What is behind the "no hoodies" in some schools? - Page 4

[imahappybrat]

I heard that in some gang problem areas kids are trying to wear hoodies with the hoods up as some sort of kkk reference. But i havent seen anything like this personally so it could just be the media overreacting...

[mommy68]

Originally Posted by eclipse

I wonder if it has to do with teachers being able to identify students from a distance? I think it's silly.

I agree with this. I came up with various reasons for banning them: hiding weapons, hiding drugs, hiding their faces while hurting someone or stealing or doing something wrong. I'm sure there are many reasons for it. However, why not just ban jackets and coats altogether. I don't "truly" get it I guess. Don't most schools have metal detectors now?

[mommy68]

Originally Posted by smilingmomma

I'd like to reiterate, the school ban is almost 100% due to kids hiding mp3 ear buds under their hoods, and also "hiding" beneath the hoods to take a nap. It's not a safety issue, or primarily one, for almost all school that I know of.

But that may be what they are "saying" the reason for the no hoodie rule is. The school board likely has other reasons that they are afraid to air for the public.

[ilovebabies]

I'm sure the schools have a variety of reasons for banning hoodies. And to say they should just tell the kids to leave the hoods down is silly because what teacher wants to have to monitor high school students all day wearing hoodies to make sure their hood is down? What a pain! You know they won't listen to the rules and will put them up every chance they get. It's just MUCH easier to have them not wear them at all.

School is for learning. If a school feels that something is causing a problem and making it more difficult for the teachers to teach and for the student to learn or is causing distraction or disruption in any way, then they have the right to ban it and that decision needs to be respected.

That's part of the problem today... much of society has no respect for authority. Our culture is incredibly selfish and rebelious. The question is, what's good for the school as a whole? What's good for the students AND the teachers (who waste enough time on insubordinate kids)?

Personally I think there should be much more banned than hoodies.

I'm sure I'll get a lot of backlash, but I stand on what I said. I've been so disgusted at some of these responses.

[mirlee]

Originally Posted by mommy68

I don't "truly" get it I guess. Don't most schools have metal detectors now?

No, there are still many that do not have metal detectors. I know of one rural school that doesn't. Every urban school here has one plus added security guards and/or police.

[smilingmomma]

Originally Posted by mirlee

No, there are still many that do not have metal detectors. I know of one rural school that doesn't. Every urban school here has one plus added security guards and/or police.

True. I'm from NYC where I used to teach/social work and let me tell you, there are plenty of public schools without metal detectors and there's plenty of horrifically aggressive gang behavior. That's not to say that I think metal detectors are the answer. They rarely catch anything. But things like structure, uniforms, and other rules that seem silly to us liberal/crunchy folk are sadly necessary in many schools.

[mar123]

ilovebabies- DITTO! You said it better than I could have.

we don't have metal detectors; most schools around here don't.
Hoodies also seem to be relatively new. I have been teaching for 14 years and it is only within the last five that they have become a problem. Now, I do live in the south, but most kids went hatless or wore hats when it was cold enough to have one, which I admit is not often.

It would be impossible for all schools to make everyone happy. We truly do try to do the best for everyone.

[superstella]

Originally Posted by mirlee

No, there are still many that do not have metal detectors. I know of one rural school that doesn't. Every urban school here has one plus added security guards and/or police.

i don't know of *any* schools around here that have metal detectors, even after an "incident" with swat teams and a stabbed teacher last year.

I also don't know of any ban on hoodies, and quite frankly am surprised and confused!

My dd would be in a world of trouble, as 99% of her wardrobe is hoodies. Her typical outfit is jeans, a tshirt, and a hoodie on top. Even today, when it is 90 degrees outside, she says the classroom is still too cold and she wears or takes a hoodie. I can understand having to remove the hoodie for dangerous activities such as the chemistry lab example given above. Otherwise, I am totally not buying that hoodies are a safety issue any more than any other article of clothing.

[ziggy]

There was a lot of stuff banned at my high school due to the huge amount of gang violence. I thought it was stupid until I wore a blue shirt one day, and got jumped by a group of girls in the crips. That's when I learned that banning things, even when i didn't really get why, was probably for a good reason.

[imagine21]

As a teacher, I would never advocate banning the hoodies, but they WILL NOT be over the students' heads in my class. The main problem in hiding the ear buds/ipods. Many students think it acceptable to listen to music and a teacher's presentation at the same time. Some teachers don't even care enough to call them on it. I'll ask a student once a school year to loose the earphones in my class. If I see them again, they will lose the ipod, I will turn it into administration and the parent can pick it up when it's convenient for them. That usually takes care of the problem in my classes, I do it to one kid a year and then the news that it is unacceptable in my class gets out and the students know to keep the electronics off and where I can't see them. Some students also pull the hoodies over their eyes. I also have a strict policy in my class that the students and I must be able to make eye contact; no glasses, no hiding, period. Again, I see no reason for banning the offending hoodies, just modifying the behavior.

[BelovedK]

You mean no sunglasses?

[aniT]

Originally Posted by brainysmurfette

The hoods are also used to hide music headsets and such, but a no hoods up rule can take care of that issue.

Way back in the 80's, I used to turn the headphones backwards and hide them under my hair. Are they going to make girls cut off their hair? Ear buds and Ipods are MUCH easier to hid than the bulky walkman and headphones of the 80's.

[amynbebes]

My dd is allowed to wear them as long as they have a school logo on them. We're in Florida but according to her all of the classrooms are freezing. I despise buying seperate wardrobes for home and school and being the little bit of a rebel that I'm so proud to be a mother to, she's been wearing one of her hoodies from a store. She's only got into one debate with a teacher so far

[MrsCorell]

I work in the K-8 grades, on both elementary and middle school sites. We have a no hood in class policy. I cannot imagine the ridiculousness of banning them from school altogether. Our average winter temperature is somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 degrees. The kids have a PE dress code in the middle school and their attire includes a sweatshirt~hoodies are an option.

I know the difficulty teachers have with the Ipods, MP3 players, etc. In reality, it's not an issue with the children not listening to the teacher and the instruction, but more of a safety issue. What if there is an emergency, a fire alarm, safety instructions, etc? It's important the children can hear what's going on.

Banning the hoodies altogether, imo, is a bad move on teh school's part and will undoubtedly cause nothing but dissension within the school. They should just take a step down and request that the hoods be down at all times while indoors on school property. No different than a hat rule, in reality.

[mamato3cherubs]

Originally Posted by mar123

The pants below the rear bother me way more than hoods. If I had a dollar for every pair of boxers I have seen, I could retire!

Just wanted to say hwo perfect this statement was.

I think it is crazy to ban them. not up in class, yes, banning all together? Nope, but I dont take to well to so many of the rediculous restrictions the schools are introducing anymore