School Uniforms: Your Viewpoint

[KikiFan]

I am totally against them. I would never have lasted in a school where everyone had to look alike, I was to unique for that! I recently went through this with the principal of my daughters school, they were asking who would be in favor of school uniforms and I said no way, my 7 year old daughter will not wear anything with buttons, snaps, zippers, ties, nothing tucked and no skirts of any type-and the material can't be hard or the shirts can't be long enough where they touch her wrists, so no way in heck would a uniform work for her...2 other people also said their children had sensory issues and would never go for school uniforms. So-no uniforms for us!
My daughter marches to her own drummer, she has her own ideas of the clothes she wants to wear and most are not what other kids wear so I am very happy she is not part of the herd just following along. I don't want her to be another face in the crowd of all the same clothing. It takes 2 minutes inthe morning to pick out what she wants to wear, no big deal in that.

You know, maybe I'm just cranky tonight but I honestly found your comments to be really insulting. So kids who willingly wear uniforms can't be unique? For the record, my daughter goes to a performing arts school. She's an actress and a singer and she's about as unique as it gets.

Even within the structure of the uniform there is a lot room for individuality. My daughter daughter loves making funky belt, hair band and earring combos. A uniform doesn't turn every kid into a robot. But it does lead them to channel ing their creativity into other areas. My daughter loves making her own jewelery and will even sew a hair band if she can't find one to match.

Someone commented that kids will still tease each other about clothes and where they were purchased. But I haven't found that to be the case. Once you remove logos from the equation, most kids couldn't tell an Izod from a Target polo.

And it's not just about the "name brands" It's also about quantity of clothing. It's a lot harder to miss if a kid is wearing the same outfit every week when they wear "street clothes" But in a uniform no one notices. So the families that can only afford a few outfits aren't singled out.

 

[Cool-Beans]

You know, maybe I'm just cranky tonight but I honestly found your comments to be really insulting. So kids who willingly wear uniforms can't be unique? For the record, my daughter goes to a performing arts school. She's an actress and a singer and she's about as unique as it gets.

Even within the structure of the uniform there is a lot room for individuality. My daughter daughter loves making funky belt, hair band and earring combos. A uniform doesn't turn every kid into a robot. But it does lead them to channel ing their creativity into other areas. My daughter loves making her own jewelery and will even sew a hair band if she can't find one to match.

Someone commented that kids will still tease each other about clothes and where they were purchased. But I haven't found that to be the case. Once you remove logos from the equation, most kids couldn't tell an Izod from a Target polo.

And it's not just about the "name brands" It's also about quantity of clothing. It's a lot harder to miss if a kid is wearing the same outfit every week when they wear "street clothes" But in a uniform no one notices. So the families that can only afford a few outfits aren't singled out.

I took her comments to mean that neither she, nor her children would have survived in a private school.

It isn't an insult. She's just confessing that they have some limitations.

No biggie.

 

[MichelleVW]

Too tired to read all the responses, but as a mother of a 16 and 14 year old I am totally for them....khaki pants and a polo....how hard would that be??

 

[MrsPete]

My girls used to wear uniforms when they went to Christian school, and I LOVED THEM. Benefits:

They cost considerably less than regular clothes. Why? They're super-easy to find used (even in big kid sizes), and they didn't need a large wardrobe full of variety -- two or three pairs of pants and a jumper was plenty. Back then, they had only a small number of "weekend outfits". Anyone who says uniforms cost more is reacting to that price-sticker shock from a big back-to school shopping trip; if you compare that to what people tend to spend when they buy school clothes all year long, you'll see that regular clothes cost more!

We bought mostly Land's End stuff (lots of it used from ebay), and it never failed to last at least two years. We found that white shirts tended to look dingy sooner than the reds or the navy-blues.

The mornings were so much easier! Now that they wear regular clothes, they worry much more about having "the right things", etc.

As a teacher, I can tell you that we waste LOTS of time with inappropriately dressed students at our high school: low-cut shirts, saggy pants, tees with dirty messages . . . it's a waste of school time! Typical uniform items pretty much adhere to the dress code. It's hard to find a polo shirt that shows a girls' belly; khaki pants don't look too cool belted around a boy's thighs. Too many parents do not care how their kids dress, and they do not support ANY dress code -- uniforms make it cut-and-dry for these families.

As for individuality, that's just whining. School's for learning -- not making a fashion statement. Kids have OODLES of opportunities in life to express themselves, regardless of what they wear to school. And if they're all wearing the same thing, then their schoolwork, their artistic abilities, their athletic abilities -- you know, the things that really matter -- stand out instead! What parent wouldn't prefer that the child be noticed for himself, not his clothing?

 

[MrsPete]

And it's not just about the "name brands" It's also about quantity of clothing. It's a lot harder to miss if a kid is wearing the same outfit every week when they wear "street clothes" But in a uniform no one notices. So the families that can only afford a few outfits aren't singled out.

Makes me think about two boys I taught years ago. Their family was homeless, and the few clothes they had were rags. I'd see the whole family walking around downtown near the Salvation Army's shelter, probably waiting for it to open in the evening; I suspect their mother was mentally ill. One of the boys had a nice coat -- it had a football team logo, can't remember which team -- and he wore it EVERY DAY. It was literally the only nice thing he had to wear, and he'd wear it on the hottest day of summer to cover his ratty shirt.

How much better would it have been for these boys, if we'd been a uniform school! Either the school or a church would've given them each a couple of uniforms, and they could've blended in with the other students. For a few hours each day they could've felt like they weren't different from everyone else.

 

[Planogirl]

A reasonable dress code is fine with me but I don't like uniforms. A chance for a kid to be an individual and to express themself in some unique way is lost with uniforms. I think that kids (and a lot of adults) are better off if they can be individual and maybe even a little rebellious through their clothing.

Just my thoughts. We've managed to avoid uniforms so far up to 8th grade and hopefully they'll never be an issue for us.

ETA: I see nothing wrong with uniforms either and support those who want them. I just don't care for them myself. Of course, I'm lucky because so far DS couldn't care less what he wears except he does have fun with unusual t-shirts. You see, boys can't as easily express themselves with jewelry and the like as girls can.

 

[MrsPete]

If that is how it is for a 7 y/o - I can just image the parents of teenagers!

Respectfully . . . you ain't seen nothing yet!

When they get to the Juniors' department, it's very hard to find decent clothing for them. The vast majority of the things you see at the mall are either more appropriate for hookers than students, or they're plastered with sarcastic phrases. And there's pressure for the kids -- especially girls -- to wear the short skirts, low tops, etc.

Uniforms relieve some of this pressure for both parents and kids. A girl doesn't have to feel like she's the only one not showing so much skin. A parent doesn't have to go through one more fight about clothing.

 

[bekkiz]

I wore a uniform from 7th-12th grade. LOVED IT! Of course, we were at an all girl's school, so no boy issues.

I was (and still am!) pooh sized, and it was nice not to feel bad that I couldn't wear/shop at the same stores my skinnier friends did.

In terms of cost, I bought 2 uniform skirts at a sevie, and two more at a freshman. I wore those 4 skirts the whole way through. (By the end, I needed a couple safety pins at the waist!) We could also wear navy pants, and I think I finally bought 2 pairs of navy cords ar Target or Old Navy my junior year, and mixed those in. Overall, much cheaper in the long run.

I still feel like I wear a uniform I live in jeans and v-neck t's.

 

[wdw4us2]

Uniforms-no way
Strict dress codes-yes

My thoughts exactly. I'm tired of people trying to turn kids into automatons who can't make any decisions for themselves because they're so regimented in every segment of their lives.

Our DD is a high school student (strict dress code) and our DS is in middle school. They are going to a semi-uniform starting next year - shirts with collars tucked into shorts/pants with a belt.

And people wonder why some college Freshmen go wild - they go from having too many rules to having barely any!

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

You know, I think we actually need less emphasis on individuality in this society. The constant barrage of "I," "me," "mine," and "my rights" has deprived a large segment of the population of consideration of others. While we should encourage people to think for themselves and be creative, there are valuable lessons in cooperating for the whole.

Ariel, your school's dress code was hardly draconian, and it did not require a specialized $85 pant. I also did not see suspension as a listed punishment for noncompliance with the uniform policy.

Really, though, isn't this all just a tempest in a teapot?

 

[va32h]

I think this whole notion of "we have to let kids express their individuality" is overrated at best.

Everybody is unique, already, by virtue of our DNA. (okay, I guess twins are the exception). Our little psyches arent' going to shrivel up and die if we can't wear whatever we want, whenever we want.

You want to express yourself? Fine. Write a poem, dance, plant a garden, compose a tune, paint a picture, stand on the streetcorner and preach your gospel, post on a bunch of message boards...kids can do all those things and still wear a school uniform for six hours.

So what if they don't like it. This is the first of many things in life that they will not like, but have to do anyway. I don't like paying my income taxes, but alas, the IRS will not accept "Filing a 1040 is just following the herd. I'm an individual!" as a valid excuse for tax evasion.

My kids have standardized dress - khaki or navy bottoms, red, white or navy polos. I really don't care either way. They don't change out of their school clothes at the end of the school day, so it's the same amount of laundry. And a red polo shirt at Target costs the same as a striped polo shirt at Target, or a character t-shirt at Target.

My school-age kids act every bit as "uniquely" as their 3 year old sister, who wears any number of bizarre getups, so I feel confident that wearing a school uniform for a few hours a day has not crushed their little spirits.

 

[DVCLiz]

who are the "younger posters" on this thread?? i'm curious.


here's my question to all of the parents who are for the uniforms.....did you have to wear them when you were in school?

I thought the OP was 19. Maybe I got that wrong!!!!

 

[purplepixie]

I absolutely love my daughters having uniforms. The uniform they have is red, green, yellow, or white polo with black bottoms. I think I like it because it is not a rigid uniform. They don't have to be tucked in. No requirments on hair or shoes. But I like that we don't have to worry about it.

They go to a creative arts school. I don't think limiting clothes has to limit a person's ability to be unique or creative. In some ways it allows them more ways to be so. For K - 6th grade it's nice to not have to worry about getting an expensive outfit dirty while you're painting or dancing. They focus on what they are being taught and not on the lastest fashion trends. They enjoy the arts around them and have plenty of outlets for their creativity.

As far as cost is concerned, it is minimal for us. The shirts we have to buy from the school. They are $7 a piece. Bottoms can be anything. I always check out clearance. I don't think I've paid more than $10 for any.

I also wore a uniform when I was in school. We could wear anything white or navy. No jeans or tees. I liked it. There was some competition with name brands but not as much as there could have been.

 

[MrsKreamer]

I wore a uniform for my 13 years of schooling(k-12). Yet I somehow survived not becoming a drone robot. I must have been one of the lucky ones

I have already checked out the uniforms for my kids. They are all purchased from the same store and you can work with the school if you can't afford them.

Oh and Ariel I *seriously* doubt that school actually turned kids away after Rita. Around here after Katrina schools were happy just to get the kids back to normalcy.

I am a mom who wore uniforms and wants her kids to wear uniforms.

 

[DVCLiz]

Now I have to ask what kind of school are you guys attending? Where I went, a bully was a bully, no matter what you wore.



I highly disagree. They then move from the obvious to the slightly obvious, and to the, "Oh my God, she's got pink buttons!"



"Oh my God, you shop at Walmart/The Dollar Store? You're cheap."

You can pick out a Dollar Store uniform from a Penny's uniform. They have a cute little fringe on them.

(It's happened to me, with a uniform. So, I guess it stems down to personal experience.)

The clothing I'm talking about doesn't have any distinguishing characteristics, like different colored buttons or fringe. A plain, collared, solid color shirt is the same whether you buy it from Talbots Kids, Old Navy, or find it at Goodwill or at a yard sale. The rule is it has to be completely plain, and made of cotton. That's the dress code at my daughter's school.

 

[NeverEnufWDW]

Come on folks.......tighty whities hanging out over jeans falling off a teen boy's behind just screams "look at me".....and what would school be like without the goth outcasts, preps, geeks, etc.......

Get with the program !

 

[BelleMA87]

I am a college sophomore who wore uniforms from kindergarten to 12th grade. I seemed to have escaped becoming an automatron thus far...but i suppose there's still time. In fact I like to think I have a strong sense of individuality. I love to draw, and I sing in my schools choir. We actually just recorded our second CD! I performed in Godspell this past March, and was a competative dancer for 15 years. The clothes I wear are part of who I am, not the entire package. Thank goodness, because there are plenty of days I just wear sweatpants and a hoodie to my 8:30 class!

I have a personality, and I don't buy into trends merely because they happen to be what everyone else is wearing. I know that, for me, uniforms helped me develop my own style as far as clothing went. I didn't know what everyone else was wearing, so I chose what I liked. I actually liked my uniform for junior high and high school. It was pretty comfortable, and definately made the morning rush easier.

I take offense at people who imply that because I wore a uniform and enjoyed it I must therefore be a mindless preppy robot. Please try not to make such generalizations!

 

[MrsKreamer]

Come on folks.......tighty whities hanging out over jeans falling off a teen boy's behind just screams "look at me".....and what would school be like without the goth outcasts, preps, geeks, etc.......

Get with the program !

Trust me, I went to an all girls Catholic private high school. Even with our uniforms you could still tell who was goth, punk, preppy, and nerdy.

 

[rie'smom]

I wore a uniform for my 13 years of schooling(k-12). Yet I somehow survived not becoming a drone robot. I must have been one of the lucky ones

I have already checked out the uniforms for my kids. They are all purchased from the same store and you can work with the school if you can't afford them.

Oh and Ariel I *seriously* doubt that school actually turned kids away after Rita. Around here after Katrina schools were happy just to get the kids back to normalcy.

I am a mom who wore uniforms and wants her kids to wear uniforms.

You're right I live in Louisiana and I know people in areas affected by both hurricanes. Nobody that I ever heard of was turned away for lack of a uniform. In fact,those who had a few uniforms shared with those who didn't. The kids w/out uniforms were as accepted as any other.

 

[my4kids]

love the idea of uniforms , wish my kids schools required them.
Couple of things I don't like about them though, one being the girls schools that require skirts or jumpers, and how the girls go to the mall after school with their skirts rolled at the waist to make them look shorter, and they just look like street walkers. (of course girls could do this with any skirt)

I do thing there is a little individuality and creativity sacrificed for the convienences of a uniform, however there are still ways that students show their individuality (hair, shoe strings, type of shorts they wear under their shirt, shoes, earrings , etc) I still thing the advantages of a uniforn outway the small disadvantages. I would be happy to put out some money for a couple of uniforms that I could rotate, and just have a few weekend outfits, in order to gain the advantages.