Dress issue is controversial

While I wouldn't necessarily wear a kilt to a classroom, I think it was a completely out-of-bounds action for the principal of a Jackson, Mo. high school to tell a student they couldn't wear a kilt to school dance. (The story did not mention this, but this case could be situational if the student's kilt was 4 or more inches above the knee or if he didn't wear undergarments under the kilt.)

The school district's superintendent, Ron Anderson, said McClard has the authority under the district's dress code policy to judge appropriate dress for extracurricular activities, including dances.

I am not questioning the decision of school officials to judge attire based on common community standards of nakedness or profanity. For example, a principal is well within his rights to ask a student to remove a shirt with profanity or nudity on it.

But, this issue does boil down to a First Amendment right to expression. Again, my right to wear a shirt that says "Jesus is Lord" on it is just as protected as the rights of a guy to wear a kilt.

In Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School (1969), the court said that a student's freedom of expression in school must be protected unless it would seriously interfere with the requirements of appropriate discipline. (My definition of what "interferes with appropriate discipline" would be if a student was trying to express himself or herself by destroying or defacing school property. Cursing a school official also falls into the "interference" of the educational process.)

The Hazelwood case muddled the waters further about how far the First Amendment goes to protecting student rights by saying that a principal had the right to censor material in a student newspaper if they felt the writing would "interfere with the educational process.

The case generally gave principals access to prior review and prior restraint over materials printed in student newspapers. But, the case has been interpreted to expand the ability of school administrators to censor other things provided they can cite a specific reason why the dress or action interferes with the education process.

If you actually have read down this far, my point is simply that this entire effort just moves every school closer to the uniformity concept that we all need to look the same.

School uniforms are the pinnacle of the uniformity movement. Obviously, there are arguments on both sides of the school uniform fight, so I'm still forming my opinion. I'll tell you that I'm leaning against it because it seems very communist to me, but if people want to discuss this, please feel free to comment.

Just to help start the discussion, here is the list of Wikipedia's pro and con reasons for school uniforms:

PRO:
1. They are sometimes very stylish and flattering.
2. They reduce cliques (or gangs) and peer-envy based on clothes.
3. They allow the student to focus on schoolwork rather than on socialising.
4. They add a professional air to the school environment, resulting in better morale.
5. Parents do not have to spend on fashionable brand attire.
6. They give a sense of belonging to the school.
7. They help prepare students for the expectation of wearing proper work attire (business suits,
military uniforms, et al).
8. They help to teach students the importance of following rules (and laws), even if they do not
understand/agree with them.
9. They allow the student to learn new ways of self-expression, from hair-style to speech
mannerism to adjusting the skirt-length.

CON:
Violation of rights
1. They violate the students' right to self-expression and individuality.
2. Schools act "in loco parentis" by making clothing decisions for parents.
3. Some school uniforms can be costly, especially if there are multiple (junior/senior,
summer/winter) uniforms or a student moves schools.

Effectiveness
1. The idea that students will focus on schoolwork rather than socialising is idealistic.
2. Many uniforms are not gender-neutral, which may lead to exploitation or discrimination.
3. "One-size-fits-all" style does not suit all students' body shapes.
4. Many times students still manage to show socio-economic status and brand consciousness
within the uniform policy.
5. It is also possible for gangs to show affiliation, such as through particular hair-styles, non-
regulated apparel (jewelry, for example) or body markings (piercings, tattoos)