When you think of a dress code or uniform, what comes to mind?
Most people will call to mind the stereotypical images we see in media: pressed
and proper uniforms at military academies, the navy blazers or sports coats
with ties and slacks at boys schools, and the plaid skirts and white shirts
with knee socks and dress shoes at girls schools. But is this attire actually
the norm at private
schools?
Many private schools attribute most of their uniform traditions
and dress codes back to their British public school roots. The formal starched
collars and tails worn by Eton College boys are world-famous, but they are
hardly typical of a normal school uniform these days. Much more common is a
looser dress code consisting of the ubiquitous blazer, white shirt, school tie,
slacks, socks and black shoes; or the option of wearing dresses, or a blazer
and blouse with slacks or skirts are pretty much standard for girls.
What is the difference between a
uniform and dress code?
The very word uniform suggests
the raison d'etre for
'unis' as some of the private school crowd calls them. It is one specific and
standard style of dress that every student wears. Some school uniforms allow
for optional additions, such as sweaters or vests to wear over the uniforms.
While the rules at every school will differ, some will allow students to add
their own personal flair, dressing up their standard attire with scarves and
other accessories, but there are typically limitations to how much can be added
to the uniform.
A dress code is a strict outline of acceptable attire that isn't
limited to one or two options. It serves as more of a guideline rather than a
rigid rule, and provides more flexibility for students. Many view dress code as
an attempt to create conformity as opposed to uniformity. Dress codes can vary
by school and range from more formal dress codes requiring specific colors and
limited choices of attire, to more flexible options that may simply prohibit
certain forms of attire.
Why Do Schools Have Uniforms and
Dress Codes?
Many schools have implemented uniforms and
dress codes for both practical and social reasons. Practically speaking, a
standardized uniform allows a child to get by with a minimum amount of
clothing. You have your everyday wear and then a Sunday best outfit for more
formal occasions. A uniform often serves as a marvelous equalizer of social
status. It matters not whether you are the Earl of Snowdon or the son of the
local green grocer when you don that uniform. Everybody looks the same.
Uniformity rules.
Do uniforms improve test scores
and enhance discipline?
Long Beach Unified School District, back in the '90s, instituted
a dress code policy for its students. Proponents of the policy claimed that the
dress code created a climate for education which led to improved test scores
and better discipline. Research may vary on this, and responses from parents
often differs from teachers, with parents (and students) arguing for more
flexibility for personal style and expression, while teachers are often largely
supportive of uniforms and dress codes because of the perceived improvements in
both student performance and behavior. That said, private schools generally
create a climate for learning more consistently than public
schools do, to begin with. Uniforms and dress codes are just one
part of the formula for success. The real secret to success is consistently
enforcing rules and regulations. Hold students accountable and you will see
results.
What About Teachers' Dress Codes?
Most private schools also have dress codes for teachers. While
the guidelines for adults may not mirror that of students, they are often
similar, engaging faculty members in modeling good behavior and dressing best
practices.
What Happens When You Disregard
the Uniform or Dress Code?
Now, we all know that students of any age have their ways of
getting around dress code requirements. The slacks have a way of becoming a bit
baggier than the school regulations intended. The shirts tend to hang out below
the oversize jacket. Skirts seem to shrink overnight. This can be difficult for
schools to enforce, and infractions can result in varying responses, ranging from
verbal reminders to detention and even formal disciplinary action for repeated
offenders.
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