school uniforms, yay or nay?

[AmazingGrace]

I've been looking at homes to rent in San Antonio. Some of the schools in the district we're looking at, have something called standardized dress. A solid color polo shirt with khakis, either a jumper, skort, walking shorts or pants. At the middle schools, only collared shirts, tucked into pants with belts are acceptable. At first i was taken aback. LOL! No more gymboree!!! But then the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. I've always thought that school uniforms look neater than "civilan clothes" and with society being so status oriented, it alleviates some of the haves vs. the have nots. Plus, I think it'll teach my kids to maybe take pride in their appearance.
What are your opinions on this??

 

[Christine]

You're going to get all kinds of conflicting info on it--especially when it comes to the status stuff. Despite uniforms, kids still find a way to "express" their status.

However, I will say that uniforms are very easy and I enjoyed the years that my DD was in Catholic school and wore them. It was just so simple. There was absolutely NO discussions, power struggles, whatever, when it came to what they were wearing to school.

Do the uniforms make them smarter, more self-confident, and equalized? I don't know.

 

[Pooh93]

Love 'em

 

[Marseeya]

I have mixed feelings on it.

I think it's a good idea -- there's no nonsense, worrying about kids dressing provocatively or inappropriately. I personally would like the convenience of it, and not having to argue with my kids that what they're wearing isn't appropriate for one reason or another ( DD would wear fluffy frilly dresses every day of the year if I'd let her )

I don't think it's a good idea -- it doesn't work to equalize kids, as they'll find any reason to pick on their peers. I think it can actually put a burden on some poor parents who have to buy both a uniform and street clothes. I think kids should be allowed to express their individuality.

 

[lewdyan1]

I am super happy now that my children's school follows a uniform policy.
Everytime they ask to not wear a uniform, I tell them to speak to the principal and if he says it's okay, then it's fine with me. They never have the guts to ask him.

 

[DVCLiz]

This is our dress code, too. I LOVE it - both girls have had it all the way through 8th grade. High school is plenty of time to "express your individuality" (and boy!! do they ever!!!) but for elementary and middle school it was (is) great to be able to have some guidelines about length of skirts, tucked in shirts, belts, etc. I just really like it so much - no fighting about school clothes!!! And it hasn't been any more expensive -in fact, we've bought fewer "dress code" clothes because they can be worn over and over without the need for a lot of "new" outfits. Then I have money to spend on a few out of school thigns, and I can splurge a little in that area since there are relatively few times when they actually wear "play" clothes. My girls don't usually change out of their school clothes after school, though, unless they are doing a sport or gymnastics.

This has been great for our family!!!!

 

[we3disneygo]

my dd is going to a private Christian school this year and there is a dress code, but they are thinking of going to uniforms next year.....she's not to thrilled but......
I think it would be so much easier to get ready in the am. and not to mention school clothes shopping!!

 

[Disney Doll]

I wore one for 12 years and liked it. Made it easy & quick to get dressed in the morning. Leveled the playing field for kids who maybe didn't have as much money as other kids and couldn't afford to buy all the "latest" fashions, and was ultimately cheaper for my parents. Basically, they used to buy me 2 skirts, 5 blouses and 2 sweaters, instead of buying 25 pairs of jeans, every cute, stylish top that came along and multiple pairs of shoes. I was a pretty middle-class kid growing up, and my parents scrimped and saved so I could go to a Catholic High School, and I always thought the uniforms did equalize people a little. As far as expressing individuality...well, they have enough time to do that after school. And based on some of the kids I see running around in my area and what they are wearing, they are quite "individual"...they are a bunch of "individuals" all weariong low rider jeans, midriff tops, belly button rings, a tattoo on their lower back, a ton of make-up and "Lindsay Lohan" hair. I love how kids "express their individuality" by all dressing exactly alike.

Uniforms are a big outlay of $$ right at the beginning, but my mother always said they were cheaper in the long run.

Plus they take the focus off "looks" a little bit, which God knows we need in this day and age!!!!!!

 

[goofy4tink]

I have three kids....32, 29 and 12! I only wish that the schools had had some kind of uniform. Sure, the kids like to be able to express themselves creatively, but from what I've seen in the schools, they have gone over the line!!! Even my dd's 6th grade class has some pretty outrageous outfits!! I'm sure it can be pretty distracting in class. I see nothing wrong with polo shirts, khakis (shorts, skorts, pants). Sure would make getting dressed in the morning easier. There is plenty of opportunity to express yourself after school.

 

[diznygirl]

9 years of Catholic school and the uniform DID NOT level the playing field between the haves and the have-nots.

Uniforms DO make it easier to enforce a dress-code at school, and for kids to get ready in the morn, and for parents to shop for school clothes. I agree that it may seem an expensive outlay at first, but that it is less expensive overall.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Personally, I liked having a uniform (once I got over the fact that they were ugly green polyester ). It made getting ready in the morning a snap -- I never had to worry about what I was wearing.

I agree with others, however, they don't do anything as far as have and have-nots and often, they don't necessarily help with provocative dress (there's always ways to "modify" the uniform and get away with it ), but overall, I liked it as a kid.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

My DS goes to a Catholic school and he wears uniforms. I love it. No fight on what to wear everyday. Its great! They have a dress down day once or twice a month, plus on gym days they wear their sweats or shorts to school, so there is some variety.

 

[r3ngels]

Love them... with 3 girls we have no clothing fights (for school) .

 

[chasbos]

Love them! DD started Gr 9 this year in a Catholic School and the are wonderful. And believe it or not she looks different every day.

Now my other 3 are in a private Christian School and I wish they would adopt a uniform policy!

It sure makes home life easier!

 

[punkin]

I hate them. My older daughter had them in 2nd grade and they were made of cheap polyester that did not breathe. Awful. Now my younger daughter has a uniform and the quality is marginally better, but I hate it anyway. I want my child to look different and stand out. This cloning is only indicative of the cookie cutter approach to learning anyway.

As an aside, I had to wear a uniform in 1st and 2d grade (we were not living in US and it was country-wide) and do not remember hating it. My kids are OK with uniforms too.

 

[robinb]

Nay.

My DD's school does not have uniforms and I like it that way. It gives children a sense of individuality. That being said, I can see some advantages of uniforms. They put all children on the same dress level reguardless of income. It would also be easier for me, as a parent, to dress my DD every day.

 

[Tissa]

I have two boys and we have standardized dress as well. I think it's great because the only choice they have to make is what color of shirt they want to wear that day, red, white or blue. The only problem I have is that their elementary school now requires the uniform on picture day when they used to be able to wear regular clothes Unless they change their hair or loose a tooth it's the exact same picture. I asked why this had changed and was told so may kids were coming in clothes that were not appropirate that they spent most of the day making them go change. This is elementary school my boys still wear what I tell them to wear
Oh and it doesn't put the kids on an equal playing field. You can tell the difference in the expensive uniform clothes and the cheap ones. They also get to wear what ever shoes they want.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

I wish we had them! There would be alot less need for the kids to "compete"
on who has the "coolest" clothes.

 

[r3ngels]

I have two boys and we have standardized dress as well. I think it's great because the only choice they have to make is what color of shirt they want to wear that day, red, white or blue. The only problem I have is that their elementary school now requires the uniform on picture day when they used to be able to wear regular clothes Unless they change their hair or loose a tooth it's the exact same picture. I asked why this had changed and was told so may kids were coming in clothes that were not appropirate that they spent most of the day making them go change. This is elementary school my boys still wear what I tell them to wear
Oh and it doesn't put the kids on an equal playing field. You can tell the difference in the expensive uniform clothes and the cheap ones. They also get to wear what ever shoes they want.

I would hate that on picture day... especially when the picture packages can get expensive.

 

[froglady]

DS's school instituted uniforms for middle school AFTER DD was in upper school. His elementary school also tightened the dress code after she graduated. Upper school has a dress code.

It has been so much easier for me, but that also might be due to the fact that he's a boy, and isn't obsessed with clothes.

It was expensive at first, but I was able to get hand-me-downs from older children, and know I won't be replacing some items. He'll only be in uniform this year and next, and I bought things in larger sizes.

Now if I could just get his pens to stop exploding!