According to this article in the Star Tribune (I know, I know, Shakopee is out of my usual range, it’s a slow news day what can I say?) one principal believes that the best way to fight issues with enforcing dress codes is to force everyone to wear the same thing. While an overwhelming majority of parents support the idea, there are some that feel it’s a cop out.

The proposal, which would still need approval from the school board, states that students would be required to wear either black or red t-shirts and that they may be required to tuck them in. While the t-shirts have not been an issue, tucking them in has. Officials state that it would be harder for students to hide weapons or to “sag their pants,” but parents are concerned that it may hurt the feelings of overweight students. The school will sell logo t-shirts for a reasonable fee but parents are free to purchase plain red or black t-shirts themselves.

One parent finds the entire change unnecessary:

Others objected, including Jeanna Harder, who has a daughter in sixth grade. “The entire student body should not be punished because of someone else’s poor choices or because of the school’s inability” to deal with them, she said.

I don’t really know which side to go with. I understand the school’s position but after reading that quote I really do have to wonder if she’s not at least partially correct. When I was in school you followed the rules or you were punished and God knows that I spent a ton of time in detention over the years. Do these school administrators really believe that by shifting the problems away from clothing they will have a more controlled student body? Do they not realize that something else will crop up to take its place instead?

So how about you? Do you believe that a “uniform” is an effective social control tool for schools to employ or do you think that this is simply a case of administrators being unable to control the student body? How about the tucking-in idea? Should that suggestion be eliminated due to some students’ feelings being hurt? Whatever you have to say about uniforms in the schools go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear what you have to say.

Last week’s poll asking if you biked around showed that the majority do indeed ride their bikes but a good number of those responding did not. I guess if we actually had a viable way across the river more people might be inclined to give it a try.

On to this week’s poll, yeah, another baby related post, you’ll live… This time it comes only minutes after I experienced my first projectile puking. I gave my kid his vitamin D this morning which apparently I did incorrectly as he started to sputter, then cough, then gag, then finally calm down after worrying me that I nearly killed him. With a look so sweet I brought him up to snuggle him in and with a coo of excitement he happily told me what he thought of my administering the vitamin D with a pool of baby vomit which looked very similar to a container of cottage cheese in a triumvirate of color, consistency and volume.

Now, what many of you may not realize is my utter disdain for everything puke related. This particular issue was my number one fear as a parent–having puke fly all over me and me, in turn, gag and then puke my leftover Galaxie Diner Cajun Breakfast special all over the floor. While I was lucky enough to avoid puking the instant it happened, my mouth hanging ajar in pure shock that it had taken 1.5 months before it happened to me calling loudly for my wife in a confused state, I soon overcame the adrenaline of the first few moments and regained my composure. As I was washing my freshly donned Walt Disney World sweatshirt before spraying it with Shout, I finally had the gagging fit I deserved from the get go. Hanging my head over the sink and praying it would cease, it finally did only to be repeated twice more as I sprayed even more that I had missed just moments before with Shout.

Yum. I can’t wait to do it again.

So, how about you? Can you handle puke baby or otherwise or are you one of the biggest wimps in the world like me? Do you just gag or does the full Monty come out when you are exposed to it? Will I just eventually get used to it and be able to deal or is this something (like it has been for my entire life) I will always have to fight as I watch my kid lose his lunch?

1. Valley Natural Foods has organic seeds for sale. The seeds provided by High Mowing Seeds are noted as being an independantly-owned, farm-based seed company dedicated to supporting sustainable agriculture and providing farmers and gardeners with the highest quality certified organic seed.

I need to start getting my planting ready early this year. We were a bit late last year and with the crappy weather all summer (cold) we did not get the yield we had hoped for. What are you planning on growing in your home gardens this year?

2. An excellent writeup of the Burnsville Perfomring Arts Center citizen advisory board by Thisweek’s John Gessner.

I watched the meeting myself and was absolutely shocked at how the council handled the situation. The staff provided them with a few options and instead of coming ready to discuss them, it was as if they hadn’t even taken the time to read through what was provided. Then the mayor decided she was going to lead a self-appointed task force of her and Mary Sherry (the last two people I’d like see working on anything of importance) to do some more work before a future meeting which will determine the fate of a bunch of poor people who will take the political heat while the council pretends their hands are clean.

3. The Star Tribune reports more about the Burnsville/Savage water issue. The best part of this story, which is the same dead horse they’ve all been beating for way too long, are the comments such as this gem:

Get rid of Betty

Kautz has to go, too many screw ups, she just loves to spend and cut ribbons. Maybe she should go work at Michaels.

posted by miracleman1 on Mar. 10, 10 at 9:46 PM

Personally I’m tired of the story and I have a feeling it will never be fixed even after Burnsville sinks even more money into it. Sucks to be you Savage and Burnsville residents.

4. A great shot of some cattails next to a lake in Eagan. Another of the recent full moon and blue sky out of Lakeville.

5. Thisweek writes about the possibility of a natural gas fired power plant, which was turned down by another Minnesota city, in Rosemount.

6. The Minnesota Sun reports that Dakota County spent $300,000 on a high-end video conferencing system which makes it easier for employees to communicate between the regional centers. This will supposedly save on travel costs and make training and communication easier between Apple Valley, Hastings, and West St. Paul.

Personally I think it should be used solely for Dakota County residents called to jury duty. I should not have to drive to Hastings with as little money as they provide you per diem, when the county employees don’t. Right?

By the way, the reason I haven’t been linking to the Sun’s content lately is because their website (and its feeds) are entirely too difficult to navigate and/or subscribe to. I used to have a hacked feed which no longer operates and their own system is pretty crappy so I have to manually check what they offer–and I forget–a lot.

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That’s it for this week’s roundup. I’m mainly interested in your gardening for 2010 and your thoughts on a natural gas fired power plant in Rosemount. Is it necessary? Will it pass? If it didn’t work in the previous city, why will it work in Rosemount? Whatever you have to say about any of the topics above go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear your thoughts!