School Dress Code or Uniforms: Do they stiffle freedom of expression?

My son just started kindergarten, but I was so happy when I heard they had a uniform dress code. The dress code is very liberal in the sense that we can buy the clothes at any store, there are about 5 colors we can choose between for shirts and three colors for pants.

The middle school next to the elementary school also has the same dress code, but I can see how some of the kids still do things to stand out, while staying within the dress code.

I really think it is good with this dress code, at least in elementary and middle school, as everyone is dressed the same and there is no name brand competition.

i think that school uniforms are good. I know at least the girls still find ways to personalize them with accessories. But it allows them to focus on their school work more at home and not on what outfit they will be wearing to school the next day. Also i find girls very judgemental regarding the appearance of other girls, so at least they won't be judging other girs on the clothes they wear

I went to both public and Catholic school. Mind you when I went to public school it was only the late 60's and the early 70's and I only went to 6th grade. I went on to Catholic school in 7th grade and high school. I remember the other Catholic school allowed the boys to wear any color shirts in the 8th grade and we all thought that was so childish.

I think I am in favor of school uniforms as long as they are comfortable. Those little dress shirts were often on the side of uncomfortable. Comfort and affordability are the two key elements in the idea of a code or a uniform.

There are many different ways to some self experession while wearing uniforms. Assecories says it all. Sure you all may be wearing the same colors. But you will still be able to pick out the rich kids from the poor kids by the brand of uniform, shoes they wear, backpacks and the style of their hair.

I think uniforms are best because otherwise clothes are a distraction and can be a painful subject for poor kids who can't afford to adopt the kid's fashion whims of the season. I don't think it's healthy for kids to try to outdo each other in shocking their parents and other adults with their wild styles. Then the fashion industry picks up on them and first thing you know old women like me are trying to be stylish in thigh-high hemlines.

I disagree. I thik there should be limitations such as no swear words on clothes, ect, but uniforms? Why can't we let our kids have a little expression? Most of their time is spent at school. If they can't be themselves then, as kids, when can they? We should teach them to be who they are, not to just conform with the crowd. Of course, this is JMO.

Uniforms are better for the kids, the attitude in school, and the parent's wallet. Unfortunately, most parents don't have the authority to impose restraint on their children's dress code, and most schools don't have dress codes.

Uniform or no uniform doesn't matter. The same arguments will arise, with just a different venue, much like Minipin Pixels has noted.

uniforms bring about unity. I've always taught in private schools (primary) and the uniforms make a difference in the children"s attitudes. I also think it's the instructors responsibility to make sure his/her students look neat at all times. If the shirts are suppose to be inside the pants and skorts then send them to the restroom to comply. My children are 1st graders and they better not come in my classroom looking bummy. AND THE TEACHERS ARE THE FIRST ONES TO SET THE TONE BY THE WAY THEY DRESS!

Uniforms are the only way to go. I worked in the public schools for a long time and was shocked at how provocatively dressed the students came to school. When my school went to a uniform policy things improved greatly. The students no longer focussed on things other than the work of school. This was good for their education and good for the climate of the school.

Nothing wrong with uniforms - especially when you see what kids would prefer to wear if left to their own devices.

Oh! and by the way what the heck are you expressing with your pants hanging from your butt and your stomach and boobs showing. Express yourself in your work. I think there's a little too much freedom hanging loose.

My daughter just started her first year of high school and I think uniforms would be a very good idea. Did you know that where she goes to school it IS okay for them to wear their pajama pants? Last I was there I got to see one with pajama pants on, showing the underwear thing (I am just not getting that at all) and a butt crack. Oh yea, she also had flip flops on. I think she might have possibly been a distraction to the other stufents....she was me!

Innitially when our school system adopted the uniform policy I disagreed because I do feel it stiffles (sp?) individualism. However after seeing the gangs and their effect I am glad of the uniform. Kids are in school to learn. They can be indviduals in how effective of learners they are and after school dress as they wish.

Although I didn't go to a school with a uniform requirement (there was a dress code in the late 60's though), I also agree that all students should wear a uniform. It provides a commonality among the student population and it doesn't matter whether rich or poor, they still who have to wear the same designed outfit. A level playing field for all.

I think uniforms are fine in grade school. By the time children reach middle school and high school, though...the way they dress is one of the ways they choose to express their individuality. My sons ONLY kind of rebellion when they were in high school was in the clothing they wore at times. They never used alcohol, drugs or did anything else. They DID wear the baggy pants, and also had long hair for a time...but I never made a big issue out of it. Better that in my mind than so many of the much worse things they could be doing...

I was heavily involved in the formation of a strict dress code policy when my children began attending a Charter School in our city over ten years ago. It was fairly close to a uniform since all the children had to wear the same style and color shirts and pants. It was a little looser since we did allow polo shirts but not any thing with a logo. One of the benefits of this "uniform" was it gave the children a sense of community in the school. It was one of the first Charter Schools in MA and we all bonded together against the animosity we faced. Teacher unions were very against the idea of Charter Schools. I think the dress code helped to establish pride in their school and in their appearance as well.

"Individualism", "freedom of expression", baloney. These are the years that our children are supposed to be learning, not expressing the bad attitudes or their rebellion against authority.

I was picking my 10 year old grandson up from school one day and some of the female high schoolers were walking by my car and one of them expressed herself by a large chunk cut out of the derriere of her levis. What does this "express"? a. that she has no respect for authority, b. that she is trying to attract the guys in the wrong way, c. has no self respect.

Well I know that for one thing it has to be pretty difficult for the guy sitting behind her and having to be exposed to her butt trying to bust out. I wonder how his grades are. Where are the teachers? Oh yes they are walking by too and they are wearing skin tight jeans, some even bra-less wearing sweatshirts so their boobs can flop around. That probably wouldn't be a distraction, would it? How could the teachers say anything to this girl if they aren't dress much better? And the parents. What kind of parent would allow their daughter to dress like that?

C'mon teachers and parents, get your heads screwed on right. Teachers, you are supposed to be "teaching" these kids and you are teaching more than the three R's by the way you act and dress. You are a professional, so look professional. Maybe you would get a little more respect. Parents, what are you doing? Are you checking on what your kids are doing or wearing? Are you involved in your child's life by making (oops, should I have said "suggesting"?) them limit use of the TV, or sitting down and having a meal with the family, or going to bed at a decent hour, etc?

Well, I guess I have ruffled some feathers so I had better shut up before someone expresses their attitude by a "drive by".

Right on Harrel!! I can tell you this is one reason we homeschool our kids.

We get criticized for "lack of socialization", but let me tell you, it is exactly some of these kids you speak about that we prefer our kids to have a lack of socialization with.

no they dont kids should not have to compete based on what they wear

I'm a total fan of uniforms right through high school. I have no use for "freedom of expression" in kids who re supposed to be *learning* in school, and am perfectly happy to stifle the kind of expression I've seen on kids' shirts (I'm a teacher, too). Uniforms also help parents stay in control of clothing and family budgeting.

My son has uniforms and he actually is fine with it...and he's 15. This way us poorer people are not competeing with the richer ones he said. Over the last 5 years, Pher's homeschool school has gone from dress code to uniforms, because the kids (and parents) were not obey the dress code. Teachers got tired of having kids call parents.

I do wish the uniforms weren't so darn expensive....they cost us about three times what normal clothes cost...ie $22 for a polo shirt with the logo.

LOL Doriene --- the cost of uniforms KILLS the family budget...they are so expensive!!! Then you have to have regular clothes too, because you can't chance having your child ruin the uniform clothes.

most schools in the UK have uniforms - and have always had that rule.

I've gone to schools with uniforms, dress codes, and no dress codes. I personally hated the uniforms(what kid doesn't) and I think it's fine for grade school but once the kid gets to middle school/high school I think a dress code is fine.

I went to private school, and although we didn't have a uniform, we did have a relatively strict dress code. No offensive language or ads on t-shirts, skirts/shorts had to be fingertip length, etc.

My daughter will be starting school next year. They have a uniform dress code. We can go buy our own pants and shirt (whatever style we want) but there are certain colors that all the kids will wear. It's only for grade school. It doesn't bother me at all. It will be easy to go and buy the pants and shirts and then we will know every day that is what we are going to wear for school. She can wear whatever clothes she loves in her down time away from school.

I had uniforms in high school and so did my BF's daughters. I am all for them. They are there to learn, not have a fashion show. They have plenty of time where they are not in school to express themselves. From what I see now a days, I wish they would express a bit less of themselves.

I grew up in the 40-60's, I am not from a wealth family, didn't wear fancy cloth. Mostly jeans, tee shirts. No fancy coats or shoes. Yep I walked to school and home through the rains, sleet, snow, flooded streets when it rained. Had parents that really didn't care one way or the other if I was alive or dead. At the begining of the school year my mother would take us kids to town to the Sear, SS Kreasges, (Kmat now), Pennys in down town Flint where we were bought, a couple shirts, a couple jeans, sock and shoes. When it got cold we go a coat if the last years was in real bad shape. Would loved to have had a what they called, "Varisty"Jacket". Now the jacket they use isn't even the same colors.
The kids who cold dress better were the ones who got the breaks in school functions, school plays ect.

School uniforms are just fine by me. School is NOT a democracy - it's a learning institution. Children have plenty of opportunity for self-expression outside of their clothing in a school.

I'm all for freedom of expression, but I stand by school uniforms 100%. They only wear them for a few hours, so I hardly think it stifles freedom of expression. I wish their were school uniforms when I was in school. Social classes most times assemble according to what/who someone is wearing, which is unfair. School uniforms allow kids to look beyond the exterior of their classmates and actually get to know them. It also allows them to concentrate on schoolwork, not who is wearing what.

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Im shocked by the involvement of the mother and child in a porn ring.

But back to the matter at hand, I graduated a year or so ago and upon starting university I wished it had a uniform. Throughout high school I was always grateful for the uniform we were made to wear. We were allowed a little leeway here and there, and could express ourselves through accessories, footwear and makeup and hairstyles to a degree. But ultimately I was thankful that I didn't have to worry about fashion parades and spending money I didn't have on new clothes.

Now that Im at uni I find it irritating and expensive to have to put together an outfit every day, even though I do opt for very casual and comfortable options.

School uniforms provide a sense of unity between classmates, and help to level out the playing field (although hierarchies and food chains will inevitably exist). Theyre also useful on school excursions, as they help to identify students out in public. I also think theyre a godsend for parents, as they dont have to worry about forking out money to buy their children new clothes for school on a regular basis. I know my parents wouldnt have enjoyed doing that.

Uniforms, please!

and i didn't mean that sarcastically. I think they are a necessary evil, if u will.

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I am 100% for strict dress codes or uniforms. The kids are at school to learn not to "express" their personal styles, let them be the way they want at home.

It is really sad that although so many of us here AGREE to the policy of dress codes that it was such a contentious and hotly contested subject when it was brought up and soundly defeated in the 90's. Too late smart??