I understand where you're coming from, partially, but sex-appeal defeats the purpose of teaching that abstainance is the right choice.

WELL SAID.....exactly what I was thinking!! Just because you're sexy....doesn't mean you have to!

The "mixed" part of the message is "I'm sexy..." and that's supposed to be a good thing. Encouraging kids to be sexy, as though that is a goal to be acheived, contradicts the idea of not having sex. The point of being "sexy" is to display sexuality and to attract sexual attention. Teenagers should be encouraged to read, be kind, do well in school, respect their bodies, respect others..........there is NO good reason to be promoting the idea that "I'm sexy...".

Kind of like a slogan that says, "If you want me, then you'll have to rape me illegally" ... does that promote rape, or does it remind people that rape is illegal? Bottom line - you can not prevent human nature with t-shirt slogans. Grow up.

As much as some parents say kids obsess over what there wearing, but come off it if your kid is doing bad in school you shouldnt blame his/her clothes if anything ask yourself if they are even trying and what you should do to help. Uniforms restrict creativity and block a students individuality. It starts at having the same clothes, then the same ideas, being different and thinking against what we are taught is what leads to great inventions and ideas. Yes ads take it too far but stand by your child and they will achieve anything no matter what the clothes they wear.

First of all, I didn't say MY children/young people were doing poorly in school, nor did I say they focused on clothing. I don't have that problem with my children because they have been taught what is important. LEARNING...not what they or anyone else wears. I many parents, including myself would like to see uniforms in school. WE DON'T BUY INTO THE CONCEPT/IDEA THAT IT DETRACTS FROM ORIGINAL THINKING OR CREATIVY AND WE DO NO THINK IT TAKES AWAY INDIVIDUALISM ! IN FACT, just the opposite, not having to 'worry',( or to use your choice of words 'obsess') over clothing choices frees the mind to wander and be creative in areas that are not focused on what each individual is wearing. Creativity comes best when the mind is FREE to 'create'. It does not come from watching what someone else chooses to wear.
I am a writer and I will tell you this, creativity is a very illusive and at times contradictions in terms. I struggle to write when things are going along 'so so'/everyday/or 'run of the mill'. It is more like 'work' than creating something. I write best when I am happy (upbeat) or unfortunately, when I'm very sad, depressed or in a 'blue' or 'down' period. Some of our best artist whether they paint, write, compose, ....when they are affected by moods. Edgar Allen Poe come to mind if you cared to read about his creativity. Artist, writers, etc. are not inspired to draw, write, compose, create by seeing what someone else is wearing. This doesn't matter. Actually, it's a distraction. The ONLY area that MIGHT benefit from 'clothes watching' is the fashion house and as far as I know...that field of study won't be on anyone's course criteria UNTIL they enter college ! Wearing uniforms will NOT take away creativity, but most likely will open creativity to new boundaries. Neither does it stifle or detract from individuality. Every single human is as individual as you can get. What we NEED in the educational system is for students to concentrate on subjects at hand. AGAIN, the most important thing our children/youth need to be concentrating on in school is the courses they are dealing with. If they are taking art classes, then they will find their creative outlet where they seek it. BUT, for the most part, the majority of schools no longer even offer Music or Art classes. I do believe that had something to do with our educational/government decisions. MY DECISIONS had nothing to do with that change. I have long advocated music and art classes for our youth! Your opinion is what is usually stated by those who are opposed to wearing uniforms of any type. Hope you never have to enter an employment arena/field where 'uniforms' are the standard.

I'll make my own corrections.....

Many parents, including myself would like to see uniforms in school. WE DON'T BUY INTO THE CONCEPT/IDEA THAT IT DETRACTS FROM ORIGINAL THINKING OR CREATIVY AND WE DO NO THINK IT TAKES AWAY INDIVIDUALISM !

It's absolutely ridiculous to assume that any poor education is due to obsessions over fashion in school. Any student who cares about what people think about their clothes and how they look to the point that it seriously detracts from their education is not going to do well in school anyway.

There will always be distractions. Period. If you make everyone wear uniforms, students will be very, very annoyed (and for good reason), rebel as much as possible in other ways, and find something else to distract them from their studies. Is school supposed to have no other purpose than to cram knowledge down your throat? What about the importance of self-discovery? What about making lasting friendships? What about learning life lessons and preparing yourself for the real world? All the Shakespeare in the world can't replace these life-building foundations.

At some time or another, these students will enter the real world, a world filled with shallow expectations and superficial judgements. A world run by, wait a minute, YOUR generation. And when they do, they will be compared to everyone else. If they want to get a job, they will have to look professional. If they want to gain the respect of others, they will have to have all of the aforementioned skills, and know how to dress to boot. I can't speak for students everywhere, but if I was forced to wear a uniform for twelve years of my life, the moment I left school, I would burn it and spend the next five years dressing as dissimilarly to that uniform as possible. It's much better to have that search for identity and self-discovery while in a supportive school environment.

No matter how much you say looks don't matter, I'd be willing to bet a lot of money that if you were interviewing someone and they walked in looking like a mess, you wouldn't hire them. That's not a bad thing. In a way, it's a unconscious method of judging someone's care, professionalism, and self-respect. And how are kids supposed to learn this if they go twelve years without having to think about what they're wearing when they get up in the morning?

You've made it quite clear you have no respect for freedom of self-expression, so I won't even try to bring that into the argument.

Finally, what on earth gives you the right to judge an entire generation of people? There are fantastic, brilliant, talented students in school right now, all over the world, and you're doing them the disservice of damning their entire generation because of a general stereotype. Your generation, as the generation in charge of raising us and teaching us necessary life values, should be under criticism right now. Not ours. We can't help if we were born into a crappy situation. We can't help it if our role models and guardians so incompetent that they fail to teach us and then refuse to acknowledge any connection between their guidance (or lack thereof) and our shortcomings. You should be ashamed to claim that every one of our "schools are turning out such dismally educated young children."

No disrespect intended, I believe that your idealistic plan of promoting exceptional growth of mind by limiting other areas of students' lives is not very well thought out and would, should it be implemented, ultimately fail.

Sexuality is a part of human nature. Teaching adolescents an appropriate way to handle their burgeoning sexuality is the role of every responsible parent. Abstinence education should not deny or repress sexuality, rather, it should acknowledge an individual's innate curiousity about their own sexuality, and give them the emotional and social maturity to make decisions about their sexual, physical, and emotional relationships based upon their moral, religious, social and academic/professional life goals and values. There is no world religion that teaches that sex is a bad thing, but they all teach that sex must exist in an appropriate context. As parents, we have to guide our children to understand that sex and sexuality is a part of every person, but navigating one's own sexuality through every stage of life requires moral, spiritual, and physical discipline. This t-shirt acknowleges the beautiful and sexually curious nature of a young adult, and delivers a message of self-control, esteem, and discipline.

Tabby 8-10-2009 @ 9:21PM

Many problems exist in school because children are more concerned with name brand clothing, games, cars, etc than they are in getting an education. Most schools will not allow (or at least shouldn't) children to wear hats or a lot of jewelry. This is just one more reason many parents, including myself would like to see ALL schools with UNIFORMS. If all children are dressed alike, they can concentrate on their learning, self esteem, confidence etc. without having to worry whether they are 'dressed hip enough' for their friends. I know there are many parents who are against this for the very reason they say it takes away 'privilege' and 'rights', but our schools are turning out such dismally educated young children, it's time we started eliminating what ver negative or detracting elements we can so our children can concentrate on learning and gaining confidence through education. ***********The school is not turning out dismal children, it is the parents responsibility to help in the teaching process at home, as well as in the school. It IS because of the parents as to why discipline in the school has gone to the wayside and they parents do not have any respect for anyone else and do not teach their kids to respect anyone either. LISTEN to how the parents treat their kids, Let them get away with everything as long as it does not get in their way, or treat them like trash because they have to deal with them. REMEMBER IT STARTS AT HOME AND IN THE END YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE . DO NOT TRY TO PIN IT ON THE SCHOOL,

Growing up in a private, Catholic school, I can't say that I can agree with you 100% about kids not being obsessed with fashion. Kids are going to be obsessed with it whether they are in a uniform or not. I mean, we did eventually go home and put on regular clothes and more than likely hung out with the same people we just saw at school. And even while in school, there would be girls showing off their expensive new hair highlights and designer shoes and bags; while the boys made sure they had on the the nice silk ties and name brand kakis and showed off their new mercedes' after school in the parking lot. I did spend 3 years in a public school so I've seen both sides. People may not have had the ability to wear a full outfit in private school, but you still were able to tell who the "rich" and "poor" kids were.

Tammy I like your idea much better. I don't think there is anything wrong with being sexy yet not sexually active, but at the same time it can spark self image issues, like, well I'm not sexy so I better not try to keep you waiting, you know what I mean?