Uniforms for school

[MichelleVW]

Sorry OP.



I don't understand what's going on with schools and dress code problems that make them decide on uniforms..

The problem is that the schools have a dress code and parents let their kids push that dress code further and further until the school finally gets fed up and demands uniforms....

 

[lovingthemouse]

I teach in an urban public school system in MA, and they are exploring the possibility of uniforms, such as Gina described. As a teacher, I think the idea is wonderful because it will take the emphasis off the clothing and help put some of it back on academics. Trust me, (as many others have seen, I am sure) many of my students (middle school kids) have no clue what a dress code is based on what they wear. The lower, or higher, the better. I am sure that some of their parents have no clue what they have worn to school on a daily basis. While it may stifle individuality, they can always change once they get home.
In September, when we start back, it will be an optional uniform policy, but I truly hope it is voted into mandatory by next September.

 

[Cindyluwho]

I've seen the uniforms for kids in grade school. My girl is a sophomore and wears a 9 in juniors. It's not so easy finding stuff, I went to three stores yesterday. I even went out of town thinking it'd be easier.

Try Tommy Hilfiger, on sale at Macy's they run about $20. Very nice fitting, and lasted all year for my DD. They are also long enough if your DD is tall, this was the main problem with my DD13, size 0/1 and 5'6".

ETA- also try The Gap

 

[Buckalew11]

DD has had a "uniform" fr several years now. It is just lax enough to be nice:

Shirts must be collared and tucked in (overweight or not). (Or turtlenecks)---any color, stripes, floral, doesn't matter as long as there is a collar.

Shorts no shorter than 2 inches above the knee. Skirts to the knee (at least).

Pants can be jeans, khakis or whatever. Not torn, ripped, holey, etc. Capri length on down. If there are belt loops, there must be a belt. A belt can be leather, a sash or whatever. Pants cannot be sagging. No skin is to show (not short tops).

For our school it is more about modesty and neatness than a true uniform. It is great for the students and great for the parents. I think more school should adapt and enforce this type of code instead of going sooo strict or not enforcing what they do have.

Good luck, Serena!

 

[kathie859]

My kids were in both uniform required and no uniform schools. I have to say that it's so much easier getting them out the door when they have uniforms! Plus no arguments re: "You can't leave the house wearing that"

Personally, I think uniforms do make for a more orderly environment.

 

[dreamcometrue]

I would love it if my kids school went to uniform. I don't see it happening though. It would be cheaper in the long run, I would say. Plus, it would eliminate kids making fun of other kids for not wearing the "in" clothes!

 

[Laura]

Plus, it would eliminate kids making fun of other kids for not wearing the "in" clothes!

No it doesn't. I know; I went to Catholic school. There are lots of ways to have "in" things--certain shoe brands, jewelry, watches, sweaters, bags, coats etc. Even hair.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I teach HS and the problem is the kids get out of the house wearing inappropriate attire. I don't know if the parents leave before they do or don't notice or don't care. I had an argument with a senior who had a corona shirt that said "cerveza with a smile"--well, you can't wear shirts that promote alcohol or drugs or inappropriate messages (1/2 of Steve and Barry's inventory!) so I wanted him to turn it inside out and he made it a big issue and I had to take him to the office.
If our kids just wore plain polo shirts we wouldn't have the aggravation. But we did a survey last year and it was determined the problem isn't what the kids wear, it's the enforcement--lack of it or selective.
I know in a neighboring district they banned hoodies and flip flops this coming year. DD#1 (15) has about 10 hoodies and wears flip flops in all weather if she can. I don't mind the hoodies because she is a size 3 jeans but a 36D top and the hoodies make sure she isn't getting unwanted attention in that area! If they banned hoodies here we'd have a lot of shopping to do.
BTW we went to aeropostale last August and the local big city district has gone to uniforms--they were selling out of white and navy polos for city school kids. But they were still "name brand".
Robin M.

 

[Planogirl]

DD has had a "uniform" fr several years now. It is just lax enough to be nice:

Shirts must be collared and tucked in (overweight or not). (Or turtlenecks)---any color, stripes, floral, doesn't matter as long as there is a collar.

Shorts no shorter than 2 inches above the knee. Skirts to the knee (at least).

Pants can be jeans, khakis or whatever. Not torn, ripped, holey, etc. Capri length on down. If there are belt loops, there must be a belt. A belt can be leather, a sash or whatever. Pants cannot be sagging. No skin is to show (not short tops).

For our school it is more about modesty and neatness than a true uniform. It is great for the students and great for the parents. I think more school should adapt and enforce this type of code instead of going sooo strict or not enforcing what they do have.

Good luck, Serena!

This is what I prefer. This sounds more like an enforced dress code rather than uniforms and it sounds easier for the kids and parents IMO.

Our schools have a dress code too so far and we do stick to it. I did have to buy a certain gym uniform from a certain store and it was quite expensive! DS always made it a practice to fall and rip out the knees of his pants so I can only imagine how much I would have spent on uniform slacks if we'd had to buy those.

I think that kids need to learn how to dress and I wonder if uniforms help them learn that? Business places certainly have dress codes and I see people getting into trouble all the time because they wear the wrong thing. The current problem is flip flops on casual day.

 

[smartestnumber5]

No it doesn't. I know; I went to Catholic school. There are lots of ways to have "in" things--certain shoe brands, jewelry, watches, sweaters, bags, coats etc. Even hair.

Yeah I have to agree--it definitely does not help with this. In fact, when I changed from Catholic school to public school (no uniforms) the emphasis on fashion and expensive clothing went way down. I remember being 12 and insisting that I had to have a pair of Calvin Klein jeans for $50 because all of the cool Catholic school girls in my class were wearing them. sad2: Now most days my entire outfit--pants, shirt, shoes, and underwear cost less than $50.)

Of course, we only got to see each others normal clothes outside of school and on dress down days, but that actually just seemed to make what we wearing even more important. I was always so ashamed of not having fancy clothes when I was attending the Catholic School--it seemed all of my friends did. When I started going to public school I distinctly remember being absolutely shocked when I saw a girl on the bus wearing "Chic" (I think that was the name) jeans; they were a brand that Kmart had. I would have died before wearing them and would have been made such fun of. Luckily I got in with a less cool and less fashionable group of people in public school and no longer asked for crazily expensive clothing. By the time I got to high school I was quite happy to shop at Kmart because nobody was going to make fun of me for wearing the wrong thing.

The uniform/non-uniform, Catholic/public stuff had nothing to do with any of it. The 1st group of friends were horribly fashion conscious and mostly upper-middle-class and "cool" and therefore I was heavily pressured to wear only the right stuff (even if it was only outside of school). The 2nd group of friends wasn't like that so I didn't get the pressure.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

Sorry you are finding it troublesome and hope that it gets worked out soon for you.

When my DD was at a school with uniforms I loved it. All I had to do was make sure that there were five clean tops and five clean bottoms and I was all set for the week. And the best part was no arguing in the mornings about whether or not the clothes were appropriate. Of course, being in first grade she really didn't argue like she does now, but that's another post.

Best of luck to you!

 

[Kath2003]

Wow, we had one shirt a day but we only owned ONE school skirt and ONE school jumper. They were washed at weekends. My mother didn't wash 15 skirts every weekend (3 kids) and 15 jumpers! If we got them dirty during the week we were a) in trouble and b) required to wash them!

 

[Pop Daddy]

I get why people like uniforms, but I like it when everyone wears what they want

 

[Cantw8]

I get why people like uniforms, but I like it when everyone wears what they want

I's like to see you in a uniform

 

[powellrj]

Lauri, I feel your pain. Anderson went to uniforms this year and I hate it.

For those that don't know, Indiana kids pay bookfees to enter school each fall, so while its not bad for elementary kids, for high school kids the cost is usually around $300 a year. So add the cost of uniforms to this and its a huge unexpected expense this year. You also pay for any supplies you need and for any activity you are in. We are looking at $1800 for just show choir this year. I haven't gotten the supply list yet, but thats usually good for another $100 or so a child. They take school pictures at sign-up so thats $50 too.

Most kids, my own included, never buy back to school clothes. You make due with what you had in the spring and just fill in when the weather gets cold.

My DS wears a 27x36. Not to be found. I finally found that he can wear a 30 x 34 which I was able to find at the Gap for $30. They are loose around the waist and a little short, but it was the best I could do. We bought all 5 of the pairs that they had in stock. I am not sure what the other kids his size will wear unless they get more in stock.

I also found some plain polo shirts at Finish Line (I think thats the right sporting good store) at 3 for $20 and I bought 5 of those.

He normally wears polos and cargos none of which he can wear because all of his polos have stripes and cargos are a no go. This is a kid whose history teacher told him he dresses like a young republican.

I would support collars on shirts and belts on pants for kids because most kids that I know could pull this off with little added expense, but when you are asking public school kids in a district where over 50% are on free/reduced lunch with the promise of loan programs to help with the cost, I don't think its a very responsible idea.