Hoodies banned for being "gangwear"

[Marvelmania]

This weekend I bought my 13 year old nephew a "hoodie" or "hoodsweat" (basically a pullover or zipup sweatshirt w/ a hood attached) that says University of Tennessee on it. It's getting a little colder here and thought it would be warm for him to wear without having to wear a jacket. I told his mother (who works for the school system) about it tonight and was informed that he'd love it but can't wear it to school. The local junior high and high school has banned the wearing of these due to it being "gangwear". ***? Personally I always thought of it more as athletic wear. I understand that the school system would want to deter any type of gang activity but find this crazy. What's next? Flannel shirts and jeans? Maybe the school colors should be changed due to it being considered gang colors? Maybe they should just go ahead and have them wear uniforms? I'm just wondering what others here thought about this.

[MegoGeekJr]

Man! that completely sucks!

I hope my school won't get uniforms. althou they make you change your clothes if it has like a knife or anyhting like a hatchet!

[Mikey]

They're not going to be happy until all kids are dressed like Angus Young

[txteach]

The kids like to wear the hoods over their heads because they think its cool. Gangs do it also. Things you would allow at home many kids take to extremes trying to impress their friends at school.

[ABMAC]

The next school shooters will be wearing school uniforms. What will the school systems do then?

[txteach]

Ok Ant, lets hear your proposal?

[ABMAC]

Ok Ant, lets hear your proposal?

Suspend or expel students who break the rules and leave the rest of them alone. It isn't illegal to be in a gang, is it? Schools are there to teach, not to be moral guardians.

[Sideshow Spock]

Seems to me wearing hooded sweatshirts should be fine, but the kids just shouldn't be allowed to put the hood over their heads during class and school time. Or even on school grounds.

It peeves me that they started allowing kids in middle and high school to wear ball caps during the school day. (Codger voice) In my day, I couldn't so much as walk in the hallway after school with a ball cap on w/out someone telling me to take it off..

[starsky]

times they are a changin!! and half the stuff that gets implemented doesnt even make any sense!

[thunderbolt]

In Polk county they've gone to uniforms for all but high school. They've been sued unsuccessfully a few times over kids not being able to express themselves. Back in the olden days of my school career, I couldn't wear a ball cap, and I remember somebody getting in trouble for the Huey Lewis I need a new Drug concert shirt. Seems like if the school's just showed a bit of backbone and didn't let the kids run the place, it wouldn't have gotten to the uniform stage.

[garagesale]

I think all schools should switch over to Starfleet uniforms.

JamesD

[Earth 2 Chris]

And I thought it was bad when I wasn't allowed to wear my "I'm Bart Simpson, who the Hell are you?" shirt to school.

Chris

[huedell]

At first thought, the idea of abandoning rules regarding school
attire seems cool and liberal and all---but kids will ultimately take
advantage of that---and things can quickly get outta hand

I picture Picard and his famous line from ST: FC
"The line must be drawn here" (or something close to that)

If rules are put in place, and they are enforced, then the kids can
be better controlled and schools can be a less chaotic place to be

Nothing wrong with a little structure and discipline or whatever

[txteach]

I for one am all for structure and discipline. The problem is when many kids only get those things at school it's tough. I had a parent scream at me because their little angle couldn't of been bad in my class. It was my fault her kid was a turd. When we enforce the rules we get parents who undermind our every move. We tried uniforms only to here "your taking away my individuality". Rubbish, get your "individuality" at the mall not at school. Many people today expect the schools to teach their kids everything from manners to morals to math. Schools try getting rid of a problem, hoods, and the parents complain. A constant catch 22.

[huedell]

txteach --- I hear what you're saying, but I can't really be all that sympathetic
---as what you're describing is part what being a teacher is all about----
i.e. dealing with parents who run the gamut from well-adjusted to mentally unhinged
so that you can get thru the school year achieving your goal which is: to educate their
kids----bottom line: there's no guarantee that adults will be any less "unruly" than their
children----to educate your students the most efficiently, you have to deal with both
to survive and thrive ---its a package deal