Uniforms in public schools...discussion in our community

[erbear]

Jul 16, 2019 17:52:49 GMT -5 DotAndBuzz said:

Jul 16, 2019 15:54:37 GMT -5 eclaires said:

As I enter my first year as pta president this was my thought. We don’t have uniforms but I wore uniforms k-12. When we meet to discuss fundraising incentives I’m always like I wish we wore uniforms so we could give out the free prize of no uniform day.

So I also am heavily involved in PTO fundraising, and I see this fundraiser as kind of crappy. :\

It calls attention to the kids who's parents either can't or didn't give money, and denies those kids of the "treat" of not wearing the uniform.

It's hard to balance equity and fundraising (I get it, truly, my kids attend a Title I school), but I really dislike fundraisers where some kids get something publicly and others don't. Like, a lot. Parent donations should be kept separate from "rewards" for students.

I'm a hard no on uniforms as well, and would be pretty pissed if a new principal came in in JULY and announced them for the fall, for most of the reasons stated above: equity, laundry, appropriateness for the weather, one more thing to discipline kids for, etc.

This, word for word.

I don't like uniforms (as a parent and a teacher). I wouldn't fight it if my kids' school had them, but I wouldn't push for it. And it's complete nonsense to make this announcement in mid-July...that would piss me off - I've bought my kids' fall clothes and I would be really irritated to have to buy new ones.

[readyin07]

I could really go either way.

Most elementary schools in my county have a dress code. It's pretty much polo shirt and bottoms and girls can wear any dress. Fridays there are non-collared school shirts you can buy and wear. Some schools allow you to wear the school shirts whenever. I really don't mind a uniform at all. I don't really see think it separates the haves/have nots, but I like that there is some standard of dress. My son's first school had very limited colors (had to be solid polos in yellow, white or blue with navy or khaki bottoms and sweaters/sweatshirts had to be that color). That was good in that it was super cheap, but I did miss shopping a little for him. I definitely spend more now that I have choices, otherwise it was Old Navy all the time. Our school now is Title 1 and it has a dress code, but no one is really giving a crap if you are in code or not. That works for me.

Our local middle school just got rid of its dress code and I am actually bummed b/c I think having some sense of a dress code is actually more important as the kids get older and make things a little easier socially, especially for girls. I mean a polo and shorts isn't the most fashion forward for anyone so it's nice to make the choices a little easier and more, well, uniform. For my boys, it woud have helped me from automatically becoming slobs. On weekends it's hard enough as it is to get them in anything besides a sport shirt and mesh shorts so it's was nice that it was an option to have something different.

[WOT?*]

Jul 16, 2019 16:08:54 GMT -5 bronxgirl said:

Jul 16, 2019 12:57:21 GMT -5 WOT?* said:

 And there are "sensory issues" thrown in for those who deal with them (seams and fabric vs. reduction of visual stimulation). 

This is a legitimate concern and not at all entitled.  The principal should reach out to the school occupational therapist to come up with a workable solution that meets the needs of all kids.

This one I give all due credit and is a fair argument. The entitled reference is the "They didn't ask me. They didn't ask my kids. They just made a rule and I don't like it. My kids are individuals and want to show their individuality" (or "I want to live vicariously through my kids and their clothing choices." lol.) I am not unfamiliar with the needs of kids on the spectrum. The discussion is both-sided. Those with physically sensory issues that can only wear certain fabrics, have no seams, etc. are one side of the coin. Since the school doesn't have a restriction as to where the uniforms are purchased, just color criteria, the uniforms can be purchased to accommodate any special needs. It could also be addressed in a 504 or IEP. The other side of the coin is those with visual sensory issues who would actually thrive in a setting of uniformity, with fewer colors and patterns to disturb them visually.

ETA: this is a brand new school, opening in the fall. This discussion has only been the past few months, after the principal was hired, school was being staffed and administration and rules getting set up. This is a whole new ballgame, not just a new principal.

[vamoose]

This is obviously not the top priority, but it always looks SO uncomfortable to me to do PE and recess in Kakhis and a polo. I just imagine going to the gym in that and cringe. My kids wear sports pants and t shirts to school and it’s great for playing hard during their few breaks.

[cmeon]

Jul 16, 2019 22:17:26 GMT -5 WOT?* said:

Jul 16, 2019 16:08:54 GMT -5 bronxgirl said:

This is a legitimate concern and not at all entitled.  The principal should reach out to the school occupational therapist to come up with a workable solution that meets the needs of all kids.

This one I give all due credit and is a fair argument. The entitled reference is the "They didn't ask me. They didn't ask my kids. They just made a rule and I don't like it. My kids are individuals and want to show their individuality" (or "I want to live vicariously through my kids and their clothing choices." lol.) I am not unfamiliar with the needs of kids on the spectrum. The discussion is both-sided. Those with physically sensory issues that can only wear certain fabrics, have no seams, etc. are one side of the coin. Since the school doesn't have a restriction as to where the uniforms are purchased, just color criteria, the uniforms can be purchased to accommodate any special needs. It could also be addressed in a 504 or IEP. The other side of the coin is those with visual sensory issues who would actually thrive in a setting of uniformity, with fewer colors and patterns to disturb them visually.

ETA: this is a brand new school, opening in the fall. This discussion has only been the past few months, after the principal was hired, school was being staffed and administration and rules getting set up. This is a whole new ballgame, not just a new principal.

For clarity's sake- this is a traditional public school- not a charter or magnet- that children are zoned into? You really don't think the public- parents, students, tax-payers- has a right to be involved in public school policy?

ETA: FWIW, my school board rep is favorited in my phone, I'm on 3 school advisory councils next year (and a brand new booster club) and determined to make the district advisory council (though the meetings are incredibly inconvenient), and I'm positive that at least a few district level people consider me a thorn in their side. That's my job as a stakeholder- I get to be involved!

[Dumbledork]

If adults can create a “work uniform” of regular business clothing to make getting ready in the morning more seamless, parents can create a “school uniform” for their kids to make their mornings more easy.

Imposing that on other families, when routines, income, personal abilities, etc are so vastly different for families is annoying.

[karinothing]

I don't think it is odd or entitled that the parents are wondering why it wasn't discussed with them. Pretty much every single change that happens at our school or district level is debated 900000 times before a decision is made.

[UMaineTeach]

Also, polo shirts suck. Who likes polos?

[irishbride2]

I liked the policy at one school I taught at. The dress code was a school T-shirt and any jean bottoms . Everyone got x number of school shirts for free ( don’t remember the number) and additional shirts were 3 dollars.

It was a school with very heavy gang issues and that’s the only reason they did it... to prevent colors as much as possible. Obviously there were other ways to flash gang affiliation.

PE uniforms were provided and washed on site.

[orval]

My ds wears uniforms at Catholic school. Love them. He is now in middle school and I had to buy new pants this year (sometimes we can get 2 years out of pants). I just paid $6 per pair of pants and $4 per pair of shorts for a 12 year old. This is way cheaper than I could buy regular clothes. We usually get at least 2-3 years out of shirts as I get them a little big to start so they last. He never changes after school unless he has an activity that requires it.
He has a few pairs of other pants for non school days and in the summer he just wears tshirts (usually free froms school activities or camps) and athletic shorts. I find it much less expensive than non uniforms.

[mrshandy]

I grew up going to Catholic schools with uniforms and my kids don't wear uniforms. I do find it interesting that kids are able to express themselves and learn in whatever clothes that are most comfortable for them. Some kids in our school have colored hair and that's A-ok. That was not allowed in my school growing up.

DS is super easy to dress, DD not so much.

I'm mixed on uniforms. I don't think it would work well for our school because of the financial burden on parents. I feel like kids clothes are so easy to get second hand especially when they are young that I don't think it would be cheaper.

[debatethis]

Jul 16, 2019 17:53:13 GMT -5 @lindy said:

Uniforms are only a thing here for private/charter schools. They
would just raise my clothing costs, I buy most all their stuff used for $2 or so and neither kid would leave a polo on when they got home. I can’t blame them, I hate polos and will not wear them. I can’t stand the tight stomach area and fabric. My daughter also rips through pants like no one (16 pairs last winter) and having to replace those with nicer pants would have cost a lot. Growing up I had a lot of friends in uniforms, and they all just compared their shoes instead.

While I’m not for uniforms, I don’t see myself putting up a huge stink about it if they switched.

This isn't directly related to the uniform discussion but look into Lands End iron knee pants for your DD. They routinely offer 25-40% off coupons so while they appear way more expensive, the coupons drop the prices significantly. AND they have the LE warranty so you get a replacement pair if they get destroyed. DS was tearing through jeans like crazy from every brand we tried til we switched to LE and he's not destroyed a single pair since.

[badgergrl]

As a parent who shops ahead I would be livid that a new policy was imposed less than a month before school started. My kids have all their clothes for fall already.

[Deleted]

Jul 17, 2019 9:34:37 GMT -5 debatethis said:

Jul 16, 2019 17:53:13 GMT -5 @lindy said:

Uniforms are only a thing here for private/charter schools. They
would just raise my clothing costs, I buy most all their stuff used for $2 or so and neither kid would leave a polo on when they got home. I can’t blame them, I hate polos and will not wear them. I can’t stand the tight stomach area and fabric. My daughter also rips through pants like no one (16 pairs last winter) and having to replace those with nicer pants would have cost a lot. Growing up I had a lot of friends in uniforms, and they all just compared their shoes instead.

While I’m not for uniforms, I don’t see myself putting up a huge stink about it if they switched.

This isn't directly related to the uniform discussion but look into Lands End iron knee pants for your DD. They routinely offer 25-40% off coupons so while they appear way more expensive, the coupons drop the prices significantly. AND they have the LE warranty so you get a replacement pair if they get destroyed. DS was tearing through jeans like crazy from every brand we tried til we switched to LE and he's not destroyed a single pair since.

I get their magazines and always see those and wondered if they actually worked. I think I’ll get a few! I got so sick of getting her new pants last year.

[redwino]

I'll just ditto cmeon. I have come to hate uniforms after working in low income schools. Most of the families cannot afford more than 2-3 uniforms per kid per year and don't have w/d in their homes to launder them frequently. By October, those white polos are stained and tattered. By the end of the school year. The stained uniforms are also too small. There is no way that the school can wash or give away uniforms regularly for 300 kids. The need is just too great. Parents just do the best they can.

Students get punished for being out of uniform all of the time. It must be a polo shirt in the right color. So navy blue, not light blue. No skinny jeans or joggers even in the right color. In secondary, the punishments are usually write ups but students are sent home if its a "habit". Elementary kids often get lunch detention. In all grades, someone will yell at you for being out of uniform and make you explain why. It pisses me off so much and it's such a waste of time and resources.

I believe uniforms hurt more families than it helps in low income schools. In middle and high income schools, I don't think it changes much for the better but probably does little harm. July is a horrible time to make the announcement but I would be a parent complaining no matter when the announcement was made.

[debatethis]

Jul 17, 2019 10:07:59 GMT -5 @lindy said:

Jul 17, 2019 9:34:37 GMT -5 debatethis said:

This isn't directly related to the uniform discussion but look into Lands End iron knee pants for your DD. They routinely offer 25-40% off coupons so while they appear way more expensive, the coupons drop the prices significantly. AND they have the LE warranty so you get a replacement pair if they get destroyed. DS was tearing through jeans like crazy from every brand we tried til we switched to LE and he's not destroyed a single pair since.

I get their magazines and always see those and wondered if they actually worked. I think I’ll get a few! I got so sick of getting her new pants last year.

They're seriously fab. And they make some super cute "non-branded"  clothes including leggings, too.