What's your opinion

[vthokie]

Apr 17, 2015 8:07:29 GMT -5 lolaburns said:

I like uniforms. I'm not sure how I feel about them for high school. Clothing is also a big part of self expression for some. It definitely was for me.

That's the main parental argument

[thedahliharpa]

I would have hated them as a kid. CONFORM. Now, I love them as a parent. CUTE.

Cute isn't the only reason I like them, but it's a factor.

[bigapple]

Apr 17, 2015 6:45:05 GMT -5 silverjm said:

As long as the clothing items are easy to obtain, reasonably priced, and there are programs in place to help low income families, I am all for uniforms.

This. Also, one of my daily joys is seeing how HS girls in my prep school-heavy neighborhood make their look unique. Blair Waldorf would be impressed.

[jsillyfun]

I actually would never send my kid to a school with uniforms. I think they aren't cute and I want to have my kid in clothes that are more fun. (I'm thinking the ones that are just like white polos and blue pants). Boring! The catholic schools have cute uniforms but we would never do religious school. I also in general (at least in my area) see a correlation between uniforms and other strict comportment guidelines. Like the schools with uniforms make you do weird things like keep your hands folded at all times or whatever. I'm more of a damn the man kind of girl.

[ruby412]

I love the idea of uniforms in public schools. I think it's great and should be a more widespread practice.

[Deleted]

I have nothing against uniforms and wouldn't complain if a school changed to them. They are becoming way more common for public schools everywhere I have lived.

[Deleted]

Kids will find a way to show their style. Whether it be socks, shoes, hair, backpacks, etc. I'm amazed what they can do with basic uniforms.

[nannerl]

I love uniforms. Makes everything so much easier.

[nannerl]

Apr 17, 2015 9:05:19 GMT -5 @lindy said:

Kids will find a way to show their style. Whether it be socks, shoes, hair, backpacks, etc. I'm amazed what they can do with basic uniforms.

So true.

[AndyCohen]

I was all about self-expression through clothes growing up, but now that I'm an adult I can look back and say I think it would be a good thing for kids to learn how to express themselves outside of material things. I don't see that as a negative.

[jsillyfun]

Apr 17, 2015 9:07:35 GMT -5 @therealmc said:

Apr 17, 2015 8:50:57 GMT -5 jsillyfun said:

I actually would never send my kid to a school with uniforms. I think they aren't cute and I want to have my kid in clothes that are more fun. (I'm thinking the ones that are just like white polos and blue pants). Boring! The catholic schools have cute uniforms but we would never do religious school. I also in general (at least in my area) see a correlation between uniforms and other strict comportment guidelines. Like the schools with uniforms make you do weird things like keep your hands folded at all times or whatever. I'm more of a damn the man kind of girl.

What? Cute clothes on the weekends and after school. Folded hands? Lol

The schools around here that tend to do uniforms are these weird super strict charter schools. Like you get disciplined for not having your hand folded at all times and stuff. My friend teaches at one and I'm just not into it. Uniforms feel stifling and anti personal expression to me. I just really don't like them.

[laurack]

All for uniforms. It's my main beef with public schools lol. I almost want to send her to catholic school just for the uniforms! ha

I'd love if they brought this into schools here. I see only pros:

- I don't have to choose clothes for them every night before bed. Seems organizing school clothes would be so easy
- Don't have to worry about fights- no I want to wear THIS today, where is my blue dress, I wanted my yellow jeans etc. blah blah
- Income disparity is less obvious. I feel badly for low income kids who might be made fun of for their lack of wardrobe diversity
- if they start out that way as young kids they won't ever know any different as they get older. I assume it might be tough for say a 12 year old to adjust to a uniform

basically I see no cons to it really.

[eav2c]

Apr 17, 2015 9:18:32 GMT -5 jsillyfun said:

Apr 17, 2015 9:07:35 GMT -5 @therealmc said:

What? Cute clothes on the weekends and after school. Folded hands? Lol

The schools around here that tend to do uniforms are these weird super strict charter schools. Like you get disciplined for not having your hand folded at all times and stuff. My friend teaches at one and I'm just not into it. Uniforms feel stifling and anti personal expression to me. I just really don't like them.

We are talking public school here though. So, if you were zoned for a public school with uniforms what would you do?

[laurack]

I grew up wearing a uniform, pretty much everyone in ireland did. Sure I hated it but I could wear other clothes outside of school/on the weekends. Also my parents didn't have much money so I know it helped them in that respect and in hindsight was probably better for my self esteem that we all were wearing the uniforms.

I already felt bad sometimes because other kids had more money for things/cooler clothes/always buying new clothes etc. I'm glad now looking back I didn't have to feel bad EVERY day becuase I didn't have a ton of cool clothes to wear.

[jfh]

I'm pretty sure Kai would be totally into uniforms, as long as the uniform included a batman cape.

[eav2c]

I am all for uniforms. My childhood best friend went to catholic school and I was so jealous of her uniform.

[jsillyfun]

Apr 17, 2015 9:20:43 GMT -5 eav2c said:

Apr 17, 2015 9:18:32 GMT -5 jsillyfun said:

The schools around here that tend to do uniforms are these weird super strict charter schools. Like you get disciplined for not having your hand folded at all times and stuff. My friend teaches at one and I'm just not into it. Uniforms feel stifling and anti personal expression to me. I just really don't like them.

We are talking public school here though. So, if you were zoned for a public school with uniforms what would you do?

Well if she already went there I wouldn't move her or anything, but here you can pick any of the public schools you want and most don't have uniforms. Only 1 does as well as some charters and the catholic schools. I mean if all the public schools required uniforms I'd deal with it, but I'd prefer not to. I guess I'm the outlier but I just chafe at any institution telling me or my kid what to wear. I am very anti dress code in general though.

[laurack]

LOL at the folded hands/uniforms = conformity and weird strictness

because one minute it's a uniform, the next minute its this. The obvious sequence of events

[Deleted]

Apr 17, 2015 9:24:45 GMT -5 jsillyfun said:

Apr 17, 2015 9:20:43 GMT -5 eav2c said:

We are talking public school here though. So, if you were zoned for a public school with uniforms what would you do?

Well if she already went there I wouldn't move her or anything, but here you can pick any of the public schools you want and most don't have uniforms. Only 1 does as well as some charters and the catholic schools. I mean if all the public schools required uniforms I'd deal with it, but I'd prefer not to. I guess I'm the outlier but I just chafe at any institution telling me or my kid what to wear. I am very anti dress code in general though.

Public schools here without uniforms have relatively strict dress codes. You aren't going to escape dress codes, whether it be short length, no spaghetti straps, no underwear showing, they all have something.

[jfh]

Self expression is great but not as great as making easy changes that somewhat alleviate the negative impacts of income inequality. I really believe that uniforms make a huge positive difference in how kids experience school, especially kids that can't afford to "self express" the way the rich kids can. So if I had a choice I'd stick Kai in a boring, stifling uniform every day. (On certain special days he could wear the cape under the polo).

[claralou]

jsillyfun I also grew up in an area where uniforms were pretty restricted to a few uber religious private schools, so I get where you're coming from on that front, but that's absolutely not the case everywhere. A lot of the public schools here are uniform only.

However, I find the but cute clothes!/what about self expression? argument to be an overtly ridiculous benefit of the privileged. Uniforms level the playing field for everyone, and turn the focus toward school. A financial inability to "fit in" in terms of clothing can be devastating for kids, both socially and academically. Removing that hurdle can only benefit the majority.

[betsyray]

I think people in the NoVA area (or any HCOL area) especially could use them. Private schools here are ridiculous at $20k+ a year starting with kindergarten. We have great public schools (Fairfax County) so you end up with a huge spread of income inequality. I went to international schools and catholic schools growing up, one without uniforms and one with. Looking back on my experience, I prefer the uniforms.

[honeybee503]

I'm not a fan. Mostly because I want to have fun picking out their outfits for school every day. Even when they are 12. They will let me, right? Don't tell me any different! Lol.

Really though, I never had them growing up and I wouldn't have wanted them for myself. If their school had them though I wouldn't get upset and complain or anything. I just have never really heard of a public school having them in my area, so I'd be a bit surprised.

[jsillyfun]

Apr 17, 2015 9:39:52 GMT -5 claralou said:

jsillyfun I also grew up in an area where uniforms were pretty restricted to a few uber religious private schools, so I get where you're coming from on that front, but that's absolutely not the case everywhere. A lot of the public schools here are uniform only.

However, I find the but cute clothes!/what about self expression? argument to be an overtly ridiculous benefit of the privileged. Uniforms level the playing field for everyone, and turn the focus toward school. A financial inability to "fit in" in terms of clothing can be devastating for kids, both socially and academically. Removing that hurdle can only benefit the majority.

Yeah I get what you're saying regarding regular public schools with uniforms. In the original question I was just saying I would not send my child to a school with uniforms bc (other than one public school) the schools with uniforms go against my philosophy and I just don't like them. I see the income inequality point of view for sure though. Anyway I'm not saying anyone else is wrong for liking or wanting uniforms but I just don't like them and would avoid them if possible.

[Dorothy Zbornak]

I want my kid's self expression stifled in this case, by all means!

[dixeedeluxe]

How to school uniforms work? Is it a very specific THING you have to buy? Or do you get to choose your khaki pants, for example, to fit your body type?

I just realized I always said I'd never be a mail carrier because the pants look HELLA UNCOMFORTABLE.

I'd like my kids to be comfortable.

[lolaburns]

Yea.... But cute clothes. Because kids are totally going to school to show off cute clothes. Stop.

[lolaburns]

Apr 17, 2015 9:39:52 GMT -5 claralou said:

jsillyfun I also grew up in an area where uniforms were pretty restricted to a few uber religious private schools, so I get where you're coming from on that front, but that's absolutely not the case everywhere. A lot of the public schools here are uniform only.

However, I find the but cute clothes!/what about self expression? argument to be an overtly ridiculous benefit of the privileged. Uniforms level the playing field for everyone, and turn the focus toward school. A financial inability to "fit in" in terms of clothing can be devastating for kids, both socially and academically. Removing that hurdle can only benefit the majority.

Self-expression versus "cute clothes" really isn't equatable, in my eyes. Clothing absolutely is a form of self-expression and it doesn't just involve being privileged.

ETA: My parents didn't have much money at all when I was growing up. I remember it being a big deal to go to WalMart with my dad because I could talk him into buying me a sweat suit outfit and a cheap scarf . I would turn into my own creation to wear to school.

[mcburglar]

I support uniforms. As an adult, I get all the reasons it is a good thing.

But then, I think about my growing up experience and hesitate. I was such a nerd and struggled so much to fit in. The one thing I had going for me was that my mom bought me nice clothes and I felt good in them. I felt confident that my clothes expressed my personality and that made me feel better.

I could have "made a uniform my own" and found other ways to express my style. But, it wouldnt have been the same.

[Deleted]

Apr 17, 2015 10:01:24 GMT -5 dixeedeluxe said:

How to school uniforms work? Is it a very specific THING you have to buy? Or do you get to choose your khaki pants, for example, to fit your body type?

I just realized I always said I'd never be a mail carrier because the pants look HELLA UNCOMFORTABLE.

I'd like my kids to be comfortable.

Depends on the school. The one nearby lets you pick the style of khaki pants, so any brand is fine. You also can choose from tshirt, polo, sweatshirt, jacket to wear on top. Girls can also wear a khaki skirt or jumper option. I do prefer ones that let you pick your khaki pants mainly for fit options.