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Originally Posted by Cynthetiq
not all parents are conservative that want their kids to have a good education and find value in student handbook code of conducts
fair, not all children get childhoods could be argued. Isn't the point of being in school to get an education? Not necessarily self expression?
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Do parents have to fit one category or the other cynth? I'm not a parent, but I'd like to think I'd be the kind of parent that tells her children that the rules aren't always right, but still have to be followed.
I'm one of those people that really had no childhood. My parents were lower-middle class and shoving me into tons of extracurricular activities that I grew to hate, go to private catholic music schools... it all felt overly conservative for a decade or more. Now I'm a punk-influenced woman with red hair and purple extensions (I was a blonde). Heh.
Because of this experience, I'd say that the complete point of school is not just education, but strong development of social skills. I know some parents do look for that, and some look only at how much your kid learns. They're all different really. I found my social skills were really stunted in school, because I was such an education-nut, and social outcast for it. Even in private school!
If your child started out in a uniform-wearing, conservative-oriented school, there's no real effect on their school time. They learn to keep learning at school, and outside school social activites separate. Its generally successful I think.
But, if a kid went to a public school with minor codes, then halfway through school must wear a uniform, lose their earrings, and stop dying their hair, well, you'll have problems.
Halfway through my own high school years, they brought the uniform back, but my year didn't have to get it, because we'd be graduating shortly. The parent/teacher/student/school board war that was uniforms was ugly, and went on for years. Now its mandatory at all schools.
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Originally Posted by mixedmedia
Could this new focus on student hairstyles at my daughter's school have something to do with changes in the racial make-up of the school and its declining federal grade? And, if so, do you think it is a practical and effective way of confronting the school's problem with shifting demographics and declining student achievement?
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I think absolutely yes MM. Lots of districts think of schools as a business, not as centers for learning. So how do they fix it? Increased structure and cut those "outside" influences.
I really feel its a terrible way of confronting the problem, and I'm sure some people with have major problems with it. I think the curriculum should be assessed, and changed. Then, if no changes, or worse, look at other options, whatever those may be.
I dunno, my first thought is "why assume its the students at fault? Maybe there's a lack of motivation from teachers, where students need it most, or poor teaching."