VISD dress code still undecided
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DRESS CODE SURVEY
Of the 2,800 surveys turned in, 1,700 were filled out online and 1,100 were hard-copy submissions.
Thirty-seven percent of survey responses came from parents.
The dress code committee suggested: No sleeveless shirts, blouses or dresses; ...
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DRESS CODE SURVEY
Of the 2,800 surveys turned in, 1,700 were filled out online and 1,100 were hard-copy submissions.
Thirty-seven percent of survey responses came from parents.
The dress code committee suggested: No sleeveless shirts, blouses or dresses; separate dress code for elementary and secondary, leaning toward standardized dress code; advertising, emblems and graphics on clothing are not allowed, logos are limited to those of the clothing manufacturer and may not be larger than 2 by 2 inches; hooded sweatshirts and jackets are not allowed to be worn in any building.
The board will discuss the dress code at the July board meeting. Board meetings are at 6 p.m. the third Thursday of every month.
Next meeting
The board will meet at the Administration Building, 102 Profit Drive at 6 p.m. Thursday for its monthly board meeting.
The Victoria school board is still undecided about the direction it'll take with the dress code.
At the Tuesday workshop, the board wrestled with the ideas of having tattoos covered up, banning flip-flops and pajama bottoms, and what to do about earrings on male students.
Board members suggested standardized dress with polo tops, belts and closed toe shoes.
However, the board will not make a decision on the dress code until at its July meeting.
The board understands some parents have already begun to buy school clothes, Tami Keeling, school board vice president, said. She suggested making changes that would not cost parents.
"We should try to get as close as possible to standardized dress, which would lay a good foundation for the following year," Keeling said at the workshop Tuesday afternoon. "It's a stepping stone to where we want to be. It doesn't cost money to tuck in your shirt."
The board discussed the distraction tattoos cause and considered requiring students to cover them up.
"I understand we cannot make a change that requires people to spend money because we would be doing the community a disservice," Keeling said.
A dress code committee was created in June 2007 after the district received input from the students, teachers and parents through the Harris Poll.
The group conducted research for 18 months. In January, the group distributed a dress code survey to teachers, students and parents. The district received 2,800 responses.
The results were ready for the March board meeting but were never placed on the agenda because there was not enough room, Nancy McCord, assistant superintendent of secondary schools, said.
"This was just placed on the back burner, but I've had it ready since February," McCord told the board.
The board leaned toward standardized dress with a leniency on khakis and color of polo shirts.
"We cannot require people to wear a certain color of shirt because they would have to buy a new one every six months," Keeling said.
Changes do need to be made, but standardized dress is not the solution, Memorial High School senior Jennifer Ruch said.
"Some things should be changed, like the covering up of tattoos and no earrings for the male students," Jennifer said.
However, she said, she does not agree with the wearing of belts and polo shirts.
"A lot of the stuff we wear now doesn't go with our shirt being tucked in and wearing a belt," she said. "We wear tunics and they are long and meant to be out, I don't see a problem with them because no body parts are showing."
The board also made suggestions about the requirements of girls' clothes.
"Female students' necklines need to be higher and this needs to be enforced," board member Bernard Klimist said.
Also discussed were not allowing spaghetti straps, and midriff shirts or blouses.
"I totally agree with that because when we come to school, it's a reflection of how much we care about school," Jennifer said.
The board will meet in July about dress code modifications.
"We need to plan for next year and make modifications and enforce what we have and try to get as close to standardized dress as we can," Keeling said.
Some members suggested making the language in the dress code guidelines simple.
"We need to simplify and move on: Either shirts are in or they're out, tattoos are covered or they're not," Keeling said.
But if the board gets too simple, students may find a way around the dress code, McCord said.
"They'll try everything if we're not specific enough," she said.
Because it was a workshop, the board could only discuss the direction they would like to take with the dress code.
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Yes thier should be a dress code..................!
June 24, 2009 at 11:37 a.m.myvu said...
"VISD should do the right thing and develop and enforce a dress code. They should not worry about the poor old parents expenses that may arise from it. Any parent with some sort of morals already has their child dressing appropriately. The ones that don't are most likely dressing like their kids. All that normal people see when they look a sloppy dressed person is a someone who is uneducated, irresponsible, and most likely, unemployed."
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WOW - How can you honestly sit there and say that a "sloppy" dressed person is uneducated, irresponsible, and most likely, unemployed? Additionally, What your definition of a "sloppy" dressed person and someone else may be different. However, to label someone based on their physical appearance as uneducated, irresponsible, and most likely unemployed is absolutely absurd. You base your information on what I ask?
"The ones that don't are most likely dressing like their kids."
Again, this is your assumption validated with zero proof. I find it fascinating that you stereotype people in this manner and sum it up by additionally saying, "Hey Hictoria, your online name sums you up!"
Simply amazing!
June 18, 2009 at 1:51 p.m."I will say it again, if you can not handle policing what your child wears, it is your fault. DO something about it and quit relying on someone else to handle it for you." I so believe that is a true statement now more than ever people are looking for someone to place the blame on ..when in reality they need to take a look at their own parenting and child rearing. just saying...
June 18, 2009 at 1:12 p.m.Hey Hictoria, your online name sums you up!
June 18, 2009 at 12:52 p.m.I have a child in school, and I gag at what I see most days, you simply have many parents that do not care what their children wear, or don't care if they get into trouble for it.
June 18, 2009 at 11:24 a.m.This is a everyday distraction, when will education become important again, more important than expressive clothing, or sports, drill teams, never! It seems 'social expression' is in first, and 'education' is last. We the people and school board have chosen the wrong course.
Those of you who believe so strongly in implementing uniforms can always send your kids to military school where that is standard. The last time I checked, this is a public school system where your child should be able to express themselves in a manner according to a reasonable dress code. There is no need to militarize our kids. I will say it again, if you can not handle policing what your child wears, it is your fault. DO something about it and quit relying on someone else to handle it for you.
Additionally, taking a hat off indoors? WHY? What difference does it make if you do or do not?
June 18, 2009 at 10:31 a.m.What happened to the dress code in 10 years????? When I was in high school, 10 years ago, students already had to cover up tattoos, take out earrings if they were male, and belly-baring shirts and spaghetti straps were outlawed. Flip flops were also outlawed. The teachers at VHS did a pretty good job of enforcing that dress code. How did we get to the point of allowing all that stuff back in, where uniforms are being considered?
June 18, 2009 at 9:48 a.m.If VISD requires a uniform (which polos/one color slacks would be) then it will also have to provide for any child that cannot afford them (like free and reduced lunch students). As Ms. Keeling pointed out--tucking a shirt in is free. So is removing a hat indoors.
You will still have students that "adapt" any uniform you require.
There is a perfectly acceptable dress code in place, but it isn't enforced at the school or in the home. If you have parents that will not support the code (heck some even fight it) then it won't really matter what you put in the code.
As for tattoos and earrings on males, those are becoming more mainstream. Many professionals do have them, but the tattoos are covered. I remember my parents telling me when they were in school only "thugs" wore "dungarees." Now jeans are standard.
What many children come to realize is that when they are competing for jobs in a tight market, what they want to wear vs what is the acceptable industry standard can make or break them. Until then, it is almost impossible to make them see the consequences. Having teachers that model proper dress and having parents that support and enforce proper dress would go a long way--but who are we fooling here?
June 18, 2009 at 9:24 a.m.VISD should do the right thing and develop and enforce a dress code. They should not worry about the poor old parents expenses that may arise from it. Any parent with some sort of morals already has their child dressing appropriately. The ones that don't are most likely dressing like their kids. All that normal people see when they look a sloppy dressed person is a someone who is uneducated, irresponsible, and most likely, unemployed.
June 18, 2009 at 9:19 a.m.I agree with this being a parent responsibility. Use a little common sense and quit making this into such a big deal already!
Those who are for a dress code = a parent who is lazy and would rather have (government) take responsibility.
Lastly, txzambo - why would the shirts need to be tucked in? That is ridiculous!
June 18, 2009 at 8:31 a.m.I agree the teachers need to set an example. I dropped off my child one day and I saw this girl walking dressed horribly. I told my daughter they let her out of the house looking like that. My child told me, "mom, thats a teacher". I was in complete shock. Straighten up the teachers first before you condemn the children, they only follow their leaders. And some of their leaders should be ashamed of themselves.
June 18, 2009 at 8:14 a.m.I do not agree with the dress code. We as parents need to do our job and not go and buy these clothes so they won't have the clothes to wear. I agree with the ear rings on boys, and tatoos. They shouldn't have these things in the first place. Again this goes back to the parents. HELLOOOOO....... we are the parents. Please don't change the dress code, fine the parents, I am sure then things will change.
June 18, 2009 at 7:31 a.m.Wait--before we start on student dress code the teachers dress code needs to be addressed. Teachers lead by example! Have you seen how some of the teachers dress and the tattoos they have showing everywhere. If students have to cover theirs then the teachers should also. How can a teacher with a low cut blouse tell a student they can't wear them any more. Teachers need to take pride in how THEY dress and look professional. The problem is the teachers let the dress code slide because they have too many other things to deal with. The administrators let the teachers slide on the dress code for the same reason. Plus I have seen a principal with her stomach hanging out. Talk about gross! Before the school board can expect the students to dress properly the teachers need to start first.
June 18, 2009 at 7:17 a.m.I agree with the polo shirts and slacks. Thinking that it would cost the parents more, take a look at how much some the shirts and blouses kids wear to school right now. You can buy a polo for under $20 and pants also. You set all these guidelines at the beginning of the school year but 3 months into the school year kids are wearing the things that they shouldn't. Parents it is so much easier to have a standardized dress code. You don't have to argue with your kids on what is the right thing to wear to school. School board just make a decision, getting the kids to decide you know where that will go
June 18, 2009 at 7:04 a.m.Scorpio, if you think Memorial was bad, try driving by Patti Welder one afternoon!
June 18, 2009 at 6:17 a.m.I have seen those kids dressed in all black with white face black nails and dog collars as necklaces. Then I have seen them dressed in baggy hanging pants or barely dressed at all. I drive by Memorial every morning and year before last was a lot of goth kids and last year they were not too bad but it did not look good with low rider cars sitting in the front lot a boy and girl kissing all over and hanging on each other. I think polo shirts and jeans would be a great idea.
June 17, 2009 at 11:43 p.m.WOW, my 16 year old daughter tried to convince me one day that girls were wearing spaghetti straps at school, and I told her she was lying. I am going to have to apoligize to her now, because unless I read the article wrong, it does make it seem like they are allowed, along with shirts that show stomach.I still like the idea of any kind of polo shirts.They are not that expensive...
June 17, 2009 at 11:32 p.m.I fully agree with polo shirts and tucked in. there are several cities in Texas that required one color polo and one color slacks on all students, district wide. and it didnt seem to be a big deal ab out buying more than one. they didnt care if it came from dillards or the garage sale, just wear it and comply. We have far too much distraction with low cut shirts and big boobs in pushup bras. to me, that is more so a distraction than a darn tatoo.
June 17, 2009 at 9 p.m.