Public School Dress Code/Uniform

[va32h]

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).

Enforcement is not a problem in our school. If the child is not dressed appropriately, they are sent home to change.

I have no problems with the uniforms, although the first year I was annoyed at having to go buy all the extra clothes.

I absolutely HATE the argument that uniforms are bad because it doesn't allow kids to "express themselves". Oh boo hoo. You want to express yourself, paint a picture or write a poem. Go home and put on whatever expressive outfit you want. When you're at school, follow school rules.

Kids won't shrivel up and die if they can't express themselves via their fashion choices for six hours a day. On the contrary, far too many children are not learning the lesson that you don't always get your way, and everything is not about them and sometimes you have to comply with other people's wishes.

 

[C.Ann]

Yes - I would.. And I don't buy the inability to express ones individuality either.. Do nurses, firemen, policemen, etc., feel any "less than" or "stifled" because they have to wear a uniform?

 

[JunieJay]

I went to Catholic school from grades K-12 and hated uniforms. It was no surprise to my mother when I start applying to colleges I was mostly interested in their fashion design programs. I do think those ugly Catholic school girl uniforms is what instilled my love of fashion, so I guess it wasn't all bad!

I'd never support uniforms in the public schools...I believe kids should be able to express theirselves through what they wear if they want. My kids each have their own personal style, and its been fun helping them develop it. I'm not in favor of a dress code, either, because I think its subjective and not always universally enforced among the students.

 

[Christine]

Yes - I would.. And I don't buy the inability to express ones individuality either.. Do nurses, firemen, policemen, etc., feel any "less than" or "stifled" because they have to wear a uniform?

Actually, I think they're pretty happy every morning pulling on that uniform!!

My cousin's DD spent her whole life in parochial school in a uniform. After about 3 weeks in college, she called her mom and said "Mom, I wish they made you wear uniforms in college--I hate figuring out what I'm going to wear everyday."

 

[Crankyshank]

I absolutely HATE the argument that uniforms are bad because it doesn't allow kids to "express themselves". Oh boo hoo. You want to express yourself, paint a picture or write a poem. Go home and put on whatever expressive outfit you want. When you're at school, follow school rules.
.

Plus there's always accessories. I had to wear a uniform from K-12 and there was no shortage of self expression even with the uniform. If anything, trying to be trendy during the early Madonna years while being in Catholic school and having to adhere to a uniform policy made you more creative.

 

[jodifla]

When I was in high school, we'd always laugh at the Catholic girls in uniform we'd see at the mall. They rolled up their skirts so short it was obscene! And there we were in our jeans and T-shirts, completely covered up. They were the ones competing, not us.

I don't support uniforms. They are for lazy adults who see them as a fast way to impose order. Dress codes should be enough.

 

[Gina]

Our school district has "standardized dress" and I absolutely love it. They can wear khaki, navy, or black pants, and any color polo, dress, or turtleneck-type shirt as long as it has no logo at all. All the kids look neat and "put-together," yet still different. My son (5th grade) can wear his favorite color shirt, and it also makes it easier for kids to pick out their own outfits. Outside of a dark blue shirt with the navy pants or something, pretty much everything matches. I think it's great!!

-gina-

 

[cristit14]

I wouldn't support one. I don't really see the point. I think a dress code should be enough.

 

[left210]

I now support uniforms. My son just started Kindergarten at a private school. At first I wasnt sure if I would like it but 6 weeks into school and it is awesome. It is not about lazy adults imposing order like someone else mentioned. He takes pride in looking nice everyday with his shirt tucked in with his belt. Before wearing dress code he never wanted to wear pants with a button or hook and only wanted elastic waste pants. Now he only wants to wear his nicer clothes. Also, it is a breeze in the mornings to get him ready with the few selections he has plus I see that I will probably spend much less on clothes since you dont have to worry about wearing the same thing everyday.

Now my niece went to a public school and they had to wear uniforms. The problem there was they could still wear Tommy khaki pants or name brand polos, etc. Our dress code for elementary does not require you wear a certain brand of uniform but it cannot have any logos, emblems, etc showing on them. When they get to high school they have to wear Parker uniforms only which I suspect is to eliminate the name brand peer pressure. I agree some of the uniform stores can be expensive but I have been told their stuff does hold up longer. We are just going with the French Toast brand right now and it seems to be fine. Just got some more on clearance at Target for 75% off.

 

[powellrj]

funny this should come up today. I have been writing a letter to the editor of our local paper about this very issue. Our school system is talking about uniforms for next year. Let me give you a little backround so you understand where I am coming from.

30 years ago we were a huge GM town. Lots of union jobs, lots of extra money for schools. Money wasn't spent on upkeep, the schools were left falling apart.

When my kids first started the number of free lunches served was in the teens, now its close to 50% in just our school and we are considered one of the "better" schools. Many of the other schools in town the number is closer to 100%.

Our local school board spends $19,000 per student of tax payer $$$$. Thats right, $19,000. The state average is $9000, while the lowest is $7000. This includes money to update 2 high schools that were left in serious need of work.

Both of our local high schools, the middle and grade school my kids attend are now on probation for low test scores.

We paid almost $200 in BOOK FEES for DS in high school and $100 for dd in grade school. This does not include supplies, activity fees, field trips.....that we must pay also. This in only book fees. We are fund raised to death.

At the end of the year the kids are encouraged to donate their PE uniform which is a $5 tee shirt and a $5 pair of shorts for the kids that can't afford them for next year.

Now to raise test scores they want uniforms. Where is this money going to come from. Are you going to add to the $19,000 per student tax payers are already paying? Are you going to add it to parents who are already paying hundreds of dollars to put their kids in school?

When you already have almost 50% of you student body on free lunch, where is this money going to come from. Are we now going to have fund raisers for uniforms?

We are like most people in that the days of buying school clothes are long gone. I only buy the kids what they need as they need it. I don't know anyone that goes out and spends large amounts of money at the start of the school year for clothes. My kids each got a couple of new jeans and that was it. We will buy new things as they are needed.

Now you are asking parents who already spend $100s and tax payers who spend tens of thousands of dollars to now pay for uniforms????

These are my thoughts, I now just need to decide the best way to put them together.

This is why I am against uniforms!

 

[*Fantasia*]

I love uniforms! I can't wait to put my kids back in Catholic school this January, not for that reason though.. Uniforms are cool!

 

[DaisyD]

They tried to do this in our elementary school but most parents were against it. I don't like uniforms. If I did then I'd send my children to the private school down the road where all the kids look alike. We have always loved starting the school year by going out for new school clothes. It's a lot of fun and one tradition I want to be around awhile.

 

[claudia]

LOVED UNIFORMS!! My parents sent all of us kids (5 of us) to parochial school from kindergarten to high school. It was so easy...knew what I was wearing every day, it made life easy. I don't really recall having any feelings or ideas about it....but I do remember in HS, we did have a ton of fun teasing each other about how dorky we looked!
My parents told me it was a good financial deal for them. They bought us new uniforms every year, but then we didn't need that many everyday clothes....plus no headaches for them every morning....we knew what we were wearing!

 

[MrsPete]

It really adds up. . . . It is just not cheap.

Yes, but buying ordinary clothes adds up too. We just tend to notice the uniforms because they're purposefully purchased for school, and because we tend to make that big purchase in one lump sum.

My girls used to wear uniforms, and I spent MUCH, MUCH LESS than I spend on their clothes now. I'd buy Lands' End things, and they'd still be in good condition for the younger child. Because the things didn't go out of style, she could wear everything her older sister'd worn. The savings was huge.

Their ordinary clothes wardrobe was very small during the uniform years.

 

[MrsPete]

Yes - I would.. And I don't buy the inability to express ones individuality either.. Do nurses, firemen, policemen, etc., feel any "less than" or "stifled" because they have to wear a uniform?

I'm a teacher, and I would GLADLY wear a uniform to school every day! Just give me the choice of a jumper/skirt, or pants in school colors, and I'll be a happy camper!

 

[Talking Hands]

I'm a temporary teacher and even I wear a uniform of sorts. Black, navy or khaki slacks and a polo in any color I want. This is pretty much what all the teachers at the school I work at wear. Wide choice of colors for polos as each academy wears a different color polo plus office staff has a color they usually wear.

Makes my choice at 5:30 am easy.

 

[Aidensmom]

My son's school has uniforms, and I really am neutral on the subject. I don't mind that he has to wear them, and I wouldn't care if he didn't. The only downside I've seen so far was that during the first week of school, he came home with a big tear in one of the shirts from getting it caught on the slide and I had to go buy another one so he would have enough shirts for each day without me having to do laundry an extra time. Kids out of uniform are sent home, so there is not a problem with enforcement, and I haven't noticed any kids with outrageously expensive accessories or anything.

 

[I Love Pluto]

I'm a teacher, and I would GLADLY wear a uniform to school every day! Just give me the choice of a jumper/skirt, or pants in school colors, and I'll be a happy camper!

Couldn't agree with you more! It would be great to have a uniform!

 

[teacherforhi]

We are in the fifth year of uniforms for our district. I can immediately tell what grade a student is in and know if they're out of place (eighth graders have next to no reason to be upstairs on the eighth grade hall, for example). I don't know if that makes me lazy, but it has most definitely cut down on the number of students trying to cut class by taking the "scenic route" from Point A to Point B when changing classes.

For those that claim it takes away their ability to express themselves, I haven't noticed that they want to express themselves. They want to look exactly like their friends. They wear their hair the same way, they have the same backpacks, the same purses, the same shoes.... We're just helping them make the clothing decision.

It's non-uniform days I dread. There's a dance tomorrow after school so that means no uniforms. They will be wild all day.

 

[smartestnumber5]

I went to Catholic school until 7th grade and had uniforms and then public school (no uniforms). With my friends in Catholic school there was lots of comparing--it just happened outside of school. I still needed just as much clothing since everyday after school I took the uniform off as soon as possible. But I also needed $50 (almost a decade and a half ago) Calvin Klein--apparently that was 'in' in the mid 90s--jeans to go to the mall or birthday parties with my Catholic school friends. (Also, the enforced skirts definitely resulted in the "I have to start shaving my legs" phase way earlier than it needed to happen since every girl's legs had to be in full view everyday except in the winter when we were allowed to wear pants so as not to freeze to death.)

One day early on the bus home from public school in 8th grade I noticed the brand on the person's jeans in front of me--"Chic" (a Kmart brand back then I think). I was shocked and apalled--I couldn't believe anyone would wear a non-"cool" brand jeans with the brand visible! I felt so embarrassed for her. Until I realized it wasn't at all uncommon--it was nothing like what I had seen in Catholic School. And as I lost touch with the Catholic school friends I also stopped caring about what the label on my clothing said.

Anyway, I wouldn't support a dress code in public schools. I want to send my kids to public school to be educated--not to be forced to wear ugly, hot, uncomfortable clothing.