School Uniforms: Your Viewpoint

[va32h]

But, as I said, toodles. Goodbye. Have fun.

Promise? Because you keep saying goodbye and yet you continue to post.

 

[Andy B]

See, now, I agree with this, every word.

Well, I'm going to leave everybody to this 'discussion' or 'debate', whatever it may be, with the words: It (obviously) varies. Uniform policies, rules, regulations...they must differentiate from state to state, country to country, county (parish) to county (parish). *shrugs*

There's two sides, well, three, counting neutrals, and there's, like the smoking, and the abortion, never, I don't feel, going to be a 'compromise'. Though, with this, the 'middle ground' is merely dress code, but, hey, to each their own.

A bit stream of conciousness not quite coherent thought.

 

[KikiFan]

I'm not a legal type, but in our public school system, the *cannot* make it mandatory. They cannot truly enforce it. So why bother.

I'm curious why they can't make it manditory in your school? They've done so in our schools. If kid shows up to school without the proper uniform, they are sent to the office. And that's where they sit until the parent brings them the uniform. They don't seem to have trouble enforcing it at my daughter's schools.

 

[Pigeon]

I'm not a legal type, but in our public school system, the *cannot* make it mandatory. They cannot truly enforce it. So why bother.

This would be my guess as well. Public schools try to present any number of things as mandatory, but if you push back a little, there are often ways around them. I suspect that if you just said that you would not comply with dressing your kids in a uniform, there would be nothing they could do about it.

 

[Crankyshank]

How is refusing to spend $10 on a shirt because you will only wear for a few hours a day at school not ok, but you have no problem spending it on something you would wear to work which is also for a few hours a day?

And since when does the 10hr days you've quoted equate to a few hours a day? Assuming you sleep at least 6 hrs a day, that's more than half of the day.

 

[taylor1293]

My DD wears uniforms in middle school. I love them, they are cheap, comfortable (polo shirts and khaki bottoms), and no debates on what to wear in the morning. My only complaint is that she won't have to wear them in high school.

At my DD's school they all wear different jewelry, hair styles, shoes, jackets, makeup...etc, to express their "individuality". And honestly, if some kids feel that isn't enough of a way to be an "individual", that's just too bad. Part of growing up is realizing that we don't get everything we want or like everything we have to do.

 

[The_Horned_King]

They are a waste of time, energy and money!
I spend more time having to tell kids to get in uniform then I do actually teaching them!

Like the Op said they do nothing to help test scores, and nothing to help bulling.

Until people start to worry about thing that matter we will continue to put up with the nonsense of school uniforms, tardiness, and even Test Scores(which don't measure what they are supposed to btw)

 

[rie'smom]

How does it make a mother's life easier?

I guess it truly depends on the enforcement/type of uniform.

Me, I always hated seeing my mom spend extra money on something that would only last a year, if not less. I hated that she had double loads of clothes to wash b/c of the uniform.

If anything, it made our lives worse.

I thought that the $85 pants were better quality and would last longer,at least according to what you posted .
My children all wore uniforms and I never had to to wash double loads because of uniforms-white blouses with whites and skirts with the dark clothes.
My daughter's skirts have been worn for over 3 years and look brand new. I spent about 40.00 each or about what 1 shirt at AE costs.

 

[Pigeon]

I'm curious why they can't make it manditory in your school? They've done so in our schools. If kid shows up to school without the proper uniform, they are sent to the office. And that's where they sit until the parent brings them the uniform. They don't seem to have trouble enforcing it at my daughter's schools.

I would suspect that if I told the principal that my child was not ever going to come to school in the uniform, period, that the principal, who is also concerned (fixated) about school test scores, would get pretty sick of having my child sit in her office all day and would decide that educating the child has a higher priority.

 

[Crankyshank]

This would be my guess as well. Public schools try to present any number of things as mandatory, but if you push back a little, there are often ways around them. I suspect that if you just said that you would not comply with dressing your kids in a uniform, there would be nothing they could do about it.

I don't know about uniforms because with public schools you have to contend with people that cannot afford to purchase the required uniform. I can more see a dress code being enforced, and has been locally. It's under the pretense of safety because certain things are considered gang related, people have been assaulted because of wearing a particular thing, or robbed for a desired pair of sneakers.

They can enforce it by suspensions and expulsion. ETA: Honestly, I'm not a fan of uniforms at public schools unless people got vouchers for uniforms and had the option to send their child to another school if they refused to wear them. I do support dress codes in public schools though.

 

[oxfordcircus]

I, just, want, to, say, that, I, love, commas. They, make, my, writing, seem, pensive.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I, just, want, to, say, that, I, love, commas. They, make, my, writing, seem, pensive.

 

[Pigeon]

I don't know about uniforms because with public schools you have to contend with people that cannot afford to purchase the required uniform. I can more see a dress code being enforced, and has been locally. It's under the pretense of safety because certain things are considered gang related, people have been assaulted because of wearing a particular thing, or robbed for a desired pair of sneakers.

They can enforce it by suspensions and expulsion. ETA: Honestly, I'm not a fan of uniforms at public schools unless people got vouchers for uniforms and had the option to send their child to another school if they refused to wear them. I do support dress codes in public schools though.

I don't have a problem with a dress code either. Gangs are a serious issue in some school systems.

If they are going to try to enforce a uniform policy with suspension or expulsion, they are going to have to provide an educational alternative. The alternative will cost them much more money than keeping the child in school. They aren't going to do this over a parent's refusal to make their kids wear uniforms. My dh is a public high school teacher and they bend over backward not to provide alternative education for kids who really cause trouble because it is so expensive for them.

 

[Ariel Mae]

How is refusing to spend $10 on a shirt because you will only wear for a few hours a day at school not ok, but you have no problem spending it on something you would wear to work which is also for a few hours a day?

Because we choose to work. We chose where we work. Education is mandatory. No option to it. Forced upon us by federal law. We also, here, don't get to choose which school we go to. That makes a difference.

If I don't want to work in a career with a uniform, I have a choice not to. But with schooling, I do not. I am forced into the public education system, whereas, with a job, it's my choice, my decision, my fault if I get a uniform.

And since when does the 10hr days you've quoted equate to a few hours a day? Assuming you sleep at least 6 hrs a day, that's more than half of the day.

From seven 'til four. Ten hours. That's a few hours a day. To me. Don't try to define 'few' for others. Please.

And as for the person who said, "But I thought the 85$ pants lasted...". Yeah, they do. But I'm not going to pay 85$ on something I don't need. And I'm certainly not going to pay 85$ on something I'm only going to wear half a day.

And as for, "If you've got five pairs, why would you need to wash?"

Because five pairs will get dirty. I'm not going to sit by and watch while my friends play around, worrying about dirtying my clothes. And, if they do get dirty, I wash them, as soon as I get home. Whereas, with regular clothes, I've got plenty of those, so all I need to do is strip and change, because everything I buy lasts me at least four years, if not more. I've yet to find uniform clothes, locally (or even on trips) that last for more than a year.

It's under the pretense of safety because certain things are considered gang related, people have been assaulted because of wearing a particular thing, or robbed for a desired pair of sneakers.

Personally, I find that to be a false pretense. Sure, it may turn out that way for some, but, overall, in my school, even with just a dress code, you couldn't tell the gang members from the chess club, which, incidentally, all dressed the same. Wonder why those clothes weren't 'outlawed'...

because with public schools you have to contend with people that cannot afford to purchase the required uniform.

Ha!

"Hi, I'm new to *insert school name here."

"You don't have a uniform?"

"No, m'aam. My family can't afford it."

"Go to Goodwill."

I really, really wish I were kidding. Really.

 

[Cass]

Uniforms also teach children about rules, rules that everyone must follow.

Some kids and their parents think they are above the rules. So it's a good life lesson

 

[Ariel Mae]

Uniforms also teach children about rules, rules that everyone must follow.

Yet, can't that just as easily be done with a dress code? (If enforced, that is)

 

[Pigeon]

Uniforms also teach children about rules, rules that everyone must follow.

Some kids and their parents think they are above the rules. So it's a good life lesson

I don't think your average public school child lacks exposure to rules.

And there is a difference between respecting reasonable rules and blind obedience to idiocy. I'm not raising sheeple.

We love our public school system. However, we aren't above pushing back when they try to institute rules that we feel do our kids a disservice or outright harm. For example, the school tries to force all kids to say the Pledge of Allegiance. It is illegal for them to do so, and we've made them change their "rules." They try to get kids to sign behavior "contracts." Children cannot enter into contracts and ours don't. The school automatically enrolls all children in the DARE program. Mine are not participating, and I have a meeting with the principal next week to discuss what they will be doing to educate my child instead of wasting her time with DARE.

 

[Crankyshank]

Because we choose to work. We chose where we work. Education is mandatory. No option to it. Forced upon us by federal law. We also, here, don't get to choose which school we go to. That makes a difference.

If I don't want to work in a career with a uniform, I have a choice not to. But with schooling, I do not. I am forced into the public education system, whereas, with a job, it's my choice, my decision, my fault if I get a uniform.



From seven 'til four. Ten hours. That's a few hours a day. To me. Don't try to define 'few' for others. Please.

And as for the person who said, "But I thought the 85$ pants lasted...". Yeah, they do. But I'm not going to pay 85$ on something I don't need. And I'm certainly not going to pay 85$ on something I'm only going to wear half a day.

And as for, "If you've got five pairs, why would you need to wash?"

Because five pairs will get dirty. I'm not going to sit by and watch while my friends play around, worrying about dirtying my clothes. And, if they do get dirty, I wash them, as soon as I get home. Whereas, with regular clothes, I've got plenty of those, so all I need to do is strip and change, because everything I buy lasts me at least four years, if not more. I've yet to find uniform clothes, locally (or even on trips) that last for more than a year.



Personally, I find that to be a false pretense. Sure, it may turn out that way for some, but, overall, in my school, even with just a dress code, you couldn't tell the gang members from the chess club, which, incidentally, all dressed the same. Wonder why those clothes weren't 'outlawed'...



Ha!

"Hi, I'm new to *insert school name here."

"You don't have a uniform?"

"No, m'aam. My family can't afford it."

"Go to Goodwill."

I really, really wish I were kidding. Really.

I don't work at a place that requires a uniform. I work at a place, like a majority of workplaces, that has a dress code (business casual). You don't really have much of a choice as far as work wear goes, at least not more than with public schools, since what most public schools with dress codes require also fall into requirements for most professional work settings (no revealing clothes, torn jeans, daisy dukes, etc...)

You have the option to be homeschooled if you do not like the dress code or uniform that a public school requires. You have the option to move. You have the option to go to a private school that requires a less restrictive uniform. And if your private school is the one that requires the uniform, you have all of the above options plus the option to go to public schools.

The question was why do you need to wash each shirt 2-3 times a week if you have 5 shirts. The school day is only 5 days a week. Playing with your friends isn't an excuse as to why you need 15 shirts a week for the school hours.
The reasons why a dress code have been instituted in public schools that I posted are all valid for schools in my area as well as others.

but, overall, in my school, even with just a dress code, you couldn't tell the gang members from the chess club, which, incidentally, all dressed the same

Hello? That's the POINT of the uniform in those situations. So that people are not displaying gang symbols or are assaulted for unknowingly wearing something that is gang related.

Ha!

"Hi, I'm new to *insert school name here."

"You don't have a uniform?"

"No, m'aam. My family can't afford it."

"Go to Goodwill."

I really, really wish I were kidding. Really.

First of all, I specifically stated that I do not support uniforms in public schools without vouchers for people who cannot afford them, or without options to transfer to another school if you do not want to wear them. So I'm not entirely sure why you are being argumentative with me about it.

Secondly, I don't know anyone that shows up to a new school and is not aware of a uniform or dress code. And if they are, then it's the fault of the parent and student for not finding this information out beforehand.

 

[Crankyshank]

If they are going to try to enforce a uniform policy with suspension or expulsion, they are going to have to provide an educational alternative. The alternative will cost them much more money than keeping the child in school. They aren't going to do this over a parent's refusal to make their kids wear uniforms. My dh is a public high school teacher and they bend over backward not to provide alternative education for kids who really cause trouble because it is so expensive for them.

Which is why I said I don't support uniforms in a public school without options to transfer schools, and/or uniform vouchers for those who cannot afford them.

 

[Pigeon]

You have the option to be homeschooled if you do not like the dress code or uniform that a public school requires. You have the option to move.

That's a little disingenuous. Not everyone can homeschool or pick up and move.