Is it time for uniforms?

I live in Fredericksburg which is surrounded by Civil War battlefields and while the war has long been over who would never guess it by some of the schools. One middle school in Spotsylvania has had an issue with students wearing the Confederate flag causing student unrest. And in this month's American School Board Journal the issue is raised again but this time in a high school in West Virginia. Schools across the country have enacted strict dress codes just like Stafford County Public Schools but this does not appear to have changed anything; someone always manages to go around the dress code.

The time spent on enforcing the dress codes just does seem practical. Teachers have to monitor the kids coming through the door and send them to the office if they are not dressed appropriately. This student loses instructional time waiting for parent to drop a set of clothes or change in gymsuits for the day.

The more practical solution would be to go with the "khaki pant and solid color polo shirt uniform" set. No jewelry allowed but watches would be o.k.

Every parent, teacher, and adminstrator says they would love a uniform. I do not buy the arguement that there would be some that could not afford when I see kids in the expensive sports apparel and the $100 tennis shoes on free breakfast and lunch. Am I missing something here?