![[Shelbyville Times-Gazette]](http://www.t-g.com/images/nameplate-small.png){kind=small}
RSS
Print
Email link
Respond to editor
Read comments (21)But at least one citizen is angry about the timing, claiming that -- because Liberty's basketball team has an away game that night -- participation will be limited.
SSA is more than a dress code but less than a uniform. Exact details vary from school system to school system, but the plan currently under discussion by Bedford County officials would prohibit T-shirts and blue jeans. It would allow only blue, black or khaki-colored pants or skirts, worn at the waist, and worn with a belt if the pants or skirt have belt loops. Shirts would have to have a collar and would have to be a solid color -- black, white or one of several other colors chosen by each school (such as the official school colors).
Proponents of SSA claim it improves the overall atmosphere and attitude of a school, helps prepare students to maintain a professional appearance in their future careers, and helps to de-emphasize (though not eliminate) class differences which can be a basis for conflict. Opponents say it needlessly restricts student self-expression and that scientific studies don't confirm its supposed benefits.
There are also differences of opinion on the financial impact of SSA. Opponents complain that parents will be forced to buy a brand new wardrobe for their children, while supporters say that SSA-compliant clothing can be found far more cheaply than the clothing that many children wear to impress their classmates. Bedford County's proposal calls for networking with charities, churches and the community to build up a "clothes closet" at each school so that items can be given to students who need them or loaned to students who arrive at school in violation.
Metro Nashville Public Schools adopted SSA beginning with this academic year, and the draft policy which Bedford County released as a basis for discussion is largely based on Nashville's approach.
After soliciting public input, the board hopes to adjust the proposal if necessary and vote on it at its February meeting. The November, December and January school board meetings will all be held at schools, presumably in order to facilitate parental attendance and input.
If adopted, the plan would take effect in the 2008-2009 school year.
But Mary Hasty Jones, in a letter to the editor submitted too late for inclusion in Sunday's newspaper, complained about the timing of the forum at Liberty, pointing out the conflict with the school's basketball game at Moore County.
"It seems to me if the school board was wanting parental input, they would not schedule a meeting at a school where a big majority of the parents will not be there," wrote Jones.
Suzanne Hicks, who serves as secretary to the school board and has been involved in gathering information on SSA, wrote in an e-mail to the Times-Gazette that the timing was coincidental -- originally, the school board planned to meet at Cascade this month, but a drama department activity there posed a conflict with using the school, so the meeting was moved to Liberty instead. Plans are to hold additional meetings at Community, Cascade and in Shelbyville.
"[S]ince they are public meetings, anyone can come -- it really doesn't matter the location," wrote Hicks.
School system offices were closed today for the observance of the Veterans Day holiday.
Here are highlights of the proposed SSA policy, which is still a draft and may be revised based on public input between now and February:
* It would apply to all ages of students. The policy would not specifically apply to teachers or other school employees, although teachers would be encouraged to dress professionally in order to set an example for student compliance.
* Students would have to wear navy blue, black or khaki-colored pants, shorts, capri pants, skirts, skorts or jumpers. No blue jeans would be allowed.
* Students would have to wear solid-colored shirts with collars -- which could include polo, button-down or turtleneck styles. White or navy blue shirts would be allowed anywhere in the school system, but each school would be able to designate additional colors, which would normally include that school's official school colors (blue and gold at Central High School, orange and black at Cascade, purple and gold at Community and so on). The only variable which has been left blank in the draft policy is how many additional colors each school would be allowed. Nashville allows four additional colors per school.
* Students would have to wear clothing "of appropriate size," meaning no more than one size smaller or larger than the student's actual clothing size. Pants or skirts must fit at the waist and not sag.
* Shirts must be tucked in to pants or skirts.
* No logos or trademarks larger than two inches square will be allowed on clothing. School logos or mascots are permitted.
* Belts would be required if the pants or skirt feature belt loops. Pants or skirts with elastic waistbands and no belt loops could be worn at the waist without a belt.
* The only outerwear which could be worn to class would be blazers, suit jackets, vests, sweaters or cardigans. They would have the same color restrictions that apply to shirts or blouses and would have to be worn over an approved shirt.
* Each school would be allowed up to 10 days a year to waive the dress code for special events, such as school spirit week or homecoming. In addition, principals could authorize occasional variations for special groups of students, such as allowing athletes to wear jerseys over their shirts on game day or allowing clubs to wear club-related or school-related T-shirts over their approved SSA shirt.
* Jeans, torn or see-through clothing would be prohibited.
* The school system would coordinate with schools, businesses, religious and community organizations to collect donated SSA-compliant clothing. This clothing could be given to needy families and / or kept at schools to be loaned out in case of SSA violations.
* Families could request exceptions to SSA rules for religious, medical or disability reasons.
On their first offense, students who violate SSA would be allowed to correct the situation and return to class. Correction could include changing into clothes loaned by the school as noted above.
On the second offense, students who violate SSA would be subject to a day of in-school suspension.
On the third offense, students would have a day of in-school suspension plus an overnight or provisional suspension, although the overnight / provisional suspension could be waived if parents agree to a meet with a school administrator to discuss the problem.
Repeated offenses beyond three would be treated as disruptive behavior and defiance of school authority and treated under the existing disciplinary rules.
The school board members are Dixie Parker, District 1; Ron Adcock, District 2; Amy Martin, District 3; Diane Neeley, District 4; Barry Cooper, chairman, District 5; Mary Jo Johnson, District 6; Jerry Naron, District 7; Leonard Singleton, District 8; and Glen Forsee, District 9. The school system central offices can be reached at 684-3284 for more information.
your right klahr123, some adults don't have to wear uniforms, i was just stating that this is not the time, if parents would step up and watch what their kids are wearing, we would not be debating this! I see nothing wrong with a nice pair of jeans and a tshirt, why dress clothes? If the new dress code will be strictly enforced, why not just enforce the dress code that we have now???
As a teacher, I would like to point out that I have never seen another teacher wear their pants' waist at their crotch with their boxers showing or with a skin tight midriff shirt with their belly-button showing or with their skirt so short you could see their underwear. If anyone has, that teacher needs to be reported to Mr. Gray.
Also as a teacher, I would not have a problem wearing what the students are required to wear, but I must say that the list of allowed clothing is even too confusing for me. I do not wear jeans except on Fridays and I think this should also be an option in anything the "board" decides. I would like to know, out of curiosity, if everyone else wears required standard attire at work and if their bosses have to wear that same attire.
Many teachers are not pushing this and do not want it for anyone. I feel that students are sent to the office, and sent home, and parents allow them to come back the next day with the same type of clothing they were told not to wear. Somebody pays for it, and as a parent, I would not buy it.
I made my kids wear what I thought was appropriate. The parents need to be held accountable for letting their sons "sag" and their daughters showing what they have. My kids should not be punished for what other parents allow.
Although it is true that the Vt. GUILES case was not a uni case--but a logo/dress code case, the Sup Ct made it clear in TINKER that schools can NOT ban free expression w/o proof of substantial, imminent disruption. So while a school may be able to dictate polos instead of tees, it can NOT control what is on the polos and ban ALL pro-social messages any more than it can discriminate AMONG different messages as John Carney seems to claim. My KEY reason for citing GUILES was the invalidity of the two-inch max for logos adopted by Nashville and proposed here.
I have NO problem with dress codes---even what kids resent MOST---tucking in shirts---although that is EXCESSIVE NANNYISM! My main point is that it is the PRO-SSA people who are the RADICALS here; us "conservatives" do not understand why the striped tee shirts of many colors and PROPERLY-fitted levi jeans we wore FIFTY years ago would now get a TN kid thrown out of school or otherwise punished. DIVERSITY---within limits---is what America is all about; and NOO Christy, altho I agree with most of your post, most ADULTS WILL NOT HAVE TO WEAR UNIFORMS---just obey a reasonable dress code. School is NOT a beach---so no speedos or tank tops; but it is NOT an OFFICE either so formal clothes need not be required.
You cited the Guiles case, but the Guiles case was specifically about a situation where some T-shirts were allowed but not others. For better or worse, that's a completely different situation than SSA, and I don't think the Guiles case has anything to do with SSA. In fact, avoiding a Guiles-related legal challenge is one reason why a school board member or administrator might want to take the step of prohibiting any slogans at all.
If your school district administration reviews how SSA schools have done on the latest state evaluation and it still wants to implement SSA, then everyone who works there should be fired for mathematical illiteracy. That Nashville imposed it when it did speaks volumes about their disdain for research, accuracy, education, and parents. It does, however, highlight their ability to believe almost anything, which I suppose can be a virtue.
Of course it will take away from classroom time...who do you think will be expected to enforce these new rules? It will be the teachers.
And to back up just a little here: cpcpcp said "I would love to see the cheerleader outfits changed. You are worried about holes in pants but it is ok for Cheerleaders to wear very, very short cheerleading skirts???? And flash around the school? Hmmm???
I am not sure where you went to school but here the cheerleaders do not wear uniforms to school..they wear them only during pep rallies and ballgames. I see many many girls coming to ballgames in short shorts and halter tops but of course this is their own time and SSA rules do not apply to after school hours, unless you think you have the right to tell them what they should and should not wear on their own time also.
Just to be clear--SSA is a uniform; it is, in fact, the typical public school uniform on which a considerable body of research ahs been done (and aggressively ignored in Nashville). SSA has had in Nashville many of the effects that the research has shown--increased waste of teacher's time enforcing it; more student class time lost to dress issues, and, in those schools that have had it long enough to track, slightly lowered academic achievement and increased misperceptions on the part of teachers. Of course, it has had no improvement in actual discipline, although often the sea of polos has the effect of making things seem more peaceful. Also, it has lead the NNPS Board and Director and their agents into a stream of misrepresentations that they euphemistically refer to as public relations. The reason we keep hearing about it as a success is that they wrote that script long in advance of anything that has actually happened in Nashville, where non-compliance is in some places ignored (especially in the lower-achieving schools) and compliance often punished because of Draconian principals who don't understand the rules.
There is nothing wrong with jeans or tee shirts. NOTHING. As to writing & logos on shirts, it is CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED if not vulgar or pro-drug. Nor can it be limited to two inches. You-all read the GUILES case from Vt and see the $1 million the school board spent there trying to ban an anti_Bush tee--.losing in the Ct of Appeals and the U S Sup. Ct. GIVE up SSA---just enforce the present dress code---make kids wear APPROPRIATE clothes---but not uniform ones. DIVERSITY is what America is all about./
I say let the kids be kids! Like some of the comments that I read, the "rich" kids will be wearing their name brands, and the other kids will wear their Wal-Mart clothes! Kids will still know the difference! There will be a time after graduation that these kids will have to wear uniforms and such, why now? Are we not in school to learn? What's the big deal? Who's going to buy the clothes that some families can't? Why put an extra burden on already struggling families? Why can't they just wear blue jeans, THE RIGHT SIZE, no sagging or holes, and plain shirts, no logos, or writing.
But IF this does slip through, I think that the teachers should also have the same dress code as the students. What is good for one is good for all!!!
But after they get this started, they'll have all the leftovers they can still fit into that don't wear out.I have to buy a whole new one for two of the kids anyways. One when school starts, another at Christmas.
I was trying to imply I wish we'd had it back then so I could have worried less about "fashion" and more about the important things. Its hard trying to stay current;)
The teenagers can just deal with it!
They can wear all the revealing, thug, holey, bling and whatever else they can on the weekends and after school, if their jobs (if one) will allow it. Oh, and also at church Sunday.
Actually the big deal is, most everyone will have to purchase an entire new school wardrobe. There will be no wearing any leftovers from the year before.
It will do nothing to cure your Jordache, Sassoon, and Chic jean obsession, even though these days it is American Eagle, Hollister, Abercrombie and Finch, Lucky and BKE. These stores carry Khaki pants, shorts, Capri's and skirts they also carry polo's that are all on the approved list. At the same enormous prices as their jeans. Teenagers will know the difference just as they do now, in the High Dollar clothing in compared to Wal-Mart.
I actually don't see the big deal it trying to make them all look alike..what is the purpose? It will not stop school violence, it will not make them better students and it sure isn't going to save parents any money..so what is the purpose?
I don't understand what the big deal is.....
Having all boys, they'll only balk at the tucking shirt in thing.
I wish we'd had it back in the 80's when I was in school. It MAY have helped me cut back on my Jordache, Sassoon, and Chic jean obsession......
The board alternates meetings between schools, and I believe it was noted that this was the 1st forum.
I'm not for the standard attire--it reminds me of some of that book we were required to read in the 70's--about "big brother"?
The school board could cancel the basketball game to hold its Liberty School meeting.Hey,they wouldnt dare.Too bad that they are going to this extent to regulate all student attire rather than enforce scool-made dress codes.Hope they find test scores are not about to go up when students find dress as a reason to not want to attend class.Not everyone wants to be like everyone else.grandpat
We need to stay on the IMPORTANT issues, stick together (all schools) and become a huge fighting force against the BOARD so we can be heard. We should appreciate the meeting they are offering us. Who cares where it is. That's not the issue. And, just like voting for a president, if you don't go to the meetings and voice your opinion then you have no right to fuss about the outcome. SO GO TO THE MEETINGS AND VOICE YOUR OPINION. BE HEARD!!!
I never said Liberty wasn't a very nice school. I know it is my children went there. I just thought it was strange to have it outside the city limits when more children go to town to school than to Liberty. It is out of the way for MOST parents. It just seemed they were trying to make it inconvenient to attend.
Liberty just seemed a strange place to have this meeting? Are you kidding me?
Liberty is a very nice school and there's nothing strange about the board wanting to host a meeting there. Please. You know what I think is strange? All the TOWN kids that go to Liberty!
One has to wonder why the board picked Liberty school to have this meeting. It is a small rural school and not convenient to those living inside the city limits where most of the children go to school. Seems to me there are more parents and children inside the city and this would have been done somewhere like Harris or Central High. Or maybe it is being done here, so not so many attend..plus Liberty has a basketball game in Moore county the same night so many parents will be gone, for basketball.
It Just seemed to be a strange place to have this meeting.
Regarding the SSA Dress Code, I'm wondering if the school board is really thinking about the division between the economical differences or are the just wanting to keep up with the Jones'. You say Nashville has implimented this dress code - so we should. I doubt that the average paycheck in Bedford County matches paychecks in Davidson County. Maybe the Board is ashamed of the ecomonical status of some in this County. I myself work in Shelbyville not outside and would and am finding this a bit stressing. My children attend school here, they are always clean and well dressed. But, I rely on sales, second hand clothes and where ever else I can to provide them. I love my children very much and wish to give them the best, but we don't always get what we want. Alot of children are already on free lunch or reduce lunch, just to eat each day. Can we just be who we are or do you need to make us all into SNOBS.
Thank you for your time.
I agree to some extent with the above post. There should be an across the board dress code, but not SSA. I know for a fact that Central has a different dress code than Community. It is much more lax and that is because the principals obviously have different views of what is appropriate school attire and what is not. I grew up going to a private school and did not have to wear a uniform which I thank God for everyday. We still had the kids that had name brand clothes, and those that didn't. I was one of the ones that didn't, and still to this day the only name brand thing I own is a pair of Nike tennis shoes. But we had random dress checks, the principal and vice principal checked for violations, and handled them ( we would not be allowed back in class until the violation was fixed meaning the parents had to bring us clothes to change into). If parents had to leave work and bring the kids clothes, maybe they would start paying more attention to the clothes the kids are wearing in the first place. We all knew what the code was, and what the consequences would be if we violated them.
I just don't think SSA is the answer to the problem. It needs to be a joint effort among parents ,students, and principles to get this issue under control. I for one teach my children how to dress, and I don't buy them clothes that won't violate school dress code. My children are raised properly, with respect for themselves and others.
Now as for the Cheerleader skirts being too short....... That is a bit of a stretch. They do wear bloomers as part of the uniform, it is not as if they are showing their undies... They are approved by the school. Let's not get too crazy here... What do ya want em to cheer in, skirts to their ankles? You try to do some of the high flying stuff in a long skirt......
But when you start to try to formalize those, you run into problems. If you allow blue jeans, how do you define the difference between blue jeans that are a little worn and blue jeans that are intentionally ripped for the purposes of fashion? If you allow T-shirts with writing on them, how do you decide what types of slogans are acceptable? Is "choose life" a vague motivational concept or is it tied to a hot-button political issue? If female students are prevented, in a vague way, from wearing "revealing" or "provocative" clothing, is a male teacher or administrator who tries to cite them for it going to be accused of lechery?
Even with SSA, of course, there are judgment calls to be made and issues that have to be worked out. But some of the boosters argue -- rightly or wrongly -- that SSA, once it is up and running and people are used to it, has fewer judgment calls than a normal school dress code, and therefore tends to be administered more equally from school to school.
I'm not trying to take sides, just to throw something out for discussion.
WE are not metro Nashville! School Board Members please quit making this a big issue as I have said before just enforce the policies in place now. Our Principals have to have a back bone in enforcing this. When I was in school we did not have dress code issues. Mike Bone did a wonderful job as a principal and kept us all in line! I really dont think there is a dress code problem at the smaller schools, as there are less students at these schools as well, and easier to control. There are bigger fish to fry in the school system than being worried about SSA. This is taking up too much of the board memebers time and parents time. My 5 year old is already stressing about the fact of having to wear dress clothes next year to school everyday! The kids that want name brand clothing now are still going to want name brand Navy,black or khaki pants, shorts, capris or skirts, skorts or jumpers same goes for the shirts as well. As I have also said before if I wanted to send my child to a private school then that is what i would do. There is nothing wrong with Blue jeans. I would much rather see blue jeans on these kids than some of the skirts, shorts, and skorts that they are allowed to wear, most of these items are much too short!!! Very immodest! I would love to see the cheerleader outfits changed. You are worried about holes in pants but it is ok for Cheerleaders to wear very, very short cheerleading skirts???? And flash around the school? Hmmm???