Opposition To Mandatory Standardized Dress Code

PETITION IN OPPOSITION TO
HENDERSON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS MANDATORY STANDARDIZED DRESS CODE

We, the undersigned, find ourselves in opposition to the dress code proposed for the Henderson Independent School District for the 2010/2011 school year and beyond. This opposition is to the current proposed dress code at Henderson Schools and the currently enforced dress code at Wylie Elementary and Wylie Primary Schools.

We oppose the Standardized Dress Code, aka school uniforms, both the proposed and the Wylie code, on the following grounds:
1. It is a violation of parental rights,
2. It is a violation of religious freedom,
3. It is a violation of the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution,
4. Uniforms would cost HISD extra dollars each year, every year, since Texas Law states that those eligible for free lunches are also eligible for free uniforms;of the 3500 students in HISD 55% of those students are considered “economically disadvantaged”,
5. HISD cannot use monies allocated by the 2006 bond and therefore may have an issue of how to fund said uniforms, and
6. It is anti-American and allows authority to take away freedoms people already have.

Evidence does not support the argument that school uniforms “promote an atmosphere of discipline and learning that enhances academic achievement”; in fact, a negative effect of uniforms on student academic achievement has been found by David L. Brunsma and Kerry A. Rockquemore of the University of Notre Dame. “The Effect of Student Uniforms on Attendance, Behavior Problems, Substance Use, and Academic Achievement.” The Journal of Educational Research, 13 Feb. 1998.

We do not believe the argument that school uniforms "decrease distractions in the classroom” is strong enough to warrant removal of parental and first amendment rights. Distractions are lifelong. Adults face countless distractions with most endeavors on a daily basis. Children have short attention spans and are not likely distracted for long for the clothes that other children are wearing anymore than they are distracted by what the teacher is wearing.

We do not believe that school uniforms “increase campus safety and security by making the presence of intruders immediately known” due to the fact that anyone can put on the school colors and blend in; instead, it may make administrators more complacent.

We do not believe that school uniforms “foster a sense of community by enhancing self-respect and school pride”. What is a source of pride for one may be a source of scorn for another. You are not creating a sense of ‘community’ for those who oppose the policy. Those forced to comply find it offensive and have no sense of unity with those who force it upon them.

We do not believe school uniforms “allow an equal socioeconomic footing for all students since students will less likely be ridiculed over the clothes they wear to school”. Students who ridicule others will continue to do so. They will choose unchangeable features to ridicule rather than changeable ones, for example, someone’s facial features or the way they walk or run.

We, the undersigned, are not opposed to teaching our children that there is attire that is unacceptable for school, but a simple dress code does this. Henderson Independent School District has a dress code in place, and they should enforce it, not try to remove the freedoms of innocent and rule abiding children and their parents due to the disruptions and rebellions of a few.