Just because we follow the rules does not mean we shouldn't fight against them when we find them wrong. And yes it does concern me, I do have gauges that have to be removed when I go to my classes, I have to shave every day or else I get sent home it is a great hassle and is just another precaution on the list out weighing school work.

What is ridiculous is that you, kat2008, have resurrected a story that is 5 months old, and are complaining about old news.

Don't you have some finals to study for?

This is ridiculous. Stop fighting over something that doesn't concern you. I can tell that the highschoolers that are on here, obviously don't violate the dress code. The rest of you on here, I'm guessing, have nothing to do with the school..at all. Sure you can go with the "I'm a parent" route; And let me say, I'm proud that so many parents care about OTHER people's children, but stop. It's none of your business. If your on here complaining, I'm sure your kid dresses appropriately. That's all you need to worry about. That your kid isn't making an idiot of yourself. Because that's what you want your child to represent right? All of YOUR hard work. I'm not trying to fight with a bunch of 40 year olds, whom all I'm sure have much more important things to do. Stop pushing so many things on kids today. We're already pushed to try drugs, to have sex, to pass classes, to get a drivers license, to go to college, not to fail, not to fail, not to fail. All of that on top of growing hormones. So just stop. Let the school take care of the problem. The last thing we need is another thing pushed on us.

proveallthings, I will concurr that at some times Victoria can seem a bit close minded, but this discussion is not inclussive of that argument. It dosn't fit here. The discussion about a standard dress at school is the heart of this. Being able to step back and decide an actual agenda for the entire educational direction of thousands of students is a big job and a very important job. Someone in such a position must consider your argument but should also consider the more important bottom line of why do they go to school? To pay attention and learn. Removing un-needed discrations from the equasion is imperative and having to deal with 1000 individual teenage egos is difficult enough. Standardize as close as you can without becoming Germany in 1939, and the distraction lessens. Students get better in school, learn the school lessons, learn the life lessons that help grow teens to adults and the end product is a graduated teen who is better prepared for adult life. this could lessen the burden on outreach programs that responsible people pay for in tax dollars(Un-emplyment, wellfare ect)because these out reach programs wouldn't be depended on by as many. A standard dress code or school uniform has far reaching results that in my opinion are worth the inconvinience done to teens because they have to wear the same shirt that everyone else does.

wh1t3f0x, I have to say that you made a few Very good points in your comment. I'm with ya on all that you said , It is true and has been proven that a more relaxed dress code does allow the students to be more open minded to learning. And second, Your right, if the girls are allowed to wear earrings,,then why not let the guys wear them,,,Fair is Fair. Third. this is something that really gets me,,,what is it with not allowing the guys to have facial hair. As long as the keep it nice,,I see Nothing wrong with it. But this Is Victoria,,and as you can see by the others comments,,they're Very closed minded. And as for these teachers standing in the middle of the hallways acting as medians,,,Thats Totally ridiculus! Back in my days at VHS,it was hard enough getting to class on time,,and I'm talking about,,Less students,,and Walking on whatever side of the hallway that you could,,just to get to the next class on time. Now theres More students,,and Yes more students are being late to class Due to this stupid idea of teachers acting as medians on a highway. I guess in the New schools there will be lines on the floors of the hallway,,and who knows maybe a stop sign or two. And Possible a teacher on the new standup scooters handing out citations. In all honesty,,I really believe we have more important things to worry about at the present time. A new Fault line,,,Possible major disaster just Waiting to happen. Also the economy,,its spiralling down very quickly. And here they are worried as Hell about what the kids are going to wear to school. Go Figure...

first of all
yes there are many studies that have shown that standardized dress codes improve learning ability but there are just as many leading studies that show that a more relaxed dress code allows students minds to be more open to learning.

Second
Why is it any different for a guy to wear earrings than it is for a girl? Is it the masculine facial features? if that's true than would not a "butchy" girl who dresses in "guy" clothing be required to not wear earrings? I mean honestly what separates us?

third
I would like to see a survey of students that find a guy having facial hair "distracting". Show of hands. Who thinks 10% would say it's distracting? Hmm? what about 5%? 1%?
And if there are any distractable students would they not be distracted by numerous teachers with beards and goatees?

Oh and if you'd like to see one of the great ideas recently implemented at the high school recently go watch the teachers attempt to act as medians in the hallways creating even more congestion in already busy areas

Yo Victoriaconcernedcitizen.....perhaps you wouldn't be so concerned if you knew what you were talking about. First of all...if VISD does go to school uniforms or a strict dress code...your kids will go to school dressed as the code calls for, or you can take them out and put them in any other school in Victoria and they can then wear one of the other schools dress code and you can pay the big bucks for them to attend that school...and if you do own your home...you still get to pay school taxes to VISD as well. Secondly, if you even had hint of exactly what the VISD budget has to cover you wouldn't even think twice about what teachers and administrators get paid. Teachers like law enforcement and fire and rescue personnel are some of the lowest paying jobs in the state. Thirdly...VISD doesn't have enough money to cover the costs of the district as it is because while they do have a cut of property taxes...there is not a lot of industry and businesses that generate the tax base that is needed for VISD to cover their budget...before they stopped the "Robin Hood" program where wealthier school districts sent a huge chunk of their money to poorer school districts in the state....VISD was a district that recieved money from other districts. Perhaps you should attend some school board meetings. Lastly...having to deal with parents like you...are why we need a dress code....it will just make things crystal clear and staff can focus on the things that are important during the school day.

My kids attended Hopkins School at the time they were required to wear uniforms as an option. As a parent it made much easier knowing what there were going to wear to school the next day. It also controls cost of dressing them up. They look so cute and well groom. Unfortunely it was drop due to lack of participation. I will support a standardized dress code as recommended by the committee for all VISD Campuses. I would also recommend that the faculty have their professional dress code updated to more of a conservative style. I would also recommend that it be implentmented in stages. Starting from elementary schools one year then middle schools the following then high schools the third and final year.
Yes, school trustee. Make the decision and make it work. Studies have shown it has a positive impact on our children and our community.

If I want my children to wear uniforms I'll send them to a military academy. This is ridiculous....the School Board needs to spend their time combing the budget and reducing the administrators pay. I mean, just why are all of the fund raisers coming home when VISD is the prominent portion of our property tax?

I went to both Victoria High and Stroman High Schools and recall a push for strict dress codes back then(Late 90's). It didn't work. One reason had to do with teachers who had enough on thier plates already, having to monitor and take time away from class to refer several students per class period to the office where they were given no detention or a warning for the 9th time and then back to the same class they went. Having monitors actually enforce a dress code is one way to adress this. However students are rebellious teenagers and will find a way around it somehow. So what them is to be done? I agree with the earlier post about VISD being behind(This isn't the first time). Put it in place. Solid colored polo shirts, no-faded or holey jeans and conservative make-up for young ladies. In a few years it won't matter. They will be used to it. Starting it early in say Middle school would help ease the transition. Having a standard dress for all students will over the long period apply a progressive sense of discipline students lack and teachers sometimes cannot instill. It is win/win. Get a dress code

City councilman David Hagan needs to run for school board

VISD School Board....Come on guys do you really want to know what the STUDENTS and parents want in the way of passing a dress code....you can't guess what they will say? That is kinda of frightening to think that the members of the school board don't already know the answer you are going to get...especially from students. Are you afraid that if you enact a dress code there will be a huge number of students checking out...where would they go...all the other schools have stricter dress codes and even worse uniforms. Some of the comments left here as well and the ones found in the story and the other hundreds of posts on this very topic should be enough to show that in the end you are just going to have to make a decision and go with it. I do agree with the person from El Campo though...if the town is too small and doesn't have enough stores...or if the parents are too ignorant to find the jeans that are always for sale in every store, and usually cheaper, that don't contain holes and washed out color...then you should just go for a stricter code...or uniforms...otherwise you'll just have another year of staff and administrators spending a good amount of their time arguing with students and parents while they try to make excuses and skirt the code, and whining that the code isn't fairly enforced.  Uniforms and dress codes in elementary schools may prevent a lot of bullying and behavioral problems and at the same time cut down on these types of behavior before we get to middle school and high school....but lots of high schools all over the country have strict dress codes and even uniforms and those students have done very well and are still around to tell of the horror's of it.There are a lot of good parents out there who truly understand the fact that their child, good or bad, is not the exception to the rules that the school board and administrators have in place for the student body as a whole...but then there are those who are a constant pain in the neck...that is why we have you guys. You know what the problems overall in VISD schools are...you have been given the power to fix those problems...and provide safe places that allow the best opportunity for learning for each and every child in VISD. MAKE YOUR DECISION AND STICK WITH IT.Let them all whine...in the end they will follow it and in a couple of years....it won't be an issue. The worst that can happen is that next school board election you may not get re-elected...but then again....there are not that many people that really want to be on the school board either...it is one of the most difficult and thankless jobs in any town...so don't worry...just do what you guys believe will work best for the district and stick to it.

If they would only ENFORCE the dress code now in effect, and tweak it just a bit, that would be an improvement. Oh, and when enforcing it, make sure to enforce it consistently and fairly!!!

I've got kids in the El Campo school district. We have a similar dress code. They are allowed to wear only solid color polo shirts and spirit shirts are allowed on Fridays. There are clubs in school that have t-shirts and those are allowed on the days they have meetings. As for jeans, they have to fit on the waist and cannot have any holes in them. Not even the ones from the manufacturer. Also, the girls jeans cannot have any designs, glitter or studs on them. Also, the shorts have to be longer than your fingertips when you hang your arms down. We have had a very hard time with finding jeans. Most of the jeans for guys have the worn look with holes and most of the girls jeans have designs on the pockets. I don't have a problem with the polos since they aren't hard to find. The shorts have to be longer than their fingertips when they're arms are down by their side. This has cut down on teachers being on dress code patrol all day. All shirts have to be tucked and belts must be worn. The only exception to this rule is for Kindergarten and 1st grade students, since they have a hard time doing this. I do know for a fact that it has costed us more with this new system. We now have a school wardrobe and then one for home. I know the kids hate it.

I think this would be a great idea, but only do it for the elementary and middle school students. The Rio Grande Valley schools and Austin ISD has adopted this 11 years ago, but only for elementary and middle school students. each elementary & middle school have their own color polo shirt to wear. this is not for high school students, it would not work for them and the school board should not based their opinion on them. don't let the high school wear uniforms. i think uniforms can be a great help and can help families save some money if their able to reuse some shirts or even hand them down to a sibiling. i think its for a security purpose as well. seems to me that victoria has been behind on things, correct me if i'm wrong..