School Uniforms

[praxis1966]

I am a site based technician in the local school system here in Bay County, Florida. Today I received this e-mail from our school's principal:


THE BOARD IS MEETING TONIGHT AT 6:00 P.M. TO DISCUSS THE DRESS CODE . WE PLAN TO ASK THE BOARD TO REQUIRE UNIFORMS AND WE NEED YOU THERE FOR SUPPORT.

I have a few ideas cooked up to speak in opposition to this but wanted to see if anyone else had some thoughts. This is a public school system, and I personally wasn't aware that the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the 13th, 14th, and 15th Ammendments only applied to those over the age of 18. (Keep in mind that the hell that I will be raising will be in front of the district school board, the superintendant, the local media, and a large in house audience.)

(Edited by praxis1966 at 11:34 pm on Feb. 26, 2003)

[Arkham]

There are numerous lower and supreme court opinions and precedents to show that the bill of rights doesn't exist for those under 18, and especially while in school. Locker searches and drug testing for atheletes for the fourth amendment spring readily to mind, as well as (more cogently) dress code rules already established that would normally violate the first amendment. To argue what you wish to argue, you would need to be able to prove that dress codes violate the 1st amendment, which no one will accept.

Constitutionality is not the way to argue this. Freedom of expression, and generalized liberty are more effective, because the bill of rights angle has already been argued to death in favor of uniforms. I would use those tacks. You might also raise the issue of cost effectiveness vs just stringent dress code, or see if you can find any info that shows that school uniforms are ineffective in general in the pursuit of their aims.

Best of luck.

[redstar2000]

I would simply suggest that if the school board is going to do this, they should be sure to require all students to wear brown shirts.

:cool:

[Arkham]

And make sure they're all blonde.

Though Im not sure insinuating the school board members are Nazis is the best way to get them on your side.

;)

[Blibblob]

First things first, you live in Florida, the most fucked up state(education-wise) in the entire Union! (i live there too).
Two, start a protest, try not to get suspended, im working on that now.
Three, protest doesnt work start a student strike.
Four, read the newspaper, find my aunt, and follow her FCAT boycott ;).
And five, do the student strike against the war on March 5th, look in the practice area.

[CompadreGuerrillera]

make em wear grey-red-black uniforms, with hawks and SS bolts
damn stupid admin, might as well turn detention into the gas chamber
:P

[praxis1966]

Quote: from Blibblob on 6:22 am on Feb. 27, 2003
First things first, you live in Florida, the most fucked up state(education-wise) in the entire Union! (i live there too).
Two, start a protest, try not to get suspended, im working on that now.
Three, protest doesnt work start a student strike.
Four, read the newspaper, find my aunt, and follow her FCAT boycott ;).
And five, do the student strike against the war on March 5th, look in the practice area.


I'm not really worried about getting suspended. More like losing my job. I graduated 7 years ago, but am currently working in the school system...

BTW, I'm not sure how it went tonight. The board took everyone's protests & support for the new policy under advisement. The official vote will be at the next board meeting.

However, here's something everyone will love:

The proposal for uniforms is for the whole school district. Not only that, but the PARENTS of the students are going to be the one's required to pay for them. Those students who qualify (as underprivelaged, i.e. the same ones who qualify for discounted or free lunches) will have 2 uniforms purchased for them. Two and only two. What I'm wondering is, what will happen these uniforms wear out from too much use and washing?

Not to mention, the parents who don't qualify for subsidized uniforms will be forced to pay for something that is supposed to be free: public education! They won't have any choice in the matter, either. As I'm sure you all know, school is compulsory until the age of 16 in this country. Sounds like institutionalized extortion.

My boss/principal didn't appear to like my arguments very much, and since I don't any tenure, I probably will be out of work at the end of the school year.

Anyone know of a job opening for a network technician?

[Blibblob]

Come to the CAT program in Pinellas, try and get our current one, Zuli, fired, he cant even keep the schools own 9th grade students out of the system. ;)

And after i posted that i reread what you said and figured out that you worked there, stupid me, and i was too lazy to edit it. :)