I don't have a dog in the fight as the saying goes......Put the girls in white blouses and blue skirts, and the guys in white shirts and blue trousers and let them swape out between the blue and white and anyones that comes to school dressed differently SEND THEM HOME.........PERIOD.

Mike - If my comments seemed to be East bashing, then I apologize. It just so happens that I have more friends and former colleagues that are working at East than I have at West. I don't really hear anything about the West that hasn't already been reported in the paper, certainly the lockdown being one of them. My comments were based on what I had heard firsthand from current East staff members. No offense intended. Just asking questions that my East compadres couldn't answer. As for the security guard question, I probably should've asked if the West high school needed reinforcements as well. Maybe I just need to "get a life" since I am out of that game now.

Speakthetruth, you seemed to be trying to pick on East high school. I don't have kids at either school, but I do remember that it was West High School that had the Lockdown/Drill fiasco a month ago. I don't see how having more eyes on campus is a bad thing no matter the reason.

Also the numbers for referals can be misleading. You have to know the context behind what was and was not given a referal. I work with young people, and the most effective way to correct something that is a minor correctable dress violation (like a shirt tail that is untucked or pants that are a little too low for your liking) is a direct on the spot correction. No pen and paper necessary or being sent out of class. Just confront the student and proffesionaly ask them to correct. Most kids will just say okay and do it. Lets get in the business of trying to get the kids into the classroom as much as possible. . .

Sage1 - I appreciate your defense of the East high school. You are obviously on staff at the East high school and you are right to put out a positive message. I just have two questions for you. (1) If the East high school has consistently enforced the dress code since the beginning of the school year, then why are many of the East high school staff members outraged about the current push to enforce the dress code since the recent school board meeting? (2) If everything is so "darn good" at the East high school, then why is the East high school hiring two additional security guards? Friends that work at East high school tell me it is because of the large number of fights, dress code issues, and distruction of property. Is the West high school hiring two additional security guards as well?

As for the 450 vs. 50 enforcement numbers, do we have a breakdown by month? Just asking.

I do think that you are right about the public visiting your school. Everyone should stop by and see the "darn good" job that the East high school staff is doing. A visit would surely give the taxpayers peace of mind. To be fair, though, make sure you visit both high schools or all four middle schools or every single one of the elementary school. That way, when you people make comparisions, you will have all the facts right in front of you. Factual information is very, very powerful.

You all have NO IDEA what you are talking about. VEHS is WAY better that MHS or VHS ever was. A lot of your information comes from over a decade ago...really comparing 1997 to today? Are you serious??? I wish you all would get off your butts and come LOOK at the school, with students in it, all day. Take one day off work and actually take a look instead of jumping to conclusions. You would be happy with what you saw - and I wouldn't be pissed off about working hard with your kids, enforcing rules that I didn't get to pick, just to listen to you make crap up about our students and our teachers. Come and see for yourselves! Look what we are trying to do and say thank you, nice job!

stealthmode and others:

I don't know what is going on at West, but I can tell you what is going on at East. Students don't generally receive referrals for dress code for a couple of simple reasons: 1) teachers try to have students correct dress code infractions when they enter the building. If students are seen out of dress code throughout the day, most teachers, but not 100%, ask the students to correct the infraction. 2) Our technique is to firmly, but politely, tell the student what the infraction is and how to correct it. I think a big part of why there isn't a big problem with dress code at East is because of the relatively consistent message we've sent to the students: Parents will remember that their child wasn't even allowed in the building at the beginning of the school year if the student was out of dress code - the student stood outside, right as they were dropped off and had to call their parent to bring them whatever was needed to be in dress code. That sent a clear message. 3) We are not in the business of writing referrals, we are in the business of educating students - and that includes teaching them how to respond to correction - we don't jump to punishment. 4) Our students have learned to handle the corrections in a positive way - I can't tell you how many "Yes Ma'am's I've gotten when requesting students, male, female, athletics, black, white, Mexican, dance team, band, Goth.., all students to tuck in their shirts.

As far as how the students look outside the school - some genius posted a comment about how they aren't in dress code outside of the building. I have two points 1) I don't care how they look outside VEHS; 2) If I did care, how would I enforce it? Realistically, what would you propose? How close to the building do they have to be before we should enforce dress code? I think inside the building is what matters. If you're a parent, why don't you stop making assumptions and come see for yourself? Spend the DAY inside the school. It's not going to be perfect, but it is darn good!

As far as teacher dress code goes: For cryin' out loud! We are not STUDENTS!!! We are professionals; we have degrees; and most of us take our responsibility of trying to educate what you have given us seriously. Our dress code is basically to look professional. Are there some teachers who do not look this way? Surely. So administration should deal with them. Don't draw blanket conclusions or suggest blanket proposals for teacher dress code because you have seen some sloppy teachers. That's silly.

For the rest of you: How typical that you have no idea what actually happens in school or what teachers do, but you use your OPINIONS (uneducated, unsubstantiated, and uninformed opinions) to draw conclusion about what the teachers at any campus are doing.

I think it is interesting that everyone is commenting on the dress code issue and no one seems overly concerned that there have been 45 documented assaults in six months at just ONE middle school. Keep in mind those are only the ones that are seen and caught by school personnel, which means the actual number is probably much higher. That should be a more disturbing statistic than the number of write-ups for dress code infractions.

I like some of the posters suggestions here that imply, So what if there is a rule or policy, we (the parents) have dumped them in your lap so teach the kids anyway. I assume some of them are parents and that is a fantastic message to send your kids to school with. LOL!!!

mamaj, what are you going to do beat up a teacher if they touch your kid? LOL! Nobody is "threatening" your kids. They are simply asking them to show up to school properly dressed and looking like something other than trash. I realize it's tough to monitor and yes I have been to the school to give my sneaky kids some proper clothing. I'm not saying mine are perfect, I'm just saying you have to get off your butt and make an effort.

It's obvious that one school isn't paying a lot of attention to the issue. It sends a very clear message to the kids. Rules, no you don't have to follow them.

Exactly Kash, My senior year at VHS way back when, I had a 97 average in Government class, I had to write a research paper that counted for 30% of my final grade, I thought cool, I will still pass the class with a 67.

Wrong, Mr. B.F. Eriskine called me into his office and told me that I COULD NOT GRADUATE without writing a research paper, AND that I WOULD NOT get credit for the semester of Government that I didn't write a research paper in, in other words I had to take a third semester of Government class.

I did that, and had a 98 average, wrote the research paper, "Crime in America", and got a 100.

Lo and Behold, my transcript shows I have 3 Government credits, instead of the required 2.

The point is, issue the fines for dress, if they don't pay? Guess what? They won't graduate until they do.

Easy enough.

I like Red's fine idea, do it just like library fines, no grades til paid. How many kids try to get ISS on purpose just to get out of class? These kids are old enough to know how to dress.

OR let the school start issuing citations...FINES...they need more budget money anyway...

Well, I see the only solution is to put everyone in School Uniforms...please, not the same color as school colors or each school...don't let the kids vote on colors...

do I have your attention yet???

keep the pants pulled up and the shirts fitting accordingly and no loose baggy saggy clothing forget all the bs that is going on with dress and begin to put learning as the priority in school again...

you parents can see when your kid/kids are in violation of dress code as well/?? why don't you correct them???

don't make teachers, principals, security do your job...cloth your kids correctly...

Thank you again VA for sensationalizing a story from a non-event. A simple discussion took place involving small pieces of the dress code policy that was REPEATEDLY quoted as an overall SUCCESSFUL and POSITIVE dress policy. Yes, I guess you missed reporting that, although it was emphasized numerous times in the discussion at which your reporter was in attendance. I think the community deserves better reporting from you.

Everyone knows the problem. It's the clientele. You people are all just too afraid to say it, and you all know I am right. Unfortunately because there is such a pervasive gang problem, and the thuggery that has overun the general student population, is the sole reason we have such a uniformed dress code to begin with.

Combined with continually bad leadership at the Administrative level in VISD, these are problems that will only get worse.

Nice new schools, but the same old song and dance in good old VISD!

Evidently, there are a LOT of students who aren't following the dress code, and the West campus is attempting to enforce the rules. If you're going to make a rule, make it stick. As my father used to say, if you don't like the answer, don't ask the question.

Interesting--VISD is teaching thousands of kids and yet they don't know the definition of a coat?! Hmm....??? As for their recommendation that all coats/jackets be solid colored---I would like to know where they think people are going to find them! It's next to impossible to find any decent clothing these days!

There is no waiting list for private schools in Victoria. Step right up with your cash and they have a seat waiting for you. VISD is killing the private high schools right now. But it will change. Read the comments here. It will change.

Sethnbrensmom has it right. I don't give a rat's rear if a logo is 1" or 5" in size; that's absurd. VISD also wasted tons of money this year on replacing MHS letterman jackets with VEHS or VWHS letterman jackets if the student had earned one at MHS. How much did that cost the taxpayer? All so the dress code was not violated? This is so overboard as to be insane. I want my children educated. We pay them for that. Leave the stupid dress code alone. Parents, step up and ensure your students have what they need for the code as it stands. School board, administrators, and teachers...stop pulling our students out of instruction time and putting them in ISS for perceived infractions. If body parts are not showing, if they are not wearing gang colors, if their pants are not sagging, etc., LEAVE THE KIDS ALONE AND LET THEM LEARN!

Do any of you have any idea how stupid all of this sounds to the "outside" world? This stuff is so very childish and makes Victoria sound ignorant. I lived in Austin/Round Rock for 32 years, and you just did not hear about this stuff in the school districts there. They actually focus on -gasp- education, not clothing. It's really no wonder there is such a waiting list for the private schools in Victoria; students are actually able to learn there.

I don't have a child in either school, but had one that graduated from Memorial 2010. It seems kids are spending more time in ISS or the office because of dress code violations than actually in the classrooms learning. As far as parents, being parents Baylee, I remember as a young teenage girl growing up, I would leave the house dressed one way and show up somewhere in something totally different. They are kids, just like we were at one time and they will push the envelope just like some of us did. I know, I know we should force these kids to listen and adhere to rules because in the "real" world they will have to follow rules, but guess what? When they mature and become adults, they will know that if they are wanting to work in a particular place or do particular things that rules will have to be followed and if not, then they don't get to work there, etc. It comes with maturity and aging. I am blessed to work in a office that does not have a strict dress code and as "adults" we know what is appropriate and what isn't. Hopefully they will learn as they become older as I did. Just my opinion, thanks for reading :)

the culture at west hs is going to ruin the east/west split. lot of drama over there.

someone look into visd complaints from the two high schools and be prepared to be floored to find out a much higher % of complaints coming from one hs.

I agree with sethbrensmom, my child goes to West and he says that
all the teachers do and the security is enforce dress code and they arent even teaching, that the teachers have lost control, they even pull on the kids clothing, i would like to see that happen in front of me and the teachers are threatening the kids. he says the classrooms are out of control. Baylee please some parents have to go to work before their children leave for school and not everbody can afford to buy what some can. come on victoria, i keep seeing the same comments over and over lets be real, now is it appropriate for a teacher to put a student in ISS for 10 days just because they dont have their shirt tucked in without warning? this is a bit out of hand. Mr Moore you need to step up, because my children are attending your so called wonderful schools and from what i hear when they get home isnt very pleasing to me.

When will the Industrial School Board or Calhoun School Board be discussing these same issues? Oh, that's right, they won't! Welcome to VISD! What a joke!

Stealthmode, I agree with you. I see these East kids coming out of school, and are not dressed according to the code. I would not vote on any changes until everyone can follow the current ones!

Kids wear hoodies because it is cold in the classrooms. Some teachers do not follow the dress code, they don't care what they show up in as long as they do their work. Too bad parents can't be parents and see that their children are properly dressed before they go out.

Or, Stealthmom8, it could mean that at West they are too busy worrying about the "rules" and not teaching while at East they are actually teaching the children, not worrying about what they are wearing. I don't have a kid at either, so I can't really say for sure...

"McCord also presented drastically uneven numbers of referrals because of dress code violations. West High School had nearly 450 referrals while East High School had slightly less than 50".

This means one of two things... Either West is out of control and East has all their kids doing everything close to perfectly, or West is catching and acting and East is ignoring.

IMO it's the latter of the two.

The school board's should have review the lack of enforcement of the dress code rather than reviewed recommendations for changes to the dress code.
Every year prior to the beginning of the school year, the school sends out pamphlets as to what is expected of the students regarding the dress code. And every year you see numerous violations or total disregard for the dress code by both teachers and students.

Khaki or navy pants/skirt. Red, white or blue polo shirts. Shirts tucked in, belt if you have belt loops. Whatever shoes you want, except at PE. Whatever jacket/hoody you want, but it comes off in the classroom. Boom, done.

Oh, and no capes in middle school.

Its nice that we discuss coats now that is isnt cold. I assume that non one discussed the need of a neater and more professional dress code for pregnant students. And what is the dress code for teachers. do they follow? At Outreach academy, the teachers wear the same green, navy or white polos and kakhi pants that the kids do and they all look so good.