Do school uniforms violate the 1st ammendment?

[John Dibble]

Of course, let's not forget that business dress codes are legal.

Businesses = private
Public schools = public

True. Still, I don't think uniforms are unconstitutional in public schools, even if I think they are a stupid idea.

[nclib]

This is actually somewhat complex in terms of a Constitutional issue. For your style of dress to be a form of speech, it would have to have expressive content. But since so many young people chose their clothes to indicate personal preferences and affiliations with various subcultures, and we often project who we are through our costume, I will be willing to give those truly thoughtless and content-free ensembles some among us sport and say school uniforms do violate the First Amendment.

But the Constitution aside, uniforms are truly ridiculous as a matter of policy. It is indeed a peculiarly obnoxious concept of equality that would force us to dress alike to satisfy the need of some poorly clad children not to feel inferior. There are very few things it would not sacrifice to make sure that all of our people are treated fairly and equally, but the right to make personal life choices, choices as basic as what you wish to wear, is one of those things I insist must be preserved.

Very well said, migrendel. I agree that school uniforms are a stupid idea, and possibly unconstitutional.

[Josh/Devilman88]

Hey, i am left on this view... school uniforms are a waste of time. Let us wear what we want..

[TexArcana]

Hey, i am left on this view... school uniforms are a waste of time. Let us wear what we want..

Sorry Josh

You have to wear what your parents (owners) say.  

[Josh/Devilman88]

Hey, i am left on this view... school uniforms are a waste of time. Let us wear what we want..

Sorry Josh

You have to wear what your parents (owners) say.  

No I don't.. they don't buy my clothes I do... plus I wear very good clothes so it don't matter.

[Platypus]

Up with uniforms!

I will never cease my campaign

[Josh/Devilman88]

Up with uniforms!

I will never cease my campaign

You want uniforms?

[Platypus]

Absolutely. They equalise all students, are free advertising for the schools, and in Australia schhools with uniforms, public or private, are proven to do better.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Why on earth should a school receive free advertising anyway?

[Platypus]

so that parents can see the students of the school wearing the uniforms, see that they're well behaved or otherwise, and determine if its a good idea for their kid to go to that school.

[WalterMitty]

i support schooluniforms, or, at the very least, strict dress codes.

i believe we should run schools in a professional manner.  and part of being professional is looking the part.  you arent going to go to your job with your pants falling down, so why should you go to school dressed like that? isnt one of the goals of education to prepare students for the 'real' (working) world?

and while im on this subject, let me express my displeasure at the casual dress that teachers get away with.  when i was a young lad, teachers dressed nice for school.  now they dont.

bottom line...we need professionalism.

[muon2]

i support schooluniforms, or, at the very least, strict dress codes.

i believe we should run schools in a professional manner.  and part of being professional is looking the part.  you arent going to go to your job with your pants falling down, so why should you go to school dressed like that? isnt one of the goals of education to prepare students for the 'real' (working) world?

and while im on this subject, let me express my displeasure at the casual dress that teachers get away with.  when i was a young lad, teachers dressed nice for school.  now they dont.

bottom line...we need professionalism.

Walter, you'll be pleased to know that when I give my lectures, it's always in a jacket and tie. I choose to keep a professional look in the classroom.

[cwelsch]

Disliking uniforms doesn't make them unconstitutional.