CAT Tracks for February 28, 2012 MUCH ADO ABOUT A DRESS CODE

Ain't wastin' my time cutting and pasting and formatting the result of last night's meeting of the Cape Girardeau Public Schools Board of Education.

Big damn list of what is acceptable...which is just about anything you would normally wear upon exiting the house.

Why they didn't just make a list or issue guidelines of what is UNacceptable (e.g. T & A showing), who knows? This is what you get when you get lay people without a clue who show up for a meeting one or two nights a month and engage in micromanaging.

The United States Supreme Court (and probably the Missouri Supreme Court) ruled long ago (back in the 1960s and 1970s) what "guideline" is constitutional...that the attire not disrupt the educational environment.

In short, you want to ban something? Well, when you get sued and go to court, you better be able to prove that whatever you banned caused a riot. (Video is advisable.) Otherwise, you are standing on shaky ground.

But...

Have no fear, there are plenty of lawyers out there (e.g. Robbins et al) who will happily take your case, take your money. Cha-ching!

I'm sorry...

Either have a school uniform...or don't.

Half-azz measures just make for additional enforcement problems for teachers (who need to be spending their time on teaching to the test so that they can keep their jobs!) There will be an increase in discipline problems as students fight back, and they WILL fight back!

Bottom line: The Cape Girardeau Board of Education "caved" and are just trying to save face.

Memo to Cairo Board of Education:

Don't even think about it!

CAT Tracks Editor's Note: I ain't just piling on the CSD #1 BOE here.

A few years back (during my final year of teaching), a uniform for Cairo students was making the rounds for consideration. Fortunately, the idea died...probably because of the expense mentioned in the Cape article and the fact that CSD #1 is an impoverished, 100% free lunch school district.

And, really...

Does anyone out there really think that a uniform will stop the "sagging" problem? Does anyone out there really think that requiring the wearing of a belt will stop the "sagging" problem? (Hell, I can back the belt that I normally wear off a notch or two and my pants will fall to the floor!)

Well, yes, I guess there are people out there who think these mandates will work...at least five of them sit on the Cape Girardeau Board of Education!