Survey: Strengthen Conflict of Interest Policy?
Submitted by History on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 07:17.
The Dallas ISD Board of Trustees wants your input for strengthening its Conflict of Interest Policy. According to a story in the Dallas Morning News on Saturday, July 26:
People who want a say in whether Dallas school trustees should follow tougher ethical standards have until Aug. 1 to complete an online survey. School trustees say the poll launched last week on the district Web site will give them a sense of how residents feel about the current ethics policy. Results will go to a school board ethics committee, which plans to submit its recommendations to the full board by September. … As of Thursday, district spokesman Jon Dahlander said, the survey had received 114 responses.
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Mr. Wright
I think Mr.Wright is trying to do right but is changing the reputation and uniqueness of Skyline High. The boys and girls of Skyline should not be forced to wear uniforms because it takes away High school freedom. It's unfair to say boys sagg and girls wear short things ,but even in uniforms boys can sagg and young ladies will wear tight clothing. When schools feel like they can't handle their situations they turn to uniforms ,but having a meeting with the students ahead of time to let them know if something about their clothing isn't done we will go to uniforms to inform them if they want more freedom to obey the rules and regulations. These are young ladies and young men ,they need more freedom because after high school they will be grown so giving them a taste of what freedom is as their getting older is what Skyline use to be about. So don't take their uniqueness away Mr. Wright just handle it better than you are now.
[Ed Note: Good, positive critique. I hope he listens.]
Uniforms at Skyline
I have to disagree with your assessment that wearing a uniform "takes away high school freedom." That is just not true. You can still say what is on your mind. You can still read whatever you want. You can still eat what you choose.
Please do not confuse your clothing with freedom. I helped push to get standarized dress in the district, because the ill advised clothing choices made by literally thousands of children in many schools EVERY DAY took away from learning time. (What colors, which shades of it, could it be solid or have a logo, etc...)
You can thank bad choices by others and gangs for creating the need to change what is worn in Dallas ISD. While it has not solved all problems, it has given the schools a more professional look and the ability to easily identify an intruder. It also has reduced the visibility of gangs on a campus. It hasn't eliminated them, but it has reduced their ability to overtly "advertise" their affiliations, and that used to cause fights on many houses.
The students at Skyline will remain optimistic about more positive changes on campus. Don't get tripped up over something that is trivial. Airline pilots, waitresses, nurses, priests, soldiers, cable installers, cops, EMT's, etc... ALL wear uniforms. That is a part of adulthood, a part of our working life. In other words, see this as a chance to learn how to look your best when you all dress alike, and see how you can still maintain your individuality in a crowd of well-dressed teenagers.
Lack of Enforcement/Uniforms
I am hopeful that Uniforms will improve things at Skyline.
I am certain that Mr. Wright is an improvement at Skyline.
I wonder why the existing dress code was not enforced.
I wonder what the difference in enforcement will be with uniforms.
I wonder about the anonymity of the troublemakers in uniform.
I wonder if there is any proof that uniforms improve learning.
I wonder if Spruce wore uniforms.
Uniforms, Violence
It would be interesting to see if the number of incidents went down in schools after uniforms were put in place. If they did...then go for it!
Stats on violence
Really good question, but frankly, it will be almost impossible to tell if standardized dress (S.D.) ALONE brought about a reduction.
Usually, the decision to go to S.D. is part of a package of "reforms" on a campus. Where I am, it came at the same time we had a reduced amount of kids attending, a new energy on enforcement of all rules, etc...
I did notice one odd fallout from it... Last year, our homecoming kids were dressed to the nines. Usually, it is only prom that gets them all dolled up, but last year, there were suits and long dresses at homecoming. Kids told me it was because they wanted to show off, since they wore polo shirts and khaki pants all the time. It was kind of cool to see them *appreciate* the idea of positive experession through wearing better outfits.
However, if the code, S.D. or not, is not followed, it is hollow. Enforcement is the key, and again, if you enforce that, you are usually enforcing all things.
My best observation is that not one Dallas ISD high school that went to S.D. wants to retract it. Parents like the simplicity and the cheaper costs. After a while, the kids adjust and forget about it. They grudgingly admit that it makes morning dressing time easier.
So, after 3 years, it is pretty much a non-issue. The ones who opposed me the most at the microphone at board meetings were parents of BTW and Woodrow Wilson. Even Woodrow now has S.D., but I really doubt that BTW would go for it. They really don't have a problem there to be addressed by S.D., from what has been said.