OT: Public school + uniforms?

[matthew&haleysmom]

My dd's school does not have any regulations on hair. I agree with the white shirts comment. My dd has ruined so many white shirts this year.

 

[ksloane]

Do they make girls cut their hair to wear uniforms or just boys?

To my knowledge, no. I've not seen anywhere that I've been that makes girls cut their hair (uniforms or not)

And I do think my big issue with this is that I feel like they are telling me how to parent.

I don't really see how this is telling you how to be a parent? I'm open for an explanation and not saying "you're wrong, I'm right." But you can still buy your kids whatever kind of clothes you want. They can still wear them to town, to shop, to church, anywere, but school, right? Again, I see both sides of this issue as a teacher and parent, and I think there are some reasons against them, but I just don't get how it telling you how to be a parent.

And perhaps if this would have been a vote I would not be as offended. It is the mandate by the school board that I have issue with. This is public school! Gosh I guess I am much more liberal than I thought. ...it has everything to do with the way the girls are dressing. But I thought that is why there is a dress code? Enforce that and there would not be need for uniforms.

It just isn't possible to spend time every day going over every students outfit to make sure it is appropriate.

You are correct mytwotinks. I teach at a public high school and try as I might, I'm positive that every day dress code violations get by me. It's not as easy as just saying "enforce." It is much more difficult than that and kids (girls) learn how to pull their shirts in a manner that just barely meets dress code, but when they are in the hall/at lunch/etc you see LOTS of skin.

Around here you could buy the uniforms at Gap Kids, Dillard's, Stage, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Goodwill, etc. It did nothing to equalize the kids. The kids who wore nice, expensive regular clothes before wore nice, expensive uniforms. That miffed some people off because their kids still weren't "equal" to the "rich" kids.

This was incorrectly called a uniform then. You can not shop everywhere for a uniform. Sounds like you had a standardized dress that still had very loose rules. My brothers went to a junior high that had "standardized dress." It did not require a specific name brand like a uniform, but it required khaki pants/skirts and certain color choices of polo shirts. They could be any brand name, but could not show any labels/identifiers on the exterior of the clothing.

How many lawyers all wear the same exact suit and is that suit appropriate for your auto mechanic?

yes, a lawyer wears a suit, a auto mechanic wears coveralls, our children's jobs are to be students, and as they turn into teenagers many will likely have part time jobs that require uniforms. And when they are expressing themselves in many of their extracurricular activities, they are volunteering to wear uniforms, can you imagine a football player saying he isn't going to look like everyone else tonight and wear his uniform? Or the marcher in the band that says he wants to be an individual tonight? How about the choir member or even the debater who has to wear a suit every weekend? (All of these give students ways to express themselves and in my opinion are much better ways to do so than their clothing) We, adults and students, volunteer to wear uniforms all the time. Whether we like it or not, uniforms are a big part of life...Not really that big of a deal. (Just my opinion)

JAVA I have to say I am with you!
Our school was thinking about going with them for the same reason posted. I think a little discipline is what is needed here. Where are the parents when they go out the door. Granted they can and do change when they get to school. Uniforms just make the principal's job easier. I think they get paid plenty of money. It won't hurt them to discipline the abusers and leave the other kids alone!

Parents frequently don't see anything wrong with their children's clothing. All parents are not as attentive as others to these type of details. Others wear it themselves so see no reason for their kids not to. The principal can not look at every child every day. I'm sure in most cases (I know at each of the school's I've been at), the principal doesn't even see a kid unless a teacher sends them to the office so I think you're placing the blame in the wrong place with the principal. (And you might be surprised with what they make. We just had an issue where I live where the teachers got state mandated raises, but not administrators. We now have teachers who will make more than the principal).

Again, these are just my opinions from inside the school system. But I'm also a parent, and in both capacities, I'm not pushing either way. In reality, I really don't care if we have them or not.

 

[NotUrsula]

Girls at DS' school do the PJ thing, too. They get away with it because the uniform code only kicks in at first bell. As soon as they step into the building the jammies have to come off, and they can't put them on again until the dismissal bell rings. Interestingly, they are allowed to wear uniform trousers at any time of year, but for some reason I have NEVER seen a girl wear the trousers; they all stick with the skirts, and do the PJ thing when it's cold.

Jackets and backpacks are the personalized things at his school; shoes and socks are mandated by the code. The boys have a regulation hair length, but the only thing mandated for girls is that their hair be neat. The rule does state that hair colors not found in nature are not allowed.

 

[sameyeyam]

Most schools with uniforms usually have a wide variety for the kids to pick from. When my daughter's school had uniforms you could pick from navy or khaki shorts; navy or khaki pants; red, white or blue shirts (polo or button front); plaid skirts, skorts or jumper dresses. Also, red, white or blue sweaters. You could purchase pants and shirts anywhere you wanted. The only thing that you had to purchase from their uniform provider was the plaid girls skirts or dresses.

Believe it or not it really made for a wide variety of outfits. The kids looked acceptable, but never really looked alike, because of all the possible combinations. They could also have a plain red, white or blue baseball cap. They had a nice variety of matching girls hair accessories in the plaid color; or you could purchase your own in matching colors.

We never had any problem and the kids seemed to complain very little.

 

[Fainfamily5]

I am a teacher and mother of 3. I too am in favor of uniforms but not to "equalize" children. When it is the day and age of light up shoes and rip off pants they can become such a distraction to the student who is wearing them and the other students around them. Do you know how many times we have to say leave the velcro strap alone or stop unzipping your pants(the leg part to make shorts) That is just in the elementary grades. I could not imagine how distracting some clothes are for upper grade students. I see it as helping to reduce distractions in the classroom. All children will never be equal or the same and that is just the way it is. They could all be dressed the same but as far as academics, personality, athletics or creativiness they are different. They are unique individuals to me. Students need to come to school to learn and know that is their job while they are there. I don't think you should take this personally though I do not feel like the school is trying to tell you how to parent your child but hopefully trying to cut down on distractions so your child can have the best education possible. Also it is sad to see kids put down because they do not have the right shoes or their shoes have holes in. Kids just crumble under this kind of bullying from their peers. Teachers try to stop it but it is hard to police everywhere. So from the other side maybe this rule will not necessarily benefit your child at this moment but it may help to improve the self esteem of a child who is not as lucky to have such a concerned parent as yourself.

 

[lucyanna girl]

A vote against uniforms here. My DD will be a freshman in high school this year and I am holding my breath that she will graduate before her school follows the trend to go to uniforms.
She did go to a school one year that had uniforms. I hated it. Around here the schools consider a uniform to be kaki pants and a polo shirt of some color. I agree with the poster who said this does not make for equality. Some children wore expensive uniforms, some did not. I was lucky enough to be able to afford good uniforms. Believe me, after a few washings there is a big difference in appearance.
Another reason I do not like uniforms is that contrary to common belief if a child is heavy or short or tall or skinny everyone being dressed alike makes the different child even more visible.


Penny

 

[Fiona R]

Wouldn't be without uniforms, nearly all state schools and certainly private schools have uniforms in England. Far more economical, as there's no stress to look different, and hence cheaper too as fewer changes required. Major thing is no thinking on my part. It has relaxed in that girls can wear plain grey trousers in winter.

They wear uniforms up tp 16 in High School here, after that it's a free for all, my eldest will be going non uniform in September, I'm dreading it as she will want an allowance rise to cover the extra costs. her uniform just passes down to the younger two, that just doesn't happen in out of school clothes once they are past 7 or so!!

 

[Mom to Jordan]

Our middle school dress code calls for kahki or black pants or knee length shorts and the grade color of polo shirt. One reason given to parents is that it is easy to spot someone out of place. If a six grader is where the 8th grader is suppose to be someone will notice right away. It also makes it easy to spot a high school kid that shows up to "visit" his 8th grade girlfriend or whatever reason.

I am getting ready to purchase 3 pairs of kahki pants, 3 of shorts, and 5 red polo shirts and a pair of tennis shoes. I will need to purchase a gym uniform when school starts as DS out grew his from last year. His solid color coat that he can wear during the day from last year still fits. Before and after school coats are not regulated. That will be it for the year as I do buy good quality and they last all year. His last year shirts are still in good shape and will go to the school for children that need assistance with uniforms. 300.00 max will outfit him for the year!

JOrdan's mom

 

[kkevcamsmom]

Here's why I would like to see uniforms at my DD15's school:

Baggy pants, hanging down to the knees almost!
Boxers hanging out of the tops of pants
Bell-bottoms so big you could fit a VW Bug in them
Low rise jeans
Thongs
Thong jewlery
low cut shirts
Belly shirts
Short skirts (barley covering the bottom when standing, nothing if the poor girl has to pick something up)
Tight clothing that looks painted on (or is it really??)
Rude/crude statements on clothing
Hats/do-rags/caps

I would love to have this stuff gone when my daughter is in school.

She is one of the smart ones, has not scored lower then a 98% on the national test since 5th grade, taking AP (advanced placement/college credit courses) in high school, so for me it's not a question of test scores, but a question of needing a decent dress code.

Lori