really expensive clothes. If there are no restrictions on hairstyles, then you will probably get kids getting really expensive hairdos.

[Hyena Dandy]

For school or anything else, it just looks ridiculous. It shows you aren't respecting yourself enough to get a good education.

You didn't answer my question. In what way is anything you listed disrespecting yourself. You just repeated your post. That's not a response, a rebuttal, a concession, a denial. You just SAID THE SAME THING TWICE.

Your first post "I think people should do this, and basically dress in a way that shows you respect yourself."

"How is that disrespecting yourself?"

"It shows you respect yourself."

I'm sorry if it seems more like I'm attacking you than your argument, but that's all I have. Because I asked for you to explain your argument, and you didn't, so all I can say is that you didn't answer my question.

[Duelist925]

I'm not talking any dyed hair, just outrageous colors. If you're doing it for Comicon, yes, dye your hair. Halloween, yes, dye your hair. For school or anything else, it just looks ridiculous. It shows you aren't respecting yourself enough to get a good education.

You did not answer the question asked.

How does dyeing ones hair result in a lack of self respect? How does dyeing ones hair have anything to do with self respect?

If my hair is bright crimson and gold (Go Gryffindor!) or blue and bronze (Rock on Ravenclaw!), how in the nine hells does it say anything about me other than "I like these colors" or possible "I lost a bet".

So, again, I ask....how does dyeing ones hair show a lack of self respect?

[Cats]

8 - no gang related symbols or images

Every school dress code I have ever seen has a rule about "gang related" clothing in some fashion.

Never once has any of them provided examples of what is considered "gang related" and WHY is is considered as such.

I'm nearly 30, I have yet to fully understand this rule.

Seriously, I know not of any existance of any local gangs, nevermind their symbols or images. When I think "gang", I think Bloods and Crips, which are a non-issue around here since it's on the other side of the country, and even then most know little about what defines them other than their rivalry with one another. Should no one ever be allowed to wear Blue because the Crips wear it?

I put this right up there with use of the tern "faddish" as described earlier...who gets to determine what violates this rule or not?

[daleduke17]

Cats -

Here is a link showing some "gang related" clothing/emblems/images
http://www.gangsorus.com/gang_signs_and_symbols.html

Also, to the question I was rudely asked (not by you, Cats):

It shows you are not respecting the educational process by being a distraction in the classroom by having multiple colored hair or non-naturally occurring hair colors (ie: blue, orange, green, whatever). It is showing that you want to make yourself noticed and be the center of attention. In an adult environment (work included) it is different because adults (sometimes) have enough brains/willpower to overlook hair color, multiple piercings, whatever to allow work to be done (and give respect to the work process).

The lacking self-respect is that one would rather make school about them and showboat than allow the real reason they are in school to commence.

Does that answer the question?