Public School Dress Code/Uniform

[AKLRULZ]

Would you support a strict public school dress code or even uniforms? Why or why not?

 

[Charade]

 

[Savsmommy]

My DD6 goes to a wonderful Public School and they have uniforms. Fridays are dress down days and they can wear what they want. So, yes I would support it.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

My 6th grader has a strict dress code. He complained all summer about having to tuck in his shirt and wear a belt.

I noticed on Sat. when he got up, he had his shirt tail tucked in his pants and was wearing his belt. It's a good thing!

 

[frndofpooh]

Absolutely. As Fernando Llamas used to say, "looking good is feeling good!"

 

[angipoo]

DD (7) goes to public school in Louisiana and we love the dress code - no "what'll I wear?" in the mornings and I don't have to worry about her good clothes getting dirty (I don't know what those kids are doing, but mine almost always comes home with stained or spotted shirts).
It also levels the playing field - those who don't want to spend $80 for a certain brand of jeans.
Finally, it keeps the kid's minds on work, not fashion!
Just my take on the subject

 

[Tazicket]

I never liked the idea of uniforms. There will always be something to compare/compete over and if clothing isn't it anymore, it'll just switch to something else. They tried to get a uniform thing going in public schools during my senior year of high school and my parents opted me out of it (which was an option the school district allowed). It failed due to the really high number of opt outs.

 

[pigletz]

As long as it's enforced. I work at a school that has a dress code. Over the last couple of years they had relaxed it a little each year. For example one year they said the kids could wear tennis shoes as long as they were white or black and last year they added black jeans. Well this year they went back to the stricter dress code (no jeans, tennis shoes, shirts must have a collar and be tucked in etc). The problem is they don't enforce it. There are absolutely no consequences if a student is out of dress code. If you send a student that is completely out of dress code to the office (what the principal told us to do) they send them back and tell you to keep them in class. However if the principal walks into your room and a kid is out of dress code you get screamed at in front of the kids. Of course I call home and send reminders but there's not much else I can do. I don't dress the kids in the morning. Next year our dress code is supposed to be even stricter. I know the boys will be required to wear red and black striped ties and they're eliminating capris for the girls.

 

[Christine]

I love uniforms but it has been my experience that the public schools have a very hard time enforcing it (as they do with most things). If you cannot obtain 100% compliance, then it just doesn't work like it is intended.

 

[aunt kelly]

Both of my kids went to a public elementary school and wore uniforms from their first day of preschool until they "graduated" from fifth grade and went on to middle school. Now they are at a private middle school where there is a dress code, but no uniform.

I miss the uniforms. It was so much cheaper (how many pairs of navy and kakhi pants do you need? ) It was so much faster getting ready in the mornings (it didn't take long to decide whether to wear the white shirt w/ the kakhi pants or the navy pants). Also, the kids always looked presentable.

Can you tell I'm a fan of school uniforms?

 

[Christine]

I guess I'll go a little off topic here, but our uniforms are on the pricey side in my opinion.

I do buy 5 pairs of navy blue pants for my son because I only want to wash once a week. Each pair of pants is $24.00. We then have a summer uniform which allows for a polo shirt (with the school crest on it). I only buy 3 of these and I wash mid-week. They are about $18 each. Then in the winter, they must wear an oxford shirt with either a V-neck sweater or sweater vest over it and a tie. I buy 3 ties for the year (at 7.00 each). The sweater vest is $28 (I have two) and the shirts are $17.00 a piece. It really adds up.

I've tried to buy the cheaper version of the shirts and pants at Kohl's and they don't last nearly as long or look as nice as the ones from the uniform store.

And then there is my daughter. Her wrap around kilt is $41.00. Fortunately, I was able to find 3 used skirts. Then she has polos/oxfords/sweaters and sweatshirts.

It is just not cheap.

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

I love uniforms. Two of my children wear uniforms. Khaki bottoms and school color polo style shirt. It makes mornings so easy. IMO it's a good thing.

 

[wendy46001]

I never liked the idea of uniforms. There will always be something to compare/compete over and if clothing isn't it anymore, it'll just switch to something else.

I totally agree...nothing bothers me more then seeing a kid walking around middle school/high school with a 300 dollar backpack or 200 dollar shoes because their parents feel this is the only way they get to express themselves...

 

[VSL]

I'm pretty sure that all schools in the UK - at least at age 11-16 - have uniforms.

Shirt, tie, trousers/skirts, black shoes, etc. - dominant colours tend to be white and navy, sometimes dark red.

 

[Beth76]

My 6th grader has a strict dress code. He complained all summer about having to tuck in his shirt and wear a belt.

I would not support uniforms, but would support a dress code. Not the one mentioned above though. More along the lines of no inappropriate sayings on shirts and no mid-driffs, that sort of thing. Which I suppose is what my school has now.

 

[Charade]

I never liked the idea of uniforms. There will always be something to compare/compete over and if clothing isn't it anymore, it'll just switch to something else. They tried to get a uniform thing going in public schools during my senior year of high school and my parents opted me out of it (which was an option the school district allowed). It failed due to the really high number of opt outs.

You'll still have that but it does indeed remove that particular problem. If you can remove a problem, why not do it? Just because they'll find something else to compare/compete over isn't a valid excuse IMO. Perhaps they will learn to make less comparisons about each other since they now look the same.

 

[lovemickeya]

LOVE uniforms!!

Dont have to worry about what to wear and the laundry is E-Z.

 

[Christine]

You'll still have that but it does indeed remove that particular problem. If you can remove a problem, why not do it? Just because they'll find something else to compare/compete over isn't a valid excuse IMO. Perhaps they will learn to make less comparisons about each other since they now look the same.

I agree. My kids have been involved with "uniform" schools for the past 4-5 years. I have never, personally, witnessed them "competing" within the uniform standards. Maybe because their uniform standards are so strict. No body has a "better" white polo shirt than another person. They don't search for "high status" knee socks either. I just haven't seen that done.

The only time they begin to flaunt any type of stuff is when they are given "out of uniform" days.

 

[fabshelly]

Alice's school uniform consists of: jeans or pants, or a long skirt, and the school t-shirt, which is available in black or charcoal, also black long sleeve but this is Hawaii. No need.

I don't see any 200.00 backpacks nor shoes. I see kids relying more on their personalities to get along than what they can buy. I'm glad my daughter doesn't have to put up with the designer clothes fashion contest I had to as a kid.

 

[Tazicket]

You'll still have that but it does indeed remove that particular problem. If you can remove a problem, why not do it? Just because they'll find something else to compare/compete over isn't a valid excuse IMO. Perhaps they will learn to make less comparisons about each other since they now look the same.

But is it really removing a problem if it just filters it to something else? I can see the logic of uniforms, I've just never been a supporter due to the extra expense and the fact that I don't believe they really accomplish anything. JMO.