Why do kids hate this

[Colleen27]

The uniforms in public school don't really cut down on the differences in clothes that it was first said to have. They said, the kids wouldn't be able to see who has expensive "name brand" clothes and clothes from Walmart. yeah. . . NO.

Since all the higher end "teen" stores carry uniforms, there is still a difference. Maybe not so much in the pants but the shirts are just cut differently. And the kids can tell anyway.

That has been our experience exactly. Our school ruled out specific supplier requirements because of costs. The only thing we have to go to one specific store for is their plaid, which is only worn once a week for mass and on occasional other special events.

My girls wear uniforms from Meijer or Sears, and shoes from Payless. By middle school, there's a lot of Eddie Bauer, Abercrombie, Aeropostale, etc. in their school too. It is a small, economically diverse school and fortunately close knit enough that teasing about brands isn't a big issue, but you can still tell which kids' parents are spending more on their wardrobes.

 

[JanaDee]

No uniforms here, thank god. Not even the private schools (Catholic and Lutheran) wear uniforms.

As for the argument that it levels the playing field when it comes to money ~ pffft, no it doesn't. Kids know who has money and who doesn't.

 

[LisaInNc]

I wore a uniform as a high schooler which coincided with the exact time I was trying to find my voice with fashion. Being restricted like that was difficult but we always found ways. Accessories, make up, special socks. It was a challenge but that is why I hatted a uniform. I wanted to express myself and I was not really allowed.

Saying that you can remove brands....what a joke. Your zip code, what your parents drive, where they work, where you vacation. It's all tells. Every single kid that pays attention know who is better off than the other no matter what color uniform they wear.

On a side note you might enjoy this. I have a teen who is QUITE fashion conscious (belch it's MY FAULT) She was giving me a hard time one morning about what she was going to wear. My response was this....I am NOT going through this with you every morning. Your school may not have a uniform but that doesn't mean you can't. I can make you a Monday outfit a Tuesday outfit etc. That was the last time we fought about clothing in the morning.

Lisa

 

[aprilgail2]

No uniforms here, thank god. Not even the private schools (Catholic and Lutheran) wear uniforms.

As for the argument that it levels the playing field when it comes to money ~ pffft, no it doesn't. Kids know who has money and who doesn't.

I don't get the whole "even playing field" argument anyway- Life is not an even playing field, never was and never will be- I don't see the point in trying to fool kids into thinking that dressing the same makes them all the same- there always will be the haves and the have nots!

 

[jodifla]

When you pick your own clothes, you can pick what fits your body. I would have hated wearing a uniform -- my body type would have looked horrid in it.

My son wouldn't mind, but luckily here no one is pushing for uniforms.

 

[U2_rocks!]

When you pick your own clothes, you can pick what fits your body. I would have hated wearing a uniform -- my body type would have looked horrid in it.

I think that's one of the reasons for uniforms in my country - they don't want the kids to "look good". They don't want the clothes the kids wear to school to flatter them (especially the girls). They are trying to remove as many distractions as possible. I'm not sure if it really works or not - the kids can see past the unflattering clothing.

 

[luvsJack]

I think that's one of the reasons for uniforms in my country - they don't want the kids to "look good". They don't want the clothes the kids wear to school to flatter them (especially the girls). They are trying to remove as many distractions as possible. I'm not sure if it really works or not - the kids can see past the unflattering clothing.

It doesn't really work for that reason either. DD is small and curvy in all the right places. When she wears the polo and khakis (she tends to wear a pull over or hoodie most days), it is flattering on her. Its not boxy or anything that hides the curves. She has friends that a tucked in polo just is not going to look good on no matter what. I feel bad for some of the girls. I know, for me at that age, I would have never tucked in a shirt of any kind--just didn't look good. And now they have to.

So, even with the uniforms, some girls look good in them and some don't. The ones that don't could choose something more flattering for their body type.

 

[U2_rocks!]

It doesn't really work for that reason either. DD is small and curvy in all the right places. When she wears the polo and khakis (she tends to wear a pull over or hoodie most days), it is flattering on her. Its not boxy or anything that hides the curves. She has friends that a tucked in polo just is not going to look good on no matter what. I feel bad for some of the girls. I know, for me at that age, I would have never tucked in a shirt of any kind--just didn't look good. And now they have to.

So, even with the uniforms, some girls look good in them and some don't. The ones that don't could choose something more flattering for their body type.

Our uniforms for girls are tunics with belts or skirts, never pants. I guess the tiny-waisted girls look best in them, especially when they cinch the belt tight! But then that's not allowed either and the school will make them loosen the belt. They can't even show off their legs, as there are rules about dress/skirt length.

 

[mhsjax]

We do not wear uniforms. Someone posted that they don't want the kids to feel like they look good in these uniforms, that is just stupid. I know that if I don't feel good in what I am wearing then I just don't give my best and I bet most people don't.

Thank God parents around here don't want them either, seems to me at one time they actually took a vote. I refuse to spend money on clothes that my kids can only wear to school. I pay enough money, (outside of my taxes) for this free education, it is crazy and purchasing uniforms simply would not happen for my family.

 

[U2_rocks!]

We do not wear uniforms. Someone posted that they don't want the kids to feel like they look good in these uniforms, that is just stupid. I know that if I don't feel good in what I am wearing then I just don't give my best and I bet most people don't.

I don't think it's so much to make them look BAD - it's more to make them not think so hard about how they look, if that makes sense. It's more a mentality of "when they are at school they are to concentrate on their work, not the latest fashions". And whenever they have a special day that they allow the kids to wear their own clothes, they have to make so many rules about them because it's kind of scary what some of the kids (girls especially) would wear if you let them (you only have to check out the streets of town on a Saturday to realize this). Understand that this is a tropical climate and girls are perfectly comfortable wearing next to nothing if they are allowed to. I think the schools find uniforms so much easier - no way they will abolish them any time soon.

I don't really have a personal opinion either way. I grew up with uniforms so they are the norm. Sometimes it's easier for me that my kids have uniforms, especially with my 10 year old who is SO picky about what she wears everywhere else. But I am not the most organized, and sometimes I wish they could just put on whatever they have that is clean! lol

 

[mhsjax]

I don't think it's so much to make them look BAD - it's more to make them not think so hard about how they look, if that makes sense. It's more a mentality of "when they are at school they are to concentrate on their work, not the latest fashions". And whenever they have a special day that they allow the kids to wear their own clothes, they have to make so many rules about them because it's kind of scary what some of the kids (girls especially) would wear if you let them (you only have to check out the streets of town on a Saturday to realize this). Understand that this is a tropical climate and girls are perfectly comfortable wearing next to nothing if they are allowed to. I think the schools find uniforms so much easier - no way they will abolish them any time soon.

I don't really have a personal opinion either way. I grew up with uniforms so they are the norm. Sometimes it's easier for me that my kids have uniforms, especially with my 10 year old who is SO picky about what she wears everywhere else. But I am not the most organized, and sometimes I wish they could just put on whatever they have that is clean! lol

I understand tropical climate, we are in Florida. lol IMHO, if a school is having problems with kids not concentrating or kids wearing inappropriate clothing then this is not clothing related. It is a problem with parenting and flat out laziness and not being motivated and I don't want a school to tell me just the that my kids wearing a uniform will help that. sorry but my kids make really good grades and they know how to dress. It isn't my fault that others don't. This is wear problems start. Lets make people equal, lets control how they dress to make them into something that they should already be. I understand in private schools, you make a choice to go there, but not public schools. Again, JMHO.

I also understand how others may like them, it could be easier when choosing clothes to wear to school, but I would rather have that battle with my child than have a school dictate exactly what my kid will wear, ie: uniforms.

 

[niceblueeyedgirl]

I went to a private high school, and we didn't have uniforms, BUT it was very seriously discussed during my time there. As is usually the situation, there were people on both sides of the issue.

However, in our case, the students were mostly "for" the uniforms. The reasoning was varied, with some as stuck up as it would distinguish us from the "public school" kids and as practical as "it takes the time out of getting ready."

For us the whole, "It takes away individuality" argument never really flew. In fact, in many of our opinions, uniforms could actually generate MORE creativity, as you would see how different people interpret their uniform for the day, how they accessorize, how people use the same items of clothing in different ways.

For some reason or another, it never came to pass, but I just wanted to put my two cents in that not all kids are anti-uniform. Of course, this was 15 years ago, so undoubtedly, kids' attitudes have changed in the mean time, I'm sure.

 

[Schmeck]

Said by someone who never wore one. There are many of us who wore uniforms and liked it, so obviously we didn't experience what you posted.

Really? How have you decided that I have never worn a uniform? Because you are wrong, I have. 4 years of it, blech. Girls still got teased and boys still got bullied.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

My kids wore them for 13 years each and never complained. I never heard any of their friends complain either. The high schools they went to you had to test to get in. The majority of the kids who took the tests did not get in. Obviously wearing uniforms every day was not running kids away.

I also agree you can show your individuality in other ways. Most of the kids still wore North Face jackets, Ugg boots (girls), Sperrys, or running shoes. You can always show your individuality in what you do as a person, not only by what you wear.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion on this, but if you never wore a uniform, or had your kids wear one, I think it is silly to say you are against it without first hand knowledge. I did not wear uniforms when I went to school and I was much more concerned with what I wore than my kids ever were. I think uniforms are wonderful and never thought any of my kids looked ugly in them. DD was adorable in her black watch plaid jumper, peter pan collar blouse, navy leggings, and red patent leather stride rite boots when she was little. Her pleated skirt was also cute in junior high and high school. DSs looked very nice in their khaki pants and polo shirts. To each their own though.

 

[CaliBear]

I liked wearing a uniform. We didn't have much money so it really did cut down on feeling embarrassed by my very limited wardrobe. I see people posting that there are different priced uniforms or something? well, that wasn't the case at my school. Everyone was wearing the exact same thing, there weren't different brands of shirts permitted or anything like that. I guess some people find that stifling, but for me it was a lifesaver.

 

[Kerrry7]

I loved wearing a uniform. In primary school I SO badly wanted to be in the secondary schools uniform, I used to try on my brothers' every day. I loved how on school non uniform days you got to see everybody's individuality. We actually had a school vote on whether to keep school uniforms and over 3/4 of the school voted to keep it. When I went to college and each course had their own uniforms everybody loved them too. The only thing different at college was a name badge for our clients to know our names.

 

[Mom_Rides]

DD attends catholic school and wears a uniform. She wears the traditional uniform 3 days a week and her gym uniform 2 days a week. We bought a skirt, jumper and a pair of slacks, 6 shirts for her traditional uniform (3 of the shirts at Once Upon a Child) and then 1 gym shirt (school provided one) and gym shorts and 2 pairs of sweats for around $200. That will last her the entire school year and she will likely be able to wear some of them next school year as well. She has a jeans day or out of uniform dress up day about once a month. She loves her uniform! And I love that we don't have a discussion in what the days threads will be!

I would have loved to wear a uniform in school growing up. I had a lot of clothes but my parents never had the money to provide the name brand popular trends that some of my friends wore. Heck I'd wear a uniform in a heartbeat if my work put that idea out there! No thought about putting together an outfit, fine by me!

 

[khertz]

I went to Catholic school Pre-K through 12th grade and loved wearing uniforms. Pre-K through 8th was a co-ed school and I wore a white blouse with a gray and navy blue plaid skirt and a school pullover sweatshirt in winter. High school was an all girls school with white blouses and green plaid skirts. We also had cardigans we could wear, green for the first 3 years and then Senior year we got one in our class colors. We could wear green tights under our skirts in cold weather, but couldn't wear sweatpants. High school was very strict in our uniform policy (shirts tucked in, skirts a certain length, no sweatpants under skirts, etc) and if a teacher saw you even off of school property violating the policy you could get written up.

I actually really enjoyed wearing uniforms. It was nice not having to decide what to wear every day! When I went to college, I hated having to try to remember, "Did I wear this recently? Did I wear this last week in that class or this one?" etc. It was a real pain. I went into nursing, which is another profession that requires a uniform. I love not having to spend any time picking out an outfit. Just grab a blue scrub shirt and pants and I'm set.