MRS. D. METZGER

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOL

SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

Dress for Success? 
An Investigation Into School Dress Codes

Can a school wide dress code address the problem of rising violence in high schools today?
Can the implementation of a dress code improve the educational environment? 
Can a dress code improve student achievement?

Introduction:

There has been a rise of student violence and numerous incidents at Christopher Columbus High School.

During the first week of classes a staff member was assaulted in the school library while conducting a class. The Office of School Safety has increased the number of security officers patrolling the school. Over the summer the school has installed security cameras at the main entrances and exits of the school building.
The school leadership team which is composed of the administration, teachers, parents and students is exploring options in response to this rise of violence in the high school building.

Due to the numerous violent episodes, and as a consequence frequent student suspensions the administration expects the School Leadership Team to explore options which can address this problem. One option the Leadership Committee will discuss is the concept of a school wide dress code.

As the student member of the school leadership team, it is your responsibility to represent your fellow students.
You have one month to complete research and prepare a presentation in regard to a school wide dress code.

Your recommendation will be used to implement a school dress code. You have a very important task. Your findings will effect the lives of your fellow students.

Task:

Can the implementation of a school wide dress code have an impact upon the rising violence in Christopher Columbus High School?

Will a dress code affect the school environment at all?

These are the questions you will address in this web quest.

1. RESEARCH PAPER: Complete a typed 5 page, double spaced research paper including the following items.

a. Utilizing the internet, compile information on the topic of violence in schools today. Group participants will research the topic of violence in New York City High Schools. You can utilize the suggested list below of websites, or find your own. Take a look at the current problems in Christopher Columbus High School, and or other high schools for specific information

b. Then, research dress codes and their impact upon the learning environment in high schools. Find information on web sites, regarding the pros and cons of school dress code.

2. SURVEY- Create a survey that will be distributed to students at your school and at a school that currently has a dress code.  Search www.nycboe.net to further your research about New York City Schools and dress codes. Survey question will be designed by each group. A minimum of 10 questions must be included.

3. ORAL REPORT: Finally, prepare a 10 - 15 minute oral presentation of your findings to be presented at the next school leadership meeting. This culminating project activity will show how the Public Policy Analyst Method has helped to complete this task.

Process:

Step 1:  Your class will be divided into groups of 5 members each. Group members will assume the following roles; a leader, a recorder, a timekeeper, a presenter and an alternate.

a. The leader will make sure the group is working on the given assignment. The leader will assign certain duties and responsibilities to other group participants making sure the group stays focused on the given task.
b. The recorder will maintain records of all information that has been found.
c. The time keeper will keep the time and make sure that the group does not go over the time limit.
d. The presenter will present the final product to all other members of the class. (There can be more than one student participant presenting, group members should share the responsibility)


Step 2: Each group will utilize the Public Policy Analyst (PPA) method to investigate a social problem.  You will need to complete the following online worksheets which are designed to assist you with your project.

#1 Defining the Social Problem
#2 Gather evidence of the problem
#3 Identify the causes of the problem
#4 Developing public policy solutions
#5 Selecting the best policy solution

Fill out the worksheets located at the above links. These worksheets will be used as resource material to complete the task assignments

Step 3: Groups will be responsible for creating a survey to assess students' opinions about dress codes.  They will summarize the results and use them as part of their presentation. The survey can be used in any of the PPA worksheet steps.

Step 4: Students will employ the Internet to research the topic of violence in schools and school dress codes. Listed below are Internet search engines that will assist you with your research of school dress codes. The internet sites will be used to complete the PPA worksheets.

file:///A:/www.yahoo.com
file:///A:/www.askjeeves.com
file:///A:/www.altavista.com
file:///A:/www.google.com
file:///A:/www.msn.com

Suggested resources:

You can utilize these suggested resource sites listed below. 

You do not have to use the sites below. You can find your own resource sites.

Dress Code Resources

http://www.naesp.org/cgi-bin/netforum/open2/a/3--311

http://www.senate.gov/~ashcroft/sp5-17-99-fl.htm

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/interests/schools/palmdress.htm

http://www.nyclu.org/siegel/siegel.html

http://www.parentsmart.com/SchPractices/DressCodes/

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tips.html

http://www.opinionpower.com/

http://www.nyclu.org/siegel/siegel.html

http://www.reason.org/ps234.html

http://riceinfo.rice.edu/projects/topics/readers/dress-co

http://207.142.215.253/cig-bin/netforum/nyssba/a/3--65

http://www.Bergen.com/ed/shskul5199908179.htm

http://www.parentsmart.com/SchPractices/Dress%20Codes/

http://www.ed.gov/updates/uniforms.html

http://www.edweek.org/context/topics/issuespage.cfm?id=38 http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin130.shtml http://www.education-world.com/a_admin/admin065.shtml http://www.aclu.org/congress/uniform.html

School violence

www.rippleeffects.com/aboutus/media/statistics.html

www.protectcampus.com

www.mincava.umn.edu

www.cnn.com/US9805/22/school.reduced.violence

http://general-medicine.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/1993/1026/6

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/WABC 082002 hotline.html

www.columbia.edu/cu/web/indiv/usgd/nyc.html

www.education-watch.com/a admin/065.shml

www.nasponline.org/publications/cq273guns.html

www.courtinnovation.org

Step 5: After researching the Internet and other sources each group will be responsible for preparing a presentation. The presentation should include the results of Internet research, and student surveys. 

The presentation will be given in class as the culminating activity for this assignment.

Evaluation:

The Project grade will be based on the following guidelines.

Worksheets

Grade of A =  All questions are completely answered

B =  All of the questions are answered however some are not complete

C = The questions are not completely answered, The information is copied word for word with no student input.
D = The topic has not been researched properly. The answers are incomplete.

Research and survey

Grade of A = Student demonstrates full knowledge of subject matter
B =  Student demonstrates some knowledge of subject matter
C =  Student demonstrates a little knowledge of subject matter

D = Student do not know subject matter

Oral Presentation Rubric

Grade of A

Everyone in group presents

Excellent eye contact

Clear and loud speech

Logical, clear, organized and focused presentation

Creative use of visual aides, informational hand outs

Grade of B

Everyone in group presents

Most people maintain decent eye contact

Volume and clarity of speech is sufficient

Logical, clear, less organized and focused presentation

Visual aides, informational hand outs used appropriately

Grade of C

3 people in group present

Eye contact half of the time

Presentation is weak and lacks focus, not completely clear

Can understand most of time

Some use of visual aid, informational hand out, may be inappropriate

Grade of D

Only one person in group presents

Little eye contact

Presentation is very weak, illogical and unorganized

Difficult to understand and hear

Minimal or no use of visual aids

Collaboration

Grade of A =There is strong evidence that all group members participated equally

B = There is some evidence that all group members participated equally

C = There is evidence that most group members participated equally

D = There is little or no evidence that all group members participated


New York State Standards

English

Standard 1:   Language for Information and Understanding
Standard 2:   Language for Critical Analysis and Evaluation
Standard 2a: Produce a report of information
Standard 3b: Participate in-group meetings

Social Studies

Standard 5: Use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate understanding of the necessity for establishing governments; the basic civic values of American constitutional democracy; and the roles, rights, and responsibilities of citizenship, including avenues of participation

Standard 1

Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of major ideas, themes, developments and turning points in the history of the United States and New York.


Conclusion

Upon completion you have come to a conclusion on the effectiveness of using dress codes in the school environment. You now should have a greater understanding of how to research, organize and compile information in regard to a specific topic.  You have successfully demonstrated your abilities in regard to using the Internet to research that topic and how it affects modern society today.  The PPA methodology utilized for this project has increased your understanding and awareness that many problems challenge American Society today. You have also seen the importance of the Public Policy Analyst in creating positive changes in our society.