school dress code/ uniforms....kinda long

[stitchlovestink]

Okay, I have a question regarding public schools and uniforms and NO flames please!
About 5 years ago, our county's public school system instituted a fairly stringent dress code. IMO, nothing that was unreasonable, except regarding footware and they have since adjusted those guidelines. Personally, I like the dress code. No skin showing from the armpit to fingertip length of arms extended downward (so shorts/skirts must be at least fingertip length), no spaghetti strap shirts, no low pants w/ underwear showing, no shirts showing cleavage, no pj's/loungewear items etc... I really don't think anything they instituted was unreasonable. )
Okay, but here's the problem....the county is talking about mandatory uniforms for all students This is where I do not want to get flamed. If someone else likes this, I am fine with that. But why should I be forced to buy uniforms for my kid when they are going to a public school that my tax dollars are paying to operate? If they would enforce the rules at ALL of the schools, uniforms wouldn't be necessary. Appearantly, some administrations are kinda turning a blind eye to the infractions at their schools.
I know someone (or many) are going to tell me why they love uniforms. And that is fine for them. But part of the reason I have no interest in sending my kids to private school is because of uniforms. I have never worked (nor would work) at a job that required a uniform. Guess that means no job at WDW for me!!
My DD's are extremely hard to fit and I don't feel like having to pay an arm and a leg for uniforms. Don't get me wrong, my girls have generous wardrobes (but I bargain shop). I don't want to HAVE to do laundry b/c one of them is out of uniforms. I am very much against this (in case you didn't notice ) Anyone, had any experience w/ their school district trying to institute mandatory uniforms and what was the outcome? Were there parents who challenged the system? Was the policy enforcible? If so, how did they do it? Personally, I think if the kids have to wear uniforms, the teachers should too. I've seen more than one teacher dressed slovenly (sp?) on a school day (and I'm not talking PE teacher either )
Thanks for letting me vent and giving me info regarding how other districts handled this. I will very strongly consider homeschooling if they do pass this new rule. I am that against uniforms for me and my kids. If others like them thats okay. But, I should not be forced to conform b/c some people don't want to do their job of enforcing the rules that have been put into place.
Rant over, thanks for listening....

 

[stm61]

sorry, but I love uniforms and have been trying to convince the schools here to adopt a policy. I know you didn't want to hear that, but I couldn't resist lol. Anyway, I taught in 2 districts that required uniforms. They weren't typical private school uniforms, they were just certain colors of any brand, with exclusions such as no jeans or sweat pants. For ex: shirts were white or maroon, pants were black or khaki, but parents could buy any brand that met the color requirements. Teachers were not required to wear the uniform, but most of us decided to wear the school colors anyway. The reason the schools went with uniforms were because parents were not following the rules. You would not believe the belly shirts, spaghetti straps, offensive sayings, daisy dukes, and pants hanging down that parents sent their kids to school in, and that included the early elemenatary grades! No amount of phone calls home, detention, sending kids home to change, etc, made any difference. I can't count the number of kids who would show up in class with shorts rolled up to their butts or shirts tied up or unbuttoned. They'd be sent to the office where the shorts were suddenly unrolled and shirts untied and buttoned. Leave the office and they miraculously undo themselves by they time the kid returns to class with a note from the office saying there's nothing wrong with what they're wearing. The schools adopted the uniform policy as a last resort. We did have another great benefit from the uniforms: less fighting, theft, and better test scores! Seems the uniforms eliminated alot of problems with name brand expensive items being stolen, no more teasing of kids who can't afford the top dollar items, and less attention to who was looking cool that day so they paid more attention to their classwork!

 

[ameraumi]

Some schools have a uniform that is really just a "strict dress code". Khaki pants/shorts/skirts, polo shirts, plain sweaters and sweatshirts. These items can be bought at Target, Walmart, Kmart, Gymboree, Children's Place, Old Navy, Lands End...

Indianapolis Public schools just went to this kind of uniform. They gave the parents an extra few weeks after school started to get the items on the list. I live outside of that area, but it is my understanding a parent filed a lawsuit against IPS. I think that was a bit much.

I personally wish our public school would go to a dress code like I mentioned. DS had one at the private school he attended a few years ago and it was heaven. I bought 5 pairs of pants, 5 shorts, and 5 polo shirts. I added a sweatshirt for the winter. I bought his clothes at ON or from the overstocks at Lands End. No fighting over what to wear in the mornings, no fighting over the "brands" as no one could really tell what you had one, and it was a heck of a lot cheaper! Granted, with girls you have the added costs of jumpers, skorts, and skirts.

I guess I see nothing wrong with a strict dress code. Most work places expect you to conform to a dress code so why shouldn't schools?

 

[sabrinadv1]

To the OP I am with you on this one. I am so worried our school district is going to do this. I know kids get picked on because they can't afford the top name of the day, but I also think that in most normal circumstances this is good for the children. The real world sucks and that's the truth of it. If we protect them from everything growing up they are not going to know how to handle anything when they are grown. Also to me the clothes are a way to express their personality. It let's them be individuals and hopefully become more comfortable with who they are by being different. If you make all of their decisions for them I think you turn them into robots just following their programing. I know I am probably going to get flamed for these statements but I'm with you I can't stand the thought of uniforms.

 

[Mason7AK]

Our school district just went to uniforms this school year - school starts on Monday! I have a Kindergartner, a 1st grader, and a high school freshman. The two little ones were extremely easy to shop for and I had a choice of places to shop for them - everything from Target, to Academy, to Gymboree. The school uniforms here consist of navy or white tops that have to have collars and buttons and can be polos or blouses or shirts. Pants can be black, khaki color, or navy. They are not brand specific. My high school DD bought all her clothing off the rack at her usual shopping places (she likes Aeropostle, Hollister, Hot Topic, etc). She was a little bummed at her limited color choices, but managed to find everything she needed just fine. I was not in favor of the uniforms at first, but now that shopping for all three of my kids is done, I am seeing that it really is no big deal and did not affect the way we shop at all. We stayed within our budget and had no problems finding the items.
That said, I will say that for the high school especially, I am glad they went to uniforms, because the kids have to wear pants at or just below the waist, no bare belly, have to wear belts, no flip flops, and no spagetti straps or tank tops, etc. The boys can not wear baggy pants or cargo pants either. I think the kids will look nice and don't have to worry about my older DD wanting to dress immodestly like a lot of her peers did last year!!
Angela

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

My older 2 attend a public charter school that has a uniform similiar to what's mentioned above (a really strict dress code). Basically tops can be white, navy, light blue or forest green. Pants, shorts, skirts, capris can be khaki or navy. No logos, sequins, etc.

I LOVE it mainly because my dd is soo insanely picky. Now every single thing in her drawers matches. Any bottom goes with any top. Makes getting dressed in the mornings so much nicer. We still shop at the exact same stores... Old Navy, Gymboree, Gap, Target, Children's Place. Old Navy seems to really understand that more and more schools are doing this. I find lots of cute (ie, not just standard polo and button down) tops for dd that are stylish and yet within dress code.

The kids still find plenty of ways to express their personality in their dress. I still shop within my budget. I don't see any negatives at this point (our 2nd year of uniforms).

 

[mamalle]

god- I love it if my kids school would require a dress code. most of the schools in the district do but for some reason the parents voted it down when this school opened. Im all for generic pants, skirts, shorts and polo tops! makes it so much easier. some of the clothing that kids are wearing today in elementary school is unbelievable. I do have to fight on occasion with dd on what to wear to school. Thank goodness for middle school since they do require uniforms. I dont see a money issue at all with uniforms anymore since they are everywhere down here now. Plus the fact it would probably save me money since dd has expensive tastes! she still could wear some of her outfits to express herself just not 5 days a week.. hope you find a solution to this issue!

 

[Tissa]

Very happy with the standardized dress in our district. Jeans or khakis with a belt and a red, white or navy polo shirt. So easy to dress them and I do not have to worry about buying the latest fad.

 

[kbkids]

Our school sent out a survey a couple of years ago to see how parents felt about, and it was voted down by a large margin. I don't like the idea of uniforms either. Our schools enforce the dress codes we do have (similar to the ones you stated previously), and I don't feel that we have a need for uniforms. I don't know that I'd go so far as to say that we'd homeschool if they instituted it, but I know that vast majority of the parents would not be happy. I don't like wearing the same thing every day, nor would I want to be dressed like everyone else everyday. I don't think the kids should have to do it either.

 

[DonnaL]

All three of my children attended public school in PA and while my first two were in school (they're 20 something's now) our district did not have a uniform policy. When my youngest (18 and just graduated in June....starting at PSU on Monday) was in 5th grade uniforms were instituted at the grade school level and over a three year time span went district wide to the high school level. I can honestly say, having experienced both.......I love the uniform concept. Our uniform is basically a golf shirt in school colors (red, navy, or white) with the school name and mascot embroidered on the chest and khaki or navy Docker type pants (no cargo pockets, etc.). In winter, they can wear a solid long sleeve T or turtleneck in the same colors under the golf shirt or you can also purchase crew neck sweaters/ oxford button down with emblem. Girls can wear same or they also have skorts or jumpers if they choose in either khaki or navy. Everyone looks the same and as far as proper fit goes.......everything comes in a multitude of sizes. As far as cost goes, it's been FAR LESS expensive to purchase uniforms vs. regular clothing for school. I believe the school also has a policy for families with several children or some who are less fortunate and really can't afford to purchase even a few uniforms.......not sure how it works, but, I know a policy exists. The uniforms are not purchased through the district, but, there are several stores in the area who carry the uniform shirts for all the districts in the area (I believe there is only one or two public districts in the entire area that have not gone to the uniform concept). Pants can also be purchased there or anywhere of your choosing......as long as they meet the criteria. As a high schooler my son got his pants from Aeropostle, Gap, American Eagle, etc., as did most high school kids.

 

[irishprincess]

I would love our school to have uniforms. No fighting with my daughters over what to wear in the morning. I also have a teen going to 9th grade, and hear all the time that she is afraid to wear things someone else bought and wore before she did. They call them "posers" that would be taken care of they would all look the same and all would be posers
anywhoo; I think another problem of parents should be watching what their children wear, and the school should enforce it, I would think (and have heard) of male teachers afraid to say anything about some of the girls outfits, the girls then carry on that the teacher is picking on them or why are they looking at them like that. then the parents called enraged, so some male teachers in our district have to call a female teacher and have them turn them in. Just the world we live in today.

 

[t-and-a]

My DS10's public school (5th and 6th grade) has a khaki or navy pants, shorts (or skirts, skorts, or jumpers for girls), red, navy or white polo or button down shirt dress code. It's sometimes a challenge to find my son's size in the pants, he's a little on the husky side and everything is always too long. It was really hard to find them for my older son when he attended that school, because he is really tall and skinny, and I could never find anything long enough that would fit him in the waist (think 10 slim waist, 16 length). My boys don't like uniforms, and frankly I would rather not have to buy them since they want regular clothes too, it's really more expensive to have to go by the dress code. I would feel a little differently if they would allow them to wear khakis in a cargo style, but the pants or shorts can't have any pockets on the back (except for the almost invisible style pockets).

They do look nice in the uniforms, but another thing that I need to add is that most of the pants don't hold up to boys who are rough on the knees like jeans would. My older son went through so many pairs of khaki pants due to holes in the knees!!!

 

[starbaby0103]

i don't have kids, but i am definately with the OP! as someone not too far out of high school, i think uniforms are awful!

i definately "get it" when it comes to concerns about fads/name brands/modesty reasons, but i think it should be up to the parents to have those discussions with their kids. my mom & i definately had disagreements about what i wanted to wear, but we shopped sale racks and had many "talks" about what was appropriate & where....i don't see why my freedom of choice should be limited because of others. maybe i'm just sensitive abt the issue b/c i've always been a major clotheshorse!

and btw, i've never understood the saving money argument? in effect, aren't you forcing parent to buy 2 wardrobes? i know for sure that if we had uniforms, then i would NOT wear it to afterschool activities, church, weekend events, etc....a co-worker of mine recently went through this. one of her daughters is now attending a uniform school & their back to school shopping bill definately increased.

 

[stitchlovestink]

i don't have kids, but i am definately with the OP! as someone not too far out of high school, i think uniforms are awful!

i definately "get it" when it comes to concerns about fads/name brands/modesty reasons, but i think it should be up to the parents to have those discussions with their kids. my mom & i definately had disagreements about what i wanted to wear, but we shopped sale racks and had many "talks" about what was appropriate & where....i don't see why my freedom of choice should be limited because of others. maybe i'm just sensitive abt the issue b/c i've always been a major clotheshorse!

and btw, i've never understood the saving money argument? in effect, aren't you forcing parent to buy 2 wardrobes? i know for sure that if we had uniforms, then i would NOT wear it to afterschool activities, church, weekend events, etc....a co-worker of mine recently went through this. one of her daughters is now attending a uniform school & their back to school shopping bill definately increased.

Thank you for understanding where I am coming from!!!
I have one DD in Middle school and one DD in high school. I do feel that it is my responsibility to teach them what is appropriate and the school board set parameters w/ the dress code. But deal w/ the parents who are ignoring or allowing their kids to ignore the dress code. Make the parents come and p/u their kids when they break the rules, give 'em a Sat detention for breaking the rules (here in our county, if they don't show up for a Sat detention, there'd better be a good reason and proof (trip to the ER, etc) or it's an automatic 5 day suspension), 2 warnings and on the 3rd violation suspend them (here if it's under a 10 day suspension, you don't have any appeal at all). There are ways to deal w/ the problems, but the uniforms is a cop out.
My older DD is 6 feet tall and is heavy. We already have a hard time finding Church clothes (dress pants that are long enough, skirts that are long enough). She would look terrible in a jumper or short plaid skirt. Want to talk about being made fun of . at one of the local Catholic private high schools here in our area, the girls wear the skirts...they are short!!!! I would never let my DDs' wear a skirt that short.
It will not save me money as I will be very limited as to where I can find these specific items for my DDs. They are both 'full' figured. Plus I will still have to buy them the casual clothes (which btw they are not allowed to wear to church like many others do, but now that's a whole 'nother thread )
I do try to teach my kids to follow the rules, but I gotta say that I will be 'bucking' the system on this one if it goes thru. I will research what the consequences will be for them, but I'm not going to just roll over and let them make every decision for my kids.
Again, if others like it, that's fine (for them), but it should be optional not a requirement of a public institution. I'd be curious to see how they end up dressing when they start college and the rules are extremely lax. Next thing you know there'll be a dress code for entering all public buildings.

 

[ameraumi]

As for buying 2 sets of clothes, yes and no. DS wore his school dress clothes to church and other family outings that required him to look nice. Since he did not have anything embroidered on his shirts, it worked. He did have 2 sets of clothes, but my children have school clothes and play clothes as it is now, so that really does not change.

I'm sorry, but I laugh every time I hear "my tax money fund the public school". I pay taxes to fund the public schools too, yet I still have to pay high book fees to "rent" the school books and buy supplies for the classroom. "Public Schools" does not have the same meaning it once did.

 

[Tissa]

i don't have kids, but i am definately with the OP! as someone not too far out of high school, i think uniforms are awful!

i definately "get it" when it comes to concerns about fads/name brands/modesty reasons, but i think it should be up to the parents to have those discussions with their kids. my mom & i definately had disagreements about what i wanted to wear, but we shopped sale racks and had many "talks" about what was appropriate & where....i don't see why my freedom of choice should be limited because of others. maybe i'm just sensitive abt the issue b/c i've always been a major clotheshorse!

and btw, i've never understood the saving money argument? in effect, aren't you forcing parent to buy 2 wardrobes? i know for sure that if we had uniforms, then i would NOT wear it to afterschool activities, church, weekend events, etc....a co-worker of mine recently went through this. one of her daughters is now attending a uniform school & their back to school shopping bill definately increased.

No my back to school bill did not increase because my boys did not get new everyday clothes too. They still wore the same ones they had during the summer. There is no need for new ones right now. Kids are in school to learn not to show off the latest fashions. They can pick what they want to wear outside of school.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

StitchlovesTink: Do you know what uniform would be? As I said before ours is more like a strict dress code than traditional uniform. My kids don't wear jumpers or pleated skirts (could but don't) and they can wear cargos, dd has cargo capris she wears all the time and everything ds has is cargo. Shirts don't have to be collared either. DS has some polos, but lots of pocket tees and plain tees, in the winter he can layer longsleeve white tees under short sleeve tees (really popular in non uniform schools here). Dd wears peasant tops, baby doll tops, tees, etc, just in the right colors and without logos or "flash" on them. Ds just started k and out of his regular wardrobe, prior to school shopping, I found 4 pairs of shorts and a number of shirts he already had that met uniform. My kids really don't look "in uniform" outside of school. So we don't have the issues of needing 2 wardrobes. The kids have a few things they can't wear to school, but by and large they don't change after school, and no one can tell.

Just wondering, because public schools that do uniform here are more like this, so maybe it wouldn't be as bad as you are imagining.

 

[jessica52877]

It concerns me that even public schools are now "teaching" kids to conform! We are America, land of the free, and yes, there should be limits, but it seems we are trying to be turned into robots. We are not all the same when it comes to work ethic or work produced, and so many other things, why is everyone trying to make us the same!

It is like saying everyone is going to make $100 a week, period, no matter what you do, no matter how many hours you work.

 

[MM27]

I would think (and have heard) of male teachers afraid to say anything about some of the girls outfits, the girls then carry on that the teacher is picking on them or why are they looking at them like that. then the parents called enraged, so some male teachers in our district have to call a female teacher and have them turn them in. Just the world we live in today.

I've had male teachers at my school ask me or another female teacher to talk to girls about their outfits. Too risky these days for the males with female students.

My school started mandatory uniforms a few years ago and although there was some resistance at first, the parents seem to love it now. It's a district wide thing, so if a parent wants their child to be exempt, they have to address the issue with the superintendent and they have to have a pretty good reason. Students that don't wear uniforms are sent home with a letter informing the parents of the policy and the child misses recess that day. If it becomes a constant problem, they could be left out of field trips, assemblies, other school functions. Now before anyone says that it's not the kids fault, please understand that my school has a huge closet filled with uniforms in every size imaginable for kids that either can't afford them or if they are short on parts. Our secretary takes old uniforms from parents that are willing to donate and she takes them home and washes and irons them.

I would absolutely LOVE it if they allowed teachers to follow the uniform policy as well. How nice would that be if I could wear khakis and a polo shirt to school every day. I usually try to match the kids when we have our class picture done because the picture looks so good when the whole class is in the same color.

 

[emma'smom]

I would love it if my dd's private school had uniforms. It would be so easy to shop and dress her. I have actually bought a lot of things from the "uniform" sections of the Gap and Gymboree because they are just simple, practical clothing (like khaki skorts and white blouses).


When I used to teach school in a very low income area, the uniforms were a lifesaver because they could easily be handed down and, if the child only had one or two jumpers, no one really ever knew because they could just wash them and wear them again. If they had one pair of, say, red pants with blue flowers on them, it would be pretty obvious how often they were worn and that the child didn't have many things to wear.