Stereotype Yourself
Before I can begin to stereotype myself, I must first define what the word stereotype actually means. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “A preconceived and oversimplified idea of the characteristics which typify a person, situation, etc.; an attitude based on such a preconception. Also, a person who appears to conform closely to the idea of a type”. In other words, it is a way for people to quickly judge an individual and put a label on them, a label that may or may not be correct.
The movie Mean Girls has a scene where all of the different “high school cliques” are pointed out. Obviously the movie dramatizes these stereotypes to the extreme, but for some people, this may be how they judge or stereotype others. The character Janis explains to the new girl in school, “Now, where you sit in the cafeteria is crucial because you got everybody there. You got your freshmen, ROTC guys, preps, JV jocks, Asian nerds, cool Asians, varsity jocks, unfriendly black hotties, girls who eat their feelings, girls who don’t eat anything, desperate wannabes, burnouts, sexually active band geeks, the greatest people you will ever meet and the worst. Beware of The Plastics.” (Mean Girls). The fact that a person can be simply viewed as a “girl who eats her feelings” is atrocious. This is a movie, not real life, but it is still a good example of how people use stereotypes to judge one another.
When dealing with stereotypes, one needs to remember that a one or two word label is not the only thing that makes up the individual person. Just because a teenager in high school plays football and is considered a “jock” does not mean that he spends his entire life playing football. He may like to read, make websites, or do anything else for that matter. There is much more to people then a stereotype allows others to know.
Some of the more obvious stereotypical groups include the jocks, the nerds, and the popular cheerleaders. But what if you do not seem to fit into just one stereotype? I like to play sports, but would not consider myself a jock; I like to read and use the computer but would not consider myself a nerd; and I have lots of friends but was never on a cheerleading squad, so where do I fit in?
When I walk down the sidewalk to class, what do other people see when they look at me? I am usually texting someone on my cell phone, wearing a preppy cardigan sweater, and smiling. So does that mean people view me as the annoying girl that never puts down her phone, the uptight perfectionist, or the overly enthusiastic person? If you just happened to walk by me on the sidewalk, all of these “stereotypes” might seem to fit, however, those that actually know me would probably not put me in any of these categories.
To stereotype myself, I need to think about everything that makes me, me. For starters, I cannot put myself into one stereotypical group, because there is much more to me than a one or two word description. In my opinion, I am an overall happy and positive person. I enjoy being around others and laughing with my friends. I like to read books, watch television shows, and love to go shopping. I am extremely family oriented and get along great with everyone in my family. After all is said and done, a stereotype is not a paragraph describing a person. As stated above, it is “a simplified and standardized conception or image invested with special meaning and held in common by members of a group”.
In my mind, I would stereotype myself as being a positive, sociable, and happy person, while at the same time putting too much focus on material things. It is hard to say why these few descriptions seem to be the best choices to describe myself; yet to me, it seems to make for a pretty accurate stereotype. The difference between the stereotypes I gave myself, and a stereotype someone who passes me on the sidewalk may give me, is that mine is not just about what is on the outside. When stereotyping a stranger, the only thing one has to go by is what they see on the outside. Since I am stereotyping myself, I am able to look deeper, while at the same time trying to stick with the definition.
Works Cited
Stereotype. “Oxford English Dictionary”. Subscriber: DePaul University.
Michaels, Lorne. Mean Girls. Paramount Pictures. 2004.
What Are Books For?
What Are Books For?
The question “What are books for?” can have a million different answers, because there are countless reasons people use books. Some people use books to research for a class, while others use them to learn about new things. Some people collect books, while others use them in their homes as decoration. Little kids may simply glance through books because they like the pretty pictures they see when they look at the pages, while the elderly may use them to remember their pasts. And for others, books are simply used to collect dust. Some aspects that may influence how books are used are the availability of books as well as the literacy rate. Today, books are being made into movies, so the idea of “simply” waiting for the movie to come out is becoming more and more popular.
Books are filled with an endless number of ideas, and ideas can lead to great things. For example, the Wright brothers got their idea for the airplane by watching birds, and then reading about the idea of flight in books. Books can inspire or motivate people to do things they may or may not have normally thought about doing.
There is no right or wrong answer to the question “What are books for?”, yet there are countless possibilities. For me, books are a form of entertainment and relaxation; they are an escape from the real world. Although technology is a very prominent form of entertainment today, being able to sit down and read a book is a great leisure for some. There are a number of different uses for books, and that is exactly why some people still use them today, even in this constantly expanding age of technology.
When I sit down to read a book, I make sure I am comfortable and in a quiet area, because once I get started, it becomes extremely hard to put that book down. I enjoy the calmness I feel as I read through a book, because for me, there is nothing that quite compares. To me, books are a way of jumping into a new world, even if it is only for a few hours. Books are both exciting and comforting. Whether it is a thriller, romance, comedy, or any other genre, books are an escape from reality that cannot be replaced by movies or any other form of technology. Sure you can go to a theater and watch a movie (which may be extremely entertaining), but you cannot picture what the characters look like in your mind, nor can you imagine the setting that is described by the author. Being able to create the way things look in your own mind is one thing that keeps books on a different playing field than the other forms of entertainment.
Richard Corliss, author of the article “Books Vs. Movies” explains in short why he thinks some people may enjoy reading the novel instead of seeing the movie version of a certain story. He states, “That’s because readers of a novel have already made their own perfect movie version. They have visualized it, fleshed out the locations and set the pace as they either zipped through the book or scrupulously savored every word.” I completely agree with Corliss’ statement; when I read a book, in my mind what I am envisioning is perfect, so sometimes when I see a movie that was based off on a book I previously read, it does not seem as perfect as it had seemed in my head.
When a movie is made, it is made so that it appeals to a large audience, whether it is choosing the right looking actor or actress, or picking the perfect beach house for the story to take place in. However, in a book each individual reader can imagine his or her idea of the perfect character, or the perfect location. The actor or actress chosen for the movie role may not satisfy everyone, but when people read it and envision it in their own minds, there is no need to worry about the reader being disappointed, because they were the ones who imagined everything. Ultimately, books allow the reader to be creative, without the reader even knowing it.
Although for me books are a form of entertainment, others may have different uses for them. I came across an interesting website that lists pictures of different projects and art pieces made out of books. Some of the ideas are a little out there, but nonetheless are extremely creative. The first picture is of a chair made out of books. There are even different types of sculptures made out of books as well. After scrolling down the page, one can see a picture of a bookshelf made out of books. Although these projects may not be for everyone, it just goes to show you that there are an endless number of uses for books.
According to the Central Intelligence Agency, the literacy rate in America in the year 2003 was up to ninety-nine percent. The Central Intelligence Agency is a website that is full of useful facts about The United States of America. They define someone who is literate as being “age 15 and over can read and write”. The fact that in our country, almost everyone, by the time they are fifteen can read and write is remarkable. However, America is not the only country with such a high literacy rate; some others include, but are certainly not limited to, North Korea, South Korea, France and Ireland. Nevertheless, not all countries are as fortunate. The country of Yemen is only at a fifty percent literacy rate, while Guinea does not even reach thirty percent. It is distressing to think that there are so many people in this world who are missing out on the pleasure of reading.
With that being said, there are many people who are literate, and who have easy access to books, that do not read very much, or at all for that matter. Why is this? Some think reading is boring, while others think it takes too long to finish a book. There are a number of reasons as to why people do not read, just like there are countless answers to the question “what are books for?” According to a poll taken by MSNBC in the year 2007, one in four adults read not one book during the entire year. The main excuse or reason given was not having enough time.
In the end, there is no right or wrong way to use a book. There are a number of different things books can be for. Even today, where technology seems to be taking over, books have many uses. For some, books are a waste of time; but for others, they are way to be creative, to escape reality and relax.
Works Cited
Central Intelligence Agency. “Field Listing: Literacy”. 2003. 21 Feb 2010. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2103.html>.
Corliss, Richard. Time. “Books Vs. Movies”. November 27th, 2005. 21 Feb 2010.
< http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1134742,00.html>.
MSNBC. “Poll: One in four adults read no books last year.” August 21, 2007. 21 February 2010. < http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20381678/>.
What Are Books For? – draft
What Are Books For?
The question “What are books for?” can have a million different answers, because there are countless reasons people use books. Some people use books to research for a class, while others use them to learn about new things. Some people collect books, while others use them in their homes as decoration. Little kids may simply glance through books because they like the pretty pictures they see when they look at the pages, while the elderly may use them to remember their pasts. And for others, books are simply used to collect dust.
Books are filled with endless amounts of ideas, and ideas can lead to great things. For example, the Wright brothers got their idea for the airplane by watching birds, and then reading about the idea of flight in books. Books can inspire or motivate people to do things they may or may not have normally thought about doing.
There is no right or wrong answer the question “what are books for?”, yet there are countless possibilities. For me, books are a form of entertainment and relaxation; they are an escape from the real world. Although technology is a very prominent form of entertainment today, being able to sit down and read a book is a great leisure for some. There are a number of different uses for books, and that is exactly why some people still use them today, even in this constantly expanding age of technology.
When I sit down to read a book, I make sure I am comfortable and in a quiet area, because once I get started, it becomes extremely hard to put that book down. I enjoy the calmness I feel as I read through a book, because for me, there is nothing that quite compares. To me, books are a way of jumping into a new world, even if it is only for a few hours. They are both exciting and comforting. Whether it is a thriller, romance, comedy, or any other genre, books are an escape from reality that cannot be replaced by movies or any other form of technology. Sure you can go to a theater and watch a movie (which may be extremely entertaining), but you cannot picture what the characters look like in your mind, nor can you imagine the setting that is described by the author. Being able to create the way things look in your own mind is one thing that keeps books on a different playing field than the other forms of entertainment.
Richard Corliss, author of the article “Books Vs. Movies” explains in short why he thinks some people may enjoy reading the novel instead of seeing the movie version of a certain story. He states, “That’s because readers of a novel have already made their own perfect movie version. They have visualized it, fleshed out the locations and set the pace as they either zipped through the book or scrupulously savored every word.” I completely agree with Corliss’ statement; when I read a book, in my mind, what I am envisioning is perfect, so sometimes when I see a movie that was based off of a book I previously read, it does not seem as perfect as it had seemed in my head.
When a movie is made, it is made so that it appeals to a large audience, whether it is choosing the right looking actor or actress, or picking the perfect beach house for the story to take place in. However, in a book, each individual reader can imagine his or her idea of the perfect character, or the perfect location. The actor or actress chosen for the movie role may not satisfy everyone, but when people read it and envision it in their own minds, there is no need to worry about the reader being disappointed, because they were the ones who imagined everything. Ultimately, books allow the reader to be creative, without the reader even knowing it.
Though for me, books are a form of entertainment, others may have different uses for them. I came across an interesting website that lists pictures of different projects and art pieces made out of books. Some of the ideas are a little out there, but nonetheless are extremely creative. The first picture is of a chair made out of books. There are even all-different types of sculptures made out of books as well. After scrolling down the page, one can see a picture of a bookshelf, made out of books. Although these projects may not be for everyone, it just goes to show you that there is an endless amount of uses for books.
According to the Central Intelligence Agency, the literacy rate in America in the year 2003 was up to ninety-nine percent. The Central Intelligence Agency is a website that is full of useful facts about The United States of America. They define someone who is literate as being “age 15 and over can read and write”. The fact that in our country, almost everyone, by the time they are fifteen can read and write is remarkable. However, America is not the only country with such a high literacy rate; some others include, but are certainly not limited to North Korea, South Korea, France and Ireland. Nevertheless, not all countries are as fortunate. The country of Yemen is only at a fifty percent literacy rate, while Guinea does not even reach thirty percent. It is distressing to think that there are so many people in this world who are missing out on the pleasure of reading.
With that being said, there are a number of people who are literate, and who have easy access to books that do not read very much, or at all for that matter. Why is this? Some think reading is boring, while others think it takes too long to finish a book. There are a number of reasons as to why people do not read, just like there are countless answers to the question “what are books for?” According to a poll taken by MSNBC in the year 2007, one in four adults read not one book during the entire year. The main excuse or reason given was not having enough time.
In the end, there is no right or wrong way to use a book. There are a number of different things books can be fore. Even today, where technology seems to be taking over, books have many uses. For some, books are a waste of time; but for others, they are way to be creative, to escape reality and relax.
Works Cited
Central Intelligence Agency. “Field Listing: Literacy”. 2003. 21 Feb 2010. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2103.html>.
Corliss, Richard. Time. “Books Vs. Movies”. November 27th, 2005. 21 Feb 2010. < http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1134742,00.html>.
MSNBC. “Poll: One in four adults read no books last year.” August 21, 2007. 21 February 2010. < http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20381678/>.
Should Schools Have Dress Codes?
Should Schools Have Dress Codes?
Whether or not to have dress codes and uniforms has been an ongoing struggle and debate within schools around the nation for years. There are many different opinions on this topic and solid evidence to back up both sides. Teachers, parents, and students alike all have their own opinions and ideas as to what is the right and wrong way to handle this situation. When dealing with this subject, the idea of dress codes, uniforms, and free dress all come to mind. However, in the end it comes down to one simple question, should schools have dress codes?
Being a product of private Catholic school from fifth grade through high school, I can honestly say that wearing a uniform was one of the best parts of going to a private school. Obviously in middle school and high school, teenagers are going to show off their new clothes and talk about the latest styles, but in my case, we did not have that distraction and I truly feel that it made a positive difference in my education. By wearing a uniform, there was never any issue of kids being bullied because of what they were or were not wearing, and there was a strong sense of equality in the classroom.
According to Lynne A. Isaacson of the University of Oregon, in the year 1998 nearly 25 percent of the country’s public elementary through junior high schools had some sort of required dress code (Isaacson). Although this accounts for one fourth of all public elementary and junior high schools, it still leaves 75 percent of the children to wear whatever they want to school. There are many different arguments both for and against the requirement of dress codes for schools. However, the most popular and repeated arguments seem to have to do with the students’ safety inside the school and overall academic success.
Kerry White, author of the article Do School Uniforms Fit? makes a strong argument for the use of uniforms or dress codes. She points out that, “In the wake of school shootings, communities and schools are much more willing to embrace uniforms as well as a number of other strategies to enhance student safety”. In 1995, a public school district in Long Beach, California decided to try a required uniform for all students as a way to decrease gangs and crimes amongst their students. After a year, the school district came out and reported that they had had notable results with the required school uniform (Firmin, 144). Kerry White paraphrases Dick Van Der Laan, the spokesperson for the school district in Long Beach, when he says, “the district’s test scores are up across the board and absenteeism and suspensions are the lowest they’ve been for more than a decade” (White). This school district is just one example of how requiring students to wear a uniform can have a powerful and positive effect.
While school uniforms seem to have an overall productive result on the students, a less drastic approach is that of a simple dress code. Dress codes are different from uniforms because instead of requiring a student to wear a certain article of clothing, dress codes focus more or less on what the students cannot wear to school, or in other words, what the students are limited to wearing. Dress codes are a lot more flexible than uniforms. In addition, they can be specifically designed to alleviate each school’s individual problem or problems. This is useful because not all schools have the same issues; a school in one neighborhood may have completely different problem areas than a school in another neighborhood.
For example, one school might have a serious problem with students wearing inappropriate t-shirts. They could be religious, racial, or anything else that is viewed as inappropriate. That school could easily enforce a dress code that prohibits students from wearing clothing with words or phrases on them, and that problem could be solved. Another school just a neighborhood away could be having a problem with girls wearing inappropriate shorts, or boys wearing baggy pants. That is also an easy fix, as long as the school is willing to enforce a dress code.
Dress codes also allow for schools to create their very own dress codes that address their specific needs and issues. For example, Joan Pedzich writes that a school dress code “may mandate a specific outfit or seek to limit or ban such regalia as bandannas, hats, jewelry, religious symbols, team jackets, and immodest clothing”. She goes on to say that “These items can be associated with gang membership or generally represent a distraction in the learning environment. Authorities believe their presence leads to an unhealthy school atmosphere, disruption, intimidation, and violence” (Pedzich, 41).
Although there are many reasons why schools should require dress codes or uniforms, there are also reasons why some might think otherwise. The main argument against dress codes is that they “infringe upon students’ First Amendment rights to freedom of expression” (Isaacson). The idea that students are forced to wear certain types of clothing or not allowed to wear items that they want to school is the center of the debate.
Marian Wilde lists a number of pros and cons to school uniforms in her article “Do Uniforms Make Schools Better?” The list of cons includes: Violates a student’s right to freedom of expression, are simply a band-aid on the issue of school violence, make students a target for bullies from other schools, are a financial burden for poor families, are difficult to enforce in public schools, and are an unfair additional expense for parents who pay taxes for a free education.
While some of the points made on Marian Wilde’s list of cons seem to be reasonable, there are also a few that are debatable. For instance, if every school requires a dress code or uniform, then it would not make anyone a target, because everyone would be equal. As far as money goes, some may argue that it is cheaper to buy a couple pairs of khaki shorts and a few polo’s (or whatever is needed to fulfill the school’s requirements), rather than buying new outfits every year to keep up with the latest trends.
To get a better understanding as to what effect, if any, dress codes have in the classroom, I interviewed two teachers. I asked both teachers the same question: If it were up to you, would your students have a dress code? Carol Duval, an elementary school teacher at St. John Bosco, a Catholic school in Phoenix, AZ where uniforms are required, has been teaching for over 38 years. She has taught in both public and private schools, and has witnessed first hand what role uniforms and dress codes play in a student’s education. When asked this question, Carol Duval responded, “Yes, I would have a dress code and enforce it. Students look more professional and act as such. Also, in this sexually explicit society, teachers and/or students don’t have to deal with that in the classroom”.
When asked the same question, Julie Hemer, a recently retired elementary school teacher of 29 years, who taught in the public school system in Wisconsin for her entire career, answered,
I am a little on the fence when it comes to dress codes in school. It is often difficult to come up with an appropriate set of rules for this; what is appropriate for some may not be for others. Times change, and with that seems to come more of a permissive attitude towards acceptable clothing in our schools, especially our high schools… I don’t think there will ever be a single “solution” to the problem of dress codes and whether or not they should be in existence. If I had to give an opinion, I would have to say that uniforms might be the best answer. That way, at least everyone is at a level playing field when it comes to what they wear.
While both teachers have very different experiences with teaching and the schools in which they taught, it is interesting that they both give similar answers; if it were up to them, they say that they would have a required uniform for their students.
For me personally, there were a lot of things I liked about wearing a uniform. I loved that everyone was dressed the same, how easy it made getting ready for school in the morning, and how proud it made me feel. Sure there were a lot of people that had negative views or misconceptions towards a private “preppy” school, but more often than not people would comment on how nice we all looked in our matching uniforms or say something positive about the school we attended. Wearing uniforms allowed us students to focus more on our class work and less on what we were wearing. However, I can see how for some students, not being able to express themselves through their clothing can be a struggle. Growing up, kids are constantly trying to find themselves. Being deprived of expressing oneself through his or her clothing is something that takes getting used to.
There is a lot of proof that shows how constructive dress codes or uniforms can be for a student. Just take the school district in Long Beach, California for example. Only one year after requiring all of their students to wear uniforms, they noted prominent changes (Firmin et al., 144). Linda Lumsden says it best when she claims that, “when well conceived and coupled with other appropriate interventions, uniforms or strict dress-code policies may have a positive impact on school climate, student behavior, and academic success.” In the end, I would argue that schools should have some sort of required dress code because of the positive impact it has on the students’ education, safety, and overall well-being.
Works Cited
Duvall, Carol. Email interview. January 20, 2010.
Firmin, Michael, Suzanne Smith, and Lynsey Perry. “School Uniforms: A Qualitative Analysis of Aims and Accomplishments at Two Christian Schools.” Journal of Research on Christian Education 15.2 (2006): 143-168. Education Research Complete. EBSCO. Web. 3 Feb. 2010.
Hemer, Julie. Email interview. January 20, 2010.
Isaacson, Lynne A. Student Dress Codes. Clearinghouse on Educational Policy and Management. 1998. College of Education, University of Oregon. 3 Feb 2010. <http://eric.uoregon.edu/publications/digests/digest117.html>.
Lumsden, Linda. Uniforms and Dress-Code Policies. Eric Digest. 2004. 3 Feb 2010. <http://www.ericdigests.org/2002-1/uniforms.html>.
Pedzich, Joan. “Student Dress Codes in Public Schools: A Selective Annotated Bibliography”. Virginia State Department of Education. 2002. 3 Feb 2010.
White, Kerry A. “Do School Uniforms Fit?” The School Administrator 57, 2 (February 2000): 36-40. 3 Feb 2010. <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0JSD/is_2_57/ai_77382140/>.
Wilde, Marian. “Do Uniforms Make Schools Better?”. Great Schools. 2010 Greatschools Inc. 3 February 2010. < http://www.greatschools.org/find-a-school/defining-your-ideal/school-uniforms.gs?content=121>.
Questions:
(1) Did your opinion change after you read the paper?
(2) Was the paper organized?
(3) Did you have any unanswered questions when you finished reading?
Rough Draft–
Should Schools have dress codes?
Whether or not to have dress codes and uniforms has been an ongoing struggle and debate within schools around the nation for years now. There are many different opinions on this topic, and solid evidence to back up both sides. Teachers, parents, and students alike all have their own opinions and ideas as to what is the right and wrong way to handle this situation is. When dealing with this subject, the idea of dress codes, uniforms, and free dress all come into play. However, in the end, it comes down to one simple question, should schools have dress codes?
Being a product of private Catholic school from fifth grade all the way through high school, I can honestly say that wearing a uniform was one of the best parts of going to a private school. Obviously in middle school and high school, teenagers are going to show off their new clothes and talk about the latest styles, but in my case, we did not have that distraction and I truly feel that it made a positive difference in my education. By wearing a uniform, there was never any issue of kids being bullied because of what they were or were not wearing.
According to Lynne A. Isaacson, of the University of Oregon, in the year 1998 nearly 25 percent of the country’s public elementary through junior high schools had some sort of required dress code (Isaacson). Although this accounts for one fourth of all public elementary and junior high schools, it still leaves 75 percent of the children to wear whatever they want to school. There are many different arguments both for and against the requirement of dress codes for schools. However, the most popular and repeated arguments seem to have to do with the students’ safety inside the school and overall academic success.
Kerry White, author of the article Do School Uniforms Fit? points out that “In the wake of school shootings, communities and schools are much more willing to embrace uniforms as well as a number of other strategies to enhance student safety”. In 1995, a public school district in Long Beach, California decided to try a required uniform for all students as a way to decrease gangs and crimes amongst their students. After a year, the school district came out and reported that they had had notable results with the required school uniform (Firmin, 144). Kerry White paraphrases Dick Van Der Laan, the spokesperson for the school district in Long Beach, when he says, “the district’s test scores are up across the board and absenteeism and suspensions are the lowest they’ve been for more than a decade” (White). This school district is just one example of how requiring students to wear a uniform can have a powerful and positive effect.
While school uniforms seem to have an overall productive result on the students, a less drastic approach is that of a simple dress code. Dress codes are different from uniforms because instead of requiring a student to wear a certain article of clothing, dress codes focus more or less on what the students cannot wear to school, or in other words, what the students are limited to wearing. Dress codes are a lot more flexible than uniforms. In addition, they can be specifically designed to alleviate each school’s individual problem or problems. This is useful because not all schools have the same issues; a school in one neighborhood may have completely different problem areas than a school in another neighborhood.
Dress codes also allow for school’s to create their very own dress codes that address their specific needs and issues. For example, Joan Pedzich writes that a school dress code “may mandate a specific outfit or seek to limit or ban such regalia as bandannas, hats, jewelry, religious symbols, team jackets, and immodest clothing”. She goes on to say that “These items can be associated with gang membership or generally represent a distraction in the learning environment. Authorities believe their presence leads to an unhealthy school atmosphere, disruption, intimidation, and violence” (Pedzich, 41).
For example, one school might have a serious problem with students wearing inappropriate t-shirts. They could be religious, racial, or anything else that is viewed as inappropriate. That school could easily enforce a dress code that prohibits students from wearing clothing with words or phrases on them, and that problem could easily be solved. Another school just a neighborhood away could be having a problem with girls wearing short shorts, or boys wearing baggy pants. That is also an easy fix, as long as the school is willing to enforce a dress code.
Although there are many reasons why schools should require dress codes or uniforms, there are also reasons why some might think otherwise. The main argument against dress codes is that they “infringe upon students’ First Amendment rights to freedom of expression” (Isaacson). The idea that students are forced to wear certain types of clothing or not allowed to wear items that they want to school is the center of the debate. Marian Wilde lists a number of pros and cons to school uniforms in her article “Do Uniforms Make Schools Better?” The list of cons includes: Violates a students’ right to freedom of expression, are simply a band-aid on the issue of school violence, make students a target for bullies from other schools, are a financial burden for poor families, are difficult to enforce in public schools, and are an unfair additional expense for parents who pay taxes for a free education.
Although some of the points made on Marian Wilde’s list of cons seem to be reasonable, there are a few that are easily debatable. For instance, if every school requires a dress code or uniform, then it would not make anyone a target, because everyone would be equal. As far as money goes, some may argue that it is cheaper to buy a couple pairs of khaki shorts and a few polo’s (or whatever is needed to fulfill the school’s requirements), rather than buying new outfits every year to keep up with the latest trends.
I interviewed two teachers to get a better understanding as to what effect, if any, they think dress codes have in the classroom. I asked both teachers the same question: If it were up to you, would your students have a dress code? Carol Duval, an elementary school teacher at St. John Bosco, a Catholic school in Phoenix, AZ with required uniforms said, “Yes, I would have a dress code and enforce it. Students look more professional and act as such. Also in this sexually explicit society, teacher’ and/or students don’t have to deal with that in the classroom”. Carol Duval has been teaching for over 38 years, and has taught at both public and private schools. She has witnessed first hand what role uniforms and dress codes play in a student’s education.
When asked the same question, Julie Hemer, a recently retired elementary school teacher of 29 years, who taught at a public school in Wisconsin for her entire career, answered,
I am a little on the fence when it comes to dress codes in school. It is often difficult to come up with an appropriate set of rules for this; what is appropriate for some may not be for others. Times change, and with that seems to come more of a permissive attitude towards acceptable clothing in our schools, especially our high schools… I don’t think there will ever be a single “solution” to the problem of dress codes and whether or not they should be in existence. If I had to give an opinion, I would have to say that uniforms might be the best answer. That way, at least everyone is at a level playing field when it comes to what they wear.
Both teachers have very different experiences with teaching and the schools in which they taught, however, it is interesting that they both give similar answers; if it were up to them, they say that they would have a required uniform for their students.
For me personally, there were a lot of things I liked about wearing a uniform. I loved that everyone was dressed the same and how easy it made getting ready for school in the morning, and I loved the way it made me feel. Sure there were a lot of people that had negative views or misconceptions towards a private “preppy” school, but more often than not people would comment on how nice we all looked in our matching uniforms or say something positive about the school we attended. Wearing uniforms allowed us students to focus more on our class work, and less on what we were wearing. I can see how for some students, not being able to express themselves through their clothing could be a struggle. Growing up, kids are constantly trying to find themselves, and being deprived of expressing oneself through a t-shirt or new outfit is something that takes getting used to.
There is a lot of proof that shows how constructive dress codes or uniforms can be for a student. Just take the school district in Long Beach, California for example. Just a year after they required all of their students to wear uniforms, they noted prominent changes (Firmin, 144). Linda Lumsden says it best when she claims that, “when well conceived and coupled with other appropriate interventions, uniforms or strict dress-code policies may have a positive impact on school climate, student behavior, and academic success.” In the end, it is simple; schools should have some sort of required dress code because of the positive impact it has on the students’ education, safety, and overall well-being.
Works Cited
Duvall, Carol. Email interview. January 20, 2010.
Firmin, Michael, Suzanne Smith, and Lynsey Perry. “School Uniforms: A Qualitative Analysis of Aims and Accomplishments at Two Christian Schools.” Journal of Research on Christian Education 15.2 (2006): 143-168. Education Research Complete. EBSCO. Web. 3 Feb. 2010.
Hemer, Julie. Email interview. January 20, 2010.
Isaacson, Lynne A. Student Dress Codes. Clearinghouse on Educational Policy and Management. 1998. College of Education, University of Oregon. 3 Feb 2010. <http://eric.uoregon.edu/publications/digests/digest117.html>.
Lumsden, Linda. Uniforms and Dress-Code Policies. Eric Digest. 2004. 3 Feb 2010. <http://www.ericdigests.org/2002-1/uniforms.html>.
Pedzich, Joan. “Student Dress Codes in Public Schools: A Selective Annotated Bibliography”. Virginia State Department of Education. 2002. 3 Feb 2010.
White, Kerry A. “Do School Uniforms Fit?” The School Administrator 57, 2 (February 2000): 36-40. 3 Feb 2010. <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0JSD/is_2_57/ai_77382140/>.
Wilde, Marian. “Do Uniforms Make Schools Better?”. Great Schools. 2010 Greatschools Inc. 3 February 2010. < http://www.greatschools.org/find-a-school/defining-your- ideal/school-uniforms.gs?content=121>.
Project Proposal
Topic: Dress Codes
Narrowed Topic: Dress Codes in schools, whether they are good or bad
Issue: The effect dress codes have on the way students behave and learn in a classroom
Research Question: Should schools have dress codes?
Hypothesis: Schools should have dress code requirements.
To chose a topic, I started by thinking about my major, which is Elementary Education. Personally, I attended both public and private schools, and favored the private schools over public. From there, I thought about researching whether private or public schooling made a difference in a student’s success level. However, that turned into whether private, public, home, or charter schooling makes a difference in a students success level. After quite some time at the computer, I realized there was not enough information and research that had been done on this topic.
I began thinking about ideas that were similar to my original thought, and came up with the idea of dress codes and school uniforms. Since I attended both public and private schools, I have gone to school wearing whatever I wanted, and gone to school wearing a required plaid skirt and polo. I began think, are dress codes and uniforms good or bad for a student? Do they even make a difference or play a role in a student’s education? These were some of the questions I came up with, but in the end, I narrowed it down to something more concrete, simple, and specific. I decided on “Should schools have dress codes?” as my final research question.
Discuss:
My topic on whether schools should have dress codes is relevant to a very large percent of people in America today. It is relevant to nearly every parent because of the idea that, dress codes very well may affect the way their children learn and/or behave in the classroom. In addition to parents, my topic also affects teachers and those in charge of schools who decide on whether their school in particular will have a dress code. If dress codes have a positive effect, then these people in charge will probably want to consider (if they do not already have one), requiring students to wear certain types of clothing.
Finally, my topic affects the actual students. After all, it is the students who are the ones doing the learning. If they learn better wearing a uniform, or following a dress code, then it is in their best interest that they do. However, if they learn worse, or the same wearing whatever they want to school, then they might a well have that choice to express themselves. These are all things that I will learn as I research more about my topic.
Three Citations:
1) GERELUK, DIANNE. “What Not To Wear: Dress Codes and Uniform Policies in the Common School.” Journal of Philosophy of Education 41.4 (2007): 643-657. Education Research Complete. EBSCO. Web. 30 Jan. 201.
The author argues that there needs to be a dress code in schools to keep children from wearing certain, inappropriate clothing, but explains that it is a complicated matter and is hard to enforce. The author describes ways in which she thinks a school can go about enforcing a dress code by explaining ways that have both failed and worked well. Overall, the author lists four reasons why and how a school should go about enforcing a dress code in order to prove to the reader that dress codes are not a bad, or impossible thing to achieve. The intended audience for this article is most likely either parents deciding on whether they want their child to go to a school with or without a dress code, and/or teachers and staff at schools who make the decision on whether to have/enforce a dress code.
2) Gereluk, Dianne. “Why Can’t I Wear This?!” Banning Symbolic Clothing in Schools.” 106-114. Philosophy of Education Society, 2006. Education Research Complete. EBSCO. Web. 30 Jan. 2010.
The author claims that by listing three different examples of how students were punished for wearing “religious”, “political”, or otherwise offensive clothing, she is able to show that there is a need for some sort of dress code that says what a student can wear, rather than what a student cannot wear. The author does this by describing in great detail three specific case studies. The author describes these case studies in order to show that there needs to be some common ground between not letting students wear what they want(freedom of choice/expression), and forcing them to wear a specific uniform which some argue also takes away their freedom of choice and expression. The intended audience for this article is the people in charge of deciding what students and can and/or cannot wear to school.
3) Firmin, Michael, Suzanne Smith, and Lynsey Perry. “School Uniforms: A Qualitative Analysis of Aims and Accomplishments at Two Christian Schools.” Journal of Research on Christian Education 15.2 (2006): 143-168. Education Research Complete. EBSCO. Web. 30 Jan. 2010.
The author of this text argues(with research) that school uniforms promote a more positive and successful learning environment. The author does this by providing the reader with many examples and detailed instances in which uniforms improved the overall success rate of a school. The writer provides all of this information in order to prove that uniforms have had a positive effect on public schools. The intended audience for this specific article is probably both parents and those in charge of deciding whether a school requires a uniform.
Interview Report
Introduction:
My research topic is, are dress codes a good or bad thing in schools? For my interviews, I chose to interview two elementary school teachers; one that has taught at both private (dress code) and public school (no dress code), and one who has taught at public school (no dress code). I chose Carol Duvall and Julie Hemer specifically because I knew I would be able to get different point of views from each teacher.
Carol Duvall has been teaching for 38 years. She has spent 29 years at public school where the students had no dress code, and 9 years at a private Catholic school, where the students wore uniforms. She has taught everything from 1st to 8th grade, in a number of subjects and states that “The older the student, the more dress becomes a problem”.
Julie Hemer, who recently retired, taught at a public school where there was no dress code, for 29 years. She has also taught grade levels ranging from elementary grade levels through 8th grade.
Interview
Carol Duvall (1/20/2010):
1. Do you think having a dress code makes a difference in the classroom?
Yes, behavior is different on free dress days. Children are more focused in uniforms and there is no noticeable social class difference in a uniform.
2. On free dress days do you notice a difference in the students’ behaviors?
(See answer to question 1)
3. Does having a dress code allow the students to focus more on school, rather than what they are wearing?
Very much so. Less competition
4. From your experience, what do you view as pros and cons to having a dress code?
Pros: Students can’t focus on brand names or who has more, or is monetarily better off than another student. Students look the same and students and teachers treat them as such. No cons.
5. If it were up to you, would your students have a dress code? Why?
Yes, I would have a dress code and enforce it. Students look more professional and act as such. Also in this sexually explicit society, teacher and/or students don’t have to deal with that in the classroom.
Julie Hemer (1/20/2010):
1. In your opinion, does it seem like students put too much emphasis on what they wear to school?
In my opinion, I feel that SOME students put way too much emphasis on wearing designer labels. This often results in pressure on vulnerable students who don’t have the resources to “compete” with those more financially fortunate
2. Does not having a dress code allow for the students to form cliques based on what they wear to school?
I think that even with a dress code, cliques are formed in schools. It is possible that no dress code could exacerbate the problem, but I don’t feel that having a dress code would have any effect on totally eliminating cliques; unfortunately, they are a way of life in our schools
3. Do you think that having a dress code would allow students to focus more on school, rather than what they are wearing?
The only dress code that I think would help students concentrate more on their schoolwork and less on their clothes would be if the dress code involved uniforms. I don’t see limiting only certain types of clothing having any effect on the ability to concentrate in general. However, if students (especially girls), all wore the same thing to school, clothes would not be an issue.
4. From your experience, what do you view as pros and cons to not having a dress code?
I believe that the main detriment to implementing a dress code in schools would be that it limits a student’s individuality. Particularly during adolescence, children are struggling to find out who they are, how they fit in the world around them. By putting restraints on what they can wear, it limits self-expression.
On the other hand, wearing certain types of clothing could cause certain behaviors in students. For example, gang-related or provocative wear could facilitate negative, distracting behaviors.
5. If it were up to you, would your students have a dress code? Why?
I am a little on the fence when it comes to dress codes in school. It is often difficult to come up with an appropriate set of rules for this; what is appropriate for some may not be for others. Times change, and with that seems to come more of a permissive attitude towards acceptable clothing in our schools, especially our high schools. Teenagers have always pushed the envelope when it comes to this subject, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. I don’t think there will ever be a single “solution” to the problem of dress codes and whether or not they should be in existence. If I had to give an opinion, I would have to say that uniforms might be the best answer. That way, at least everyone is at a level playing field when it comes to what they wear.
Conclusion
Both teachers have wonderful opinions and gave great answers. In the end, both teachers said that, given the choice, they would choose having a dress code for their students, rather than no dress code.
Works Cited
Duvall, Carol. Email interview. January 20, 2010.
Hemer, Julie. Email interview. January 20, 2010.
Kristi Bielewicz's Blog 