We recently moved to a new school district. In the new district all the kids have to wear uniforms. What is your view on school uniforms? Pro's? Con's?
I will let you all know my opinion and veiws afterwards ..
Pros are not having to chose an outfit, or cliques forming because of outfits.
To me, though, the cons are that they usually cost money to the parents. I think if a school is going to enforce uniforms, they should at the very least provide 1 uniform per child free of cost.
Our oldest daughter went to a charter school for kindergarten, which had a uniform code, but basically, you could wear any collared shirt (polo, dress shirt, etc) in any color you wanted (just had to be a solid color), and get the school name embroidered on the front, with solid colored dress pants or skirts- no jeans, no leggings. It was a much more relaxed uniform, with some freedom. Even the school name embroidered could be in any color you wanted.
If a child wanted to wear all pink, they could. It wasn't restrictive like most school uniform choices are.
We've never had to do that in our system, but I don't think I would mind. If everyone's dressed kind of alike, it helps cut down on distractions and bullying.
i agree with heather about having to choose an outfit. my 11yr old is in the 7th grade and my 6yr old is in K. theyve been in private school and worn uniforms since preschool with the exception of dress down fridays. its a madhouse in here on thursday nights. especially for the wee diva of the house.
As a former teacher - I prefer uniforms. Students can't come dressed inappropriately. Students have an affordable wardrobe for school. And, they understand that they are there to learn - not to dress. Those are important benefits of uniforms. They really do make learning the issue rather than other distractions.
I'm not sure that it neccessarily saves money. You have to pay for uniforms, and regular clothing to be worn outside of school, so you are, essentially, doubling your costs.
Not to mention basic uniform peices can cost more than regular clothes in some cases, too.
they're are no pros. It may make life "easier" for the parents,but their is what i believe to be an underlaying message.
Its not about parents or bullies,as they may package the rule.(heck the bullies can still buy their uniforms at Hollister). i feel that they're trying to slowly take away a persons individuality,to make everybody just exactly same.
Pro: The wearing of school uniforms eliminates some of the competition that goes on among kids, particularly girls, to have the best outfit. No one gets ostracized because of what they wear, because everyone else is dressed the same way.
Con: Part of being a teenager is about experimenting with appearance dress and developing their own style and making their own statement about themselves.
Love uniforms! Gives a sense of commraderie and eliminates the ridiculously skyrocketing wardrobe expenses. Idividuality? Trust me, as a catholic school girl, each child will still find a way to express themself.
I think I like them. When I was in school, there were huge 'class' distinctions drawn based on who could afford designer duds and who couldn't. It evens up some of that.
Audrey, they will still compete with who can roll their skirts the most with out getting caught and who has the best hair and make-up, girls are bred to be superficial (see Barbie) And they are only in school 8 hours a day, so they should concentrate on absorbing knowledge for those 8 hours and feel free to express their statements of individuality during the other half of the day and on the weekends.
There are lots of schools both ways. But regardless of the school I'll bet by middle school age there is a uniform whether imposed by the adults or by the kids.
Pros - 1) in a school district with a wide income disparity, it MIGHT (double stress on MIGHT) even things out a little. 2) there is less focus on apparel at school and more on school work 3) It gets kids dressed appropriately for school (no string tops, bare midriffs, baggy pants with the waist at the knees, and all the other "cute" fashion statements that have a way of sneaking out the door in the morning).
Cons - none of the Pros REALLY work very well at all 1) Kids still know who came from what side of the tracks, and who got their uniforms at the trendy department store and who is wearing hand-me-downs originally bought at K-Mart three siblings ago. 2) Kids, especially girls, will still find a way to focus on who has the best, trendiest stuff. If it can't be clothes, it will be accessories - hair accessories, shoes, backpacks, jewelry, you name it..... 3) It ENFORCES a "dress code" which at one time it was determined to be illegal to do without actually teaching children how to dress. I'd rather see the "dress code" come back. It allows flexibility and individuality while setting guidelines that hopefully transition to the real world (ie they learn that string tops, bare midriffs and baggy pants with the waist at the knees may be OK for free time, but NOT for school or work). School is supposed to be about educating. It should also be educating how to survive in the real world, not creating an environment that is disconnected from it. In addition, uniforms also absolve the parents of the responsibility of making sure their child DOES dress appropriately for school.
I am all for school uniform, as I think it will be cheaper for the parents, and because I think it will be easier for children to fit in, even if their parents don't have enough money to get the latest clothes fashions.
I was not so happy about the uniforms when I first found out about them. The school doesn't help you get any uniforms and I had to go out and buy uniforms for 3 kids .. and they were not cheap at all!!!! My kids could not start school until they had them. So I was a little upset. My teenage daughter cried. She was devastated she would not be able to wear 'her' clothes. The younger two kids seem to love it.
We are a low income family .. so my kids don't always have the expensive clothes and shoes so yes it does level the playing field .. .. some.
It has made the morning routine faster and less stressful with my 9 yr old daughter who has add. Seems to be easier for her to grab the uniform since she knows what is going to have to be worn ... not so many choices to delay and confuse her.
My oldest daughter who is 14 ... is very upset about the uniforms. I am hoping she will get used to it. Seems like in the long run it might help me save money on school clothes if I can find the uniforms for reasonable prices somewhere at the beginning of the school year.
The area I live in has been known to have 'gangs' and problems with 'colors' and kids beating up kids for their shoes and what not .. so maybe this is a good thing for the kids now. Puts everyone on an equal level. They already have to walk through metal detectors to get into the school .. and the school is patrolled by police officers .. so maybe the uniforms will make one less distraction for them.
I am hoping it is going to be a positive thing .. and your right about the 'cliques' in school. I know they had lots back when I was in school. Uniforms might have eliminated them back then.
Pro's: 1. Easy to piece an outfit. All colors usually color coordinate. 2. It is easier to spot someone out of school uniform. Thus, knowing if a stranger is among the kids. 3. Kids can still express themselves with different accessories to go with outfit. 4. It helps teach the children that some rules can't be broken. When they realize they have to wear uniforms every day.
Con's: 1. Kids still make fun because another child may have an accessories another child can't afford to buy to go along with out fit. 2. Outfits tend to be expensive. Especially if you have more than one child. Or the shirt has to have a special logo on it. 3. You still can spot the poor child out in a crowd. 4. Uniform outfits aren't easily to replace when a child ruins it or tears it by playing, stains or what not's. 5. School pictures look all the same every year. Unless you change the child's hair style. 6. You not only pay for uniforms. But you have buy a second set of clothes worn outside of school.
I can come up with mnay more con's if I sit an dthink about it. My kids have worn uniforms for the past three years. (Only my younger two). At first I love dthe idea. But every year I have to buy brand new outfits because my kids grow out of their old ones. The shirts are 22 bucks a pop. I don't know about you. But I don't even spend that much on shirts for myself. Plus, if a child stains or rips them. You have replace right away. I don't have 22 bucks laying around to replace several times a year. Plus, the uniform pants, shorts, skorts are navy or kaki. No pockets below or around the knee. Stores only carry them for so long through out the year. So, they are hard to replace as well. I have never seen them marked down anywhere either. Since I have a boy and a girl. I can't pass one size down each year. To me I have found them are more expensive. Don't forget adding the school jacket or sweater with teh school logo (Only oness acceptable.) If you think shirts are high price. Don't ask what a simple hoodie zip up jacket with school logo cost.
A lot of times there will be a big uniform "swap" during the summer. That's a great way to at least find some of the pieces at a great price... I hope it all works out for you. I am pro-uniform, but I can understand why some people don't like them.
I am pro - uniform.. Cuts down on the teasing, and also kids can concentrate on school-- Not what Tiffany and Emme are wearing . Uniforms can be traded or handed down at the end of the year. I think the schools could /should change shirt colors for different grades.. Say K-3 Red or white - then 4-6Blue or green 7-8 black or brown. or what ever colors.. Just so there could be a little variation. I think the uniforms are a big plus
We wore uniforms my entire school life. It did not in any way thwart my individualism. I never resented it. My parents did not approach clothes as anything but absolute necessities, so they weren't spending a lot of money on clothes to wear out of school either. My daughter wore uniforms through school, and the schools require them here now for public school children, and I am very glad not to see pants falling down and midriffs that have no business being shown. Anyone who thinks a uniform stifles individuality is unaware, I do believe. I actually think it frees one to be who he or she is. Clothes can be an expression, but often only an expression of conformity to what is cool or not. I will say the one year my daughter was in a school without uniforms we were replacing her pants and blue jeans constantly. It was a growth year and then she was in first grade and very physically active, so what she didn't outgrow, she was shredding the knees out. We were just flabberghasted. Clothes bought at Christmas were worn out by February. It was a very frustrating year. We lived in an area that had rain like crazy and the shoes were more an issue than the clothes. I'd much rather have money to take her to the zoo or to a movie or a special outing than put money into clothes that are no longer valued after 6 months.
My kids go to charter school. Sarah has NO trouble expressing her individuality; doesn't need clothes to do that (though I suppose it does slip out in her choice of underwear). They can't wear jewelry or makeup, so it really does level things out for everyone.
The cost does get to be an issue. I had my son go through four pairs of pants (ripped at the knee from crawling on the floor during inside recess) in two months. Finally discovered REINFORCED knees. Much better!
"Individuality" is overrated. That comes from what you put INSIDE the kid in the off hours, not what they wear during the eight hours they're in school!
As a parent I think I would prefer the uniforms only because you don't have to deal with so and so has a Hannah Montana shirt and I don't. The whole I want what someone else has isn't an issue. Everyone is equal beasue they are all wearing the same thing.
But as someone who wore a uniform for 4 years in school way back when I hated it. lol But it was a forest green skirt with a white blouse, yuck.
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Comments: 30
To me, though, the cons are that they usually cost money to the parents. I think if a school is going to enforce uniforms, they should at the very least provide 1 uniform per child free of cost.
Our oldest daughter went to a charter school for kindergarten, which had a uniform code, but basically, you could wear any collared shirt (polo, dress shirt, etc) in any color you wanted (just had to be a solid color), and get the school name embroidered on the front, with solid colored dress pants or skirts- no jeans, no leggings. It was a much more relaxed uniform, with some freedom. Even the school name embroidered could be in any color you wanted.
If a child wanted to wear all pink, they could. It wasn't restrictive like most school uniform choices are.
For parents, it does save some money.
bill, what do the kids with problems dress like?
Not to mention basic uniform peices can cost more than regular clothes in some cases, too.
Its not about parents or bullies,as they may package the rule.(heck the bullies can still buy their uniforms at Hollister). i feel that they're trying to slowly take away a persons individuality,to make everybody just exactly same.
Con: Part of being a teenager is about experimenting with appearance dress and developing their own style and making their own statement about themselves.
Cons - none of the Pros REALLY work very well at all 1) Kids still know who came from what side of the tracks, and who got their uniforms at the trendy department store and who is wearing hand-me-downs originally bought at K-Mart three siblings ago. 2) Kids, especially girls, will still find a way to focus on who has the best, trendiest stuff. If it can't be clothes, it will be accessories - hair accessories, shoes, backpacks, jewelry, you name it..... 3) It ENFORCES a "dress code" which at one time it was determined to be illegal to do without actually teaching children how to dress. I'd rather see the "dress code" come back. It allows flexibility and individuality while setting guidelines that hopefully transition to the real world (ie they learn that string tops, bare midriffs and baggy pants with the waist at the knees may be OK for free time, but NOT for school or work). School is supposed to be about educating. It should also be educating how to survive in the real world, not creating an environment that is disconnected from it. In addition, uniforms also absolve the parents of the responsibility of making sure their child DOES dress appropriately for school.
We are a low income family .. so my kids don't always have the expensive clothes and shoes so yes it does level the playing field .. .. some.
It has made the morning routine faster and less stressful with my 9 yr old daughter who has add. Seems to be easier for her to grab the uniform since she knows what is going to have to be worn ... not so many choices to delay and confuse her.
My oldest daughter who is 14 ... is very upset about the uniforms. I am hoping she will get used to it. Seems like in the long run it might help me save money on school clothes if I can find the uniforms for reasonable prices somewhere at the beginning of the school year.
The area I live in has been known to have 'gangs' and problems with 'colors' and kids beating up kids for their shoes and what not .. so maybe this is a good thing for the kids now. Puts everyone on an equal level. They already have to walk through metal detectors to get into the school .. and the school is patrolled by police officers .. so maybe the uniforms will make one less distraction for them.
I have mixed feeling about it!
I suppose one huge plus is your kid likely won't get shot in school over a pair of slacks.
1. Easy to piece an outfit. All colors usually color coordinate.
2. It is easier to spot someone out of school uniform. Thus, knowing if a stranger is among the kids.
3. Kids can still express themselves with different accessories to go with outfit.
4. It helps teach the children that some rules can't be broken. When they realize they have to wear uniforms every day.
Con's:
1. Kids still make fun because another child may have an accessories another child can't afford to buy to go along with out fit.
2. Outfits tend to be expensive. Especially if you have more than one child. Or the shirt has to have a special logo on it.
3. You still can spot the poor child out in a crowd.
4. Uniform outfits aren't easily to replace when a child ruins it or tears it by playing, stains or what not's.
5. School pictures look all the same every year. Unless you change the child's hair style.
6. You not only pay for uniforms. But you have buy a second set of clothes worn outside of school.
I can come up with mnay more con's if I sit an dthink about it. My kids have worn uniforms for the past three years. (Only my younger two). At first I love dthe idea. But every year I have to buy brand new outfits because my kids grow out of their old ones. The shirts are 22 bucks a pop. I don't know about you. But I don't even spend that much on shirts for myself. Plus, if a child stains or rips them. You have replace right away. I don't have 22 bucks laying around to replace several times a year. Plus, the uniform pants, shorts, skorts are navy or kaki. No pockets below or around the knee. Stores only carry them for so long through out the year. So, they are hard to replace as well. I have never seen them marked down anywhere either. Since I have a boy and a girl. I can't pass one size down each year. To me I have found them are more expensive. Don't forget adding the school jacket or sweater with teh school logo (Only oness acceptable.) If you think shirts are high price. Don't ask what a simple hoodie zip up jacket with school logo cost.
or what ever colors.. Just so there could be a little variation.
I think the uniforms are a big plus
The cost does get to be an issue. I had my son go through four pairs of pants (ripped at the knee from crawling on the floor during inside recess) in two months. Finally discovered REINFORCED knees. Much better!
"Individuality" is overrated. That comes from what you put INSIDE the kid in the off hours, not what they wear during the eight hours they're in school!
But as someone who wore a uniform for 4 years in school way back when I hated it. lol But it was a forest green skirt with a white blouse, yuck.