School uniforms aren't a bad idea if you allow some degree of freedom. Midtowner's example from McGuiness is suitable alternative to uniforms: simply require students to wear a certain type of clothing, like solid colored shirts, and slacks.

Certain clothing, piercings, hair styles, etc. do take children's minds of of their school work.

oklacity75, what kinds of piercings do employers frown upon? I know some women who have various ear piercings apart from typical lobe piercings and they aren't too big of a turn off. Also, most navel rings aren't exposed. I consider nose rings, lip rings, eye brow rings, tongue rings, etc. to be a turn off though.