Post by heliocentric on May 30, 2012 7:18:38 GMT -5
I've been out of school for a long time, so I'm sure things are different now. I had uniforms 1-12 and I didn't mind them. We had to buy our skirts/jumpers (and vests, when they were included) from the uniform company, but we could get oxfords & plain sweaters anywhere. I think they were expensive, but those things lasted forever. I think I made it through 4 years of high school with 2 skirts and 1 kilt.
Of course kids still know who has money & who doesn't, but it reduces the variables. Instead of being obsessed with a certain brand of pants, shirts, shoes, etc. we maybe just focused on the shoes.
Yes, we needed clothes for outside of school, but I don't remember having many of those things. I think maybe a couple pairs of jeans that I wore over and over. Sometimes we'd have "dress down" days and I always hated if there were several in a row because I never had enough "cool" clothes (others did). I actually couldn't wait to get back into the uniform. Maybe if we had more money I'd have felt differently, but coming from a family without a lot I felt the uniforms removed some of the stress.
I wore uniforms K-12. I was the oldest and K-8 the uniform shirts were polos with the school logo--I had 3-4 and those were handed down to both of my brothers. Girls had skirts all through K-12 and I never had more than two at a time. If something was dirty, we would wash it in the sink and hang it to dry overnight.
We also didn't buy separate non-school wardrobes. Each year I got a new dress for church and one new "play" outfit for summer. Everything else was hand me downs. My mom would get big bags of unisex t-shirts and they were shared amongst all five family members regardless of size. I was the smallest, so they were like dresses for me. When I went to college I had one small carry on bag that held all of my clothes!
But most families don't live like they are in the great depression, so I don't think my experience was typical! If I had kids they would definitely have two wardrobes because I wouldn't want my kids to be the laughingstock of the neighborhood like I was.
I do not approve of girls under 18 years old using permanent hair colors or perms. Their bodies are still growing and the damage done to their follicles will not heal.
Post by Michellebelleforgoterpassword on May 30, 2012 9:52:21 GMT -5
I love the "uniforms" in my school district. It isn't so much "uniforms" as it is specific cuts and styles of shirts and bottoms in certain colors, limits on logos, etc. M wears a real uniform at her preschool (logo and all) and that gets old for layering for the weather (we cheat and work in solids from Target). But at the public school they have a sort of uniform dress code and it's easy to follow.
Also, I like that she has basic clothes that she rotates for school during the week and then she has her cuter/self-expression outfits for the weekends. I can invest in a smaller number of choice weekend outfits that are for going and doing things and not worry if she gets stains on them here and there and they can be just as fancy as the next person or not - whatever she wants, which varies.
As a kid who had one pair of Limited Express jeans and even fewer other name brand things, I looked like a hot mess trying to be stylish with very little money to do so. My yearbook pictures are hilarious. While there will always be ways that kids can one-up each other (shoes, etc.) it is easier to express oneself through talents without the barrier of do-you-have-the-cool-clothes on top of it.
Also at the rate and way my kid grows (her top half and bottom half seem to take turns), it is hard to keep my kid in a size long enough to get the clothing dirty. So in that respect uniforms are much cheaper since clothes need to be replaced every six months or so anyway.
I think its weird that the US doesn't do this as standard. I wore one from start to finish of school years. No big deal. I draw the line at hats though. No school uniform needs a stupid fkin hat.
My kids go to a public charter school with uniforms. The uniform is: khaki or navy pants, shorts, or skirt, and a collared shirt/polo, in either white, true red, or navy blue. All shirts must be tucked, and no logos or writing, etc. They are very strict with the dress code.
I LOVE it. Love. it makes getting ready so easy, it's cheaper, and the kids just look so nice! Ha. I don't understand opposition to it.
Unless your kid likes to dress themselves and gets pissed off about not being able to wear what they want. Yeah, yeah, she still has choices in the uniform section of her closet, but she hates it. HATES IT. And I gotta say, I fucking hate that she has to wear white. White on a hot mess preschooler is the worst idea ever.
It's a struggle M-F because she's so mad about not being able to wear colors other than dark blue and white. Girl clothes suck in those colors, and they are hella boring.
ETA: I am laughing my ass off that I need to tell my three and a half year old to just stop getting dirty. She goes to a Montessori school, FFS. They garden, wash dishes, paint, cook, etc. Did I mention that she's three?