Re: 128 students suspended at Ind. school


"Jen" <anyofusNo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:rdzJg.20880$rP1.6328@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Barbara" <mom_2_one@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1157017895.207414.39010@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


No, I have said that student dress isn't a big issue with me. I never
said
I don't care about the rules. I said I would like to change the
punishment
for dress code violations because I don't want kids missing class.

Its not that I disagree with you on this point. Its that it presents a
conundrum. Girl A comes to school in an outfit that clearly violates
dress code -- let's say a super-short skirt and tank top. She gets
detention. But not everyone who sees her that day *knows* that she got
detention; no one is going to make her carry a sign that says *I
violated dress code and now I'm stuck in detention* (Nor should they
....)
So what?! When other kids do things against the rules, not all of them
know
if they got detention or not. The kids aren't all going to say *Wow, lets
do it too then*. Kids have some sense too.
Uh, not necessarily. That works ONLY when the other students are offended by
the behavior and apply social sanctions. Most students won't start fighting
if they knew that they wouldn't get suspended if they did it, but because in
most neighborhoods, fighting is socially unacceptable.

However, wearing a "cool" shirt or whatever the current trend is IS
something desireable to do. Therefore, if students see one person "getting
away with it", which wearing the shirt all day qualifies as in the minds of
everyone else in the school, a few more will push the envelope. And the more
students who push the envelope, the easier it is to ignore borderline cases
because any disciplinary action requires extra work on the part of the
teacher.

Unfortunately, what happens then is that the borderline has shifted, and
when a student really does come in something completely unacceptable-which,
eventually, some "fool dude" (as my dad is wont to call them) will push the
limits dramatically-and then, SINCE the rules haven't been enforced equally,
there is no good way to enforce it for this one case without raising all
sorts of questions of fairness, discrimination, and similar issues. And
believe me, the kid who pushes the limits for the sake of pushing the limits
beyond what is the social norm is also the one who will be the schoolhouse
lawyer and raise every issue in the book, and will probably have parents who
are supportive of this.



Jen




.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: 128 students suspended at Ind. school
    ... I have said that student dress isn't a big issue with me. ... for dress code violations because I don't want kids missing class. ... That works ONLY when the other students are offended by ... everyone else in the school, a few more will push the envelope. ...
    (misc.kids)
  • Re: Court hears "Bong hits 4 Jesus" case
    ... school property. ... My experience has been that students are great sociologists. ... And I suspect that the kids came to the ... So you think that the only manner in which kids challenge limits is to ...
    (rec.music.gdead)
  • Re: Court hears "Bong hits 4 Jesus" case
    ... school property. ... My experience has been that students are great sociologists. ... And I suspect that the kids came to the ... So you think that the only manner in which kids challenge limits is to ...
    (rec.music.gdead)
  • Re: Tim the Bishop
    ... seems to undermine your suggestion that biologists are casually ... and I dress casually to work because ... When I read divinity many years ago, the students and staff didn't ... I think in the general university environment, ...
    (uk.religion.christian)
  • Re: Slovenliness today?
    ... We were appalled at the slovenly dress of the ... teachers and principal as they herded the students into the gymnasium. ... I think kids are at work and rarely need to dress up. ...
    (soc.retirement)