What do you think about uniforms for school

[Serena]

My dd has to wear a uniform and I love it. She never had to before, and this has made getting up and out the door so much easier than ever.

She takes a shower the night before, we comb and braid her hair, wonderful mommy/daughter time. Lay her clothes out and it's a piece of cake.

She's got a very relaxed uniform. Khaki, navy or black pants. White, navy, or gold top. It's soooo convenient.

 

[Pop Daddy]

dont like uniforms, I like everybody to be different

 

[pumba]

taht kids needed to be individuals......but

getting a girl ready for school in the morning and no choices .....just unforme of blue pants and white blouse and sweater or their sweatshirt.....yah it is sure a piece of cake.....
winters was that and in the spring and early fall it was the jumpers for the girls.......

 

[Nutsy]

Serena uniforms are compulsory over here & I think they are great. Two reasons............they save the normal clothes & when the kids are away on an excursion it's easy to find eachother, plus if any misbehave in the public eye, the school they belong to is easily identified.

So I'm all for uniforms

 

[Serena]

LOL, is this for your daughter or you?

The kids are different, at least here. I guess Kelsea is different. She has her hair that everyone oohs and aahs over. And no uniform could contain her personality. Or your's PD.

 

[Cindy B]

They were talking about uniforms for public school students where I used to live. In this town, there was large affluent base, but then there was middle/low income students as well.

Personally I like the idea that your district has. I would assume you would be able to get the khaki's/ shorts anywhere.

Cleveland City schools did the same thing when I lived in that area.

I wouldn't be able to take it if you had to obtain the uniform at a specialized uniform store.

The disadvantages of this would be the fact that you could tell which child had the better shoes/khaki's, etc...

 

[grinningghost]

I wish DD's school would require uniforms. I totally agree that the morning stress level would be much lower - for her and me.

She would hate it though.

 

[hentob]

As a former teacher in an area where some kids are decked out in nothing but the best (Gap, Abercrombie, American Eagle, etc.) and some kids have nothing, I can't tell you how much I would LOVE to see our school switch to uniforms. The kids that don't have the "right" clothes are teased and looked down upon. This is not right, but some high schoolers are mean and it does happen.

Uniforms would at least stop the sort of class system that high schoolers (mostly girls) thrive on. Anyone see Dr. Phil yesterday? Then you know what I am talking about.

And as far as letting students be "individuals" with the way they dress, I would rather them concentrate on being individuals in the way they do their schoolwork.

And while I am at it, I think it would be great for teachers to have a dress code as well. Khakis and perhaps a polo type shirt with the school logo on the breast or something. I am sure many teachers would enjoy not having to worry what they are wearing in the morning too

 

[bjgrazi]

I like the idea of uniforms. It puts the kids on a level field when in school. There is no label competition, this can be brutal when you have a town where the income level is vastly different.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

My kid's Private School came very close to adopting uniforms for next year. I was all for it, but the kids hate the idea.

Instead they went with a very restrictive dress code that is going to make shopping for next year a nightmare. Shirts have to have collars, no writing or graphics on shirts except small logs like a NIKE swish... no baggy jeans etc etc My 13yo is never going to voluntarily choose clothes that meet those requirements.

I honestly wish they would have just went with uniforms that I could say "You have to wear this -- end of story."

As for "regular" clothes. There are just too many problems with kids trying to make their clothing the focus of the day and not education. I think it can be really hard on the teachers.

 

[Serena]

I guess most of the kids in our school system aren't rich so we don't have much of a problem there. Or at least none that I'm aware of. The ones that have money go to private schools or live in the ritzier areas.

She can get her clothes anywhere as long as they are the right colors.

 

[CEDmom]

I think it's a great ideas. As someone already posted it puts all kids on the same field and has them focusing on school instead of who's wearing the latest trend. We're looking at private school for DD and they wear the traditional plaid jumper but public schools could keep it simple with solid pants and solid shirt. Parents could still shop at whatever store they choose.

 

[ptcruisermom]

Love it. Kids are at the same catholic school I attended. When I was in grade school no uniform but had to wear skirts, no pants, ( this was mid 60's to early 70's) high school we had uniforms but not the boys, they had to wear dress pants, shirts and ties, now the boys have to wear black, navy or gray pants with white, light blue or yellow shirts and ties in hight school no tennis shoes. Grade school girls K-4 wear a plaid jumper with white light blue or yellow peter pan collar blouse, or they can wear navy slacks, have the option of nay blue cardigan, yellow v-neck sweater or sweater vest for all students, girls 5-8 wear the pald skirt with white oxford blouse, or can wear the peter pan caollar blouse boys k-8 wear white or blue golf type shirts with navy pants. Navy Blue Shorts are allowed May 1 until school is out and then when school starts until Oct. 1. If weather gets extremely hot before or after these dates they go day by day for shorts. We do hve several jean days throughout the year, but such decisions on what to wear.

 

[Disney Doll]

Wore uniforms for all of my school years excpet the very early years. Never had a problem. I wore what I was told to wear. My mother didn't go for the "my kid will never wear that" excuse.

 

[Serena]

I forgot to mention that on friday's they get to wear what they want.

 

[disneyjunkie]

All of the public schools and some of the day care centers (including the one I teach in) in my area have a uniform policy. However, only a few of them are able to enforce it.

As far as I know the only public schools that can enforce the policy are the schools that require an entrance exam. (gifted schools) These schools have the option of asking students to leave if they don't/won't follow the rules. My son attends one of these schools. The uniform policy is very strict and they MUST wear it 180 days.

 

[Serena]

disney junkie, that's the case with this school too. You have to apply and get accepted to go and the uniform code is part of it, at this school.

Most middle and high schools around here are what they call magnet schools. They have a central or several central subjects and you have to apply and get accepted. We do have the schools the kids can go to if they don't choose or get accepted anywhere too.
Kelsea's in the environmental science magnet. My oldest is in Math and Science magnet.

 

[WDWLVR]

I did uniforms all through grade 8 and it made it very easy for me and my mom. Money was tight and I didn't have the clothes that others did. It was harder for me when I went to high school and everyone wore what they wanted. I think uniforms are great for kids and they can focus on the schooling and not what others are wearing!

 

[RitaZ.]

Love the uniforms!!!

The schools that my children go to have uniform policies, but parents can sign a waiver, at the beginning of the school year, if they don't want their child to wear uniforms. Some schools enforce the uniform policy, others are quite lax. I don't understand the point of having a uniform policy if it's not going to be enforced.

Next year, my oldest will hopefully be going to a charter school, they are pretty strict with the uniform policy. There is no waiver to exempt a student from wearing them and they have to be purchased from a specific company with the school logo. I'm telling you, I watch the kids at this school when I drive by it and they behave differently than the kids at the school near our house that doesn't enforce the uniform policy. I really think that wearing uniforms affects the way the students behave.

As for the individuality thing, I don't agree. I think that clothes don't define a person, I'm sure that kids this age don't feel that way though. There are so many ways for a student to make their mark and express their own individuality; even when wearing an uniform. That's just how I see it.

 

[Roemama1]

My DD goes to Catholic school and I LOVE it as far as the uniform goes. As everyone has been mentioning there are no fights in the morning. In the summer they have khaki shorts and forest green s/s monogrammed shirt or jumper wtih white peter pan blouse. Winter they can wear school sweatshirt with khaki's or green l/s monogrammed shirt or l/s white blouse with jumper.

There is also one day a month they have a "dress down" day but the teachers say the kids are more "hyper" on those days. Uniform calms them down, I guess.