School Uniforms Yes or No

24

Replies

  • BrendaLee
    BrendaLee Posts: 4,463 Member
    I don't have a strong opinion on them either way. If they're cute, they're fine. I'm more of a fan of freedom of expression. My daughter, on the other hand, always wanted to go to a school with uniforms.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    I have mixed feelings as well. My daughter attends a school of advanced studies which unfortunately is in a district that recently started uniforms. This is one of the top 100 high schools in the country so the theory about bad schools having uniforms is out the window in this case. Anyway, I kind of like the not having to think about clothing aspect of uniforms. My daughter's school though does not have bullying about clothes, at least not much. This is a school full of smart artsy kids. Hell, they seem more mature than me at times....lol. They can be kicked out of the school for virtually anything, therefore, the kids seem to behave pretty well. In this case, I don't think the uniforms are necessary at all.
  • Meg_78
    Meg_78 Posts: 998 Member
    As a parent I love them, they men a lot less fuss and money spent on clothing, and it puts kids on a more even par with each other, I wore them in school! Unfortunately they are just not at all used in Sweden....

    As a wife..well, that's just a whole other discussion...love them there too!
  • coolraul07
    coolraul07 Posts: 1,606 Member
    My main thing is cost. If the schools are paying for them or offering significant discounts, maybe. However, it's been my (2nd-hand) experience that school uniforms are usually not everyday wear.
    I grew up below the poverty line and went to public schools in the inner city with no uniforms. However, gym class is middle/high school required "official" Richmond Public School clothing that was only available at a few specific places (no big box stores). These shorts/shirt combos were hot, itchy, and downright FUGLY! You certain wouldn't wear that crap as everyday wear and it cost more than regular clothes. In my head, I can hear my Mom *****ing about the cost and me *****ing about how hot/itchy it was.
  • Excuse_less
    Excuse_less Posts: 874 Member
    As a parent I love them, they men a lot less fuss and money spent on clothing, and it puts kids on a more even par with each other, I wore them in school! Unfortunately they are just not at all used in Sweden....

    As a wife..well, that's just a whole other discussion...love them there too!

    I like this !!!!!
  • ReinasWrath
    ReinasWrath Posts: 1,173 Member
    I've always wished my school would have enforced a uniform policy. Would cut down on bullying and lends the school a more professional atmosphere.
  • SophK90
    SophK90 Posts: 56
    Definitely yes! HELPS (not fully disguises it) to hide the divide in wealth among the kids. As adults the majority of us care less about these things. With kids, it really matters.
    Sense of unity, helps to identify the brats causing trouble after school in areas etc. looks tidier, lessens the chances of short skirts etc. Can prevent othe rbullying, e.g. stereotyopes, goth, emo, CHAV, 'looks gay' etc.

    It's the school holidays that REALLY bother me.
  • missveeoh
    missveeoh Posts: 90 Member
    I wore school uniforms throughout my elementary years and I received awards for that lol
    I think they should stay, it does save a lot of money for the parents and I remember when my mom
    went to this special shop where we would get my uniforms for free or discounted (it is great for those struggling financially)

    I didnt mind wearing them and by the time I got into 8th grade, turning into a teen, is when I finally started expressing myself artistically through fashion lol My mind was on my education and I did not care what I was wearing, which was a good thing cause high school was hell! Now I'm in college and it's pretty chill, nobody cares what you're wearing and everyone seems laid back.

    pros- saves money, can get handmedowns from older siblings, can use the same uniform if kid doesnt grow (every 3 years I would get a bigger size cause I hardly grew)

    cons- restricts children of expressing themselves, some uniforms may cost the same or more than textbook rentals, kid may reject them?
  • organic0gf
    organic0gf Posts: 87 Member
    Yes

    That way it's harder to single out the poor and the kids can be accepted for their own merit instead of how nice their clothes are (how much money the family has).
  • notworthstalking
    notworthstalking Posts: 531 Member
    My 7 year old likes her school uniform. At her school it's not a cheap uniform, but it's all good quality and Aussie made. Her bottoms have lasted well into her second year, and she has just grown out of her shirts. Her school just asks that the wear navy jumpers and track suit pants or anything with in those colours in winter. Her principle is a bit strict , but she 'let' the student council have a free dress day with some whining. Honestly , I don't think she minded , but was playing the role lol.

    The teachers have a strict , but sensible dress code. They always look nice, but express their personalities. I think living in Australia a sensible uniform is important. The school is multi-cultural and this uniform suits any religious requirements as well.
  • kdub67
    kdub67 Posts: 181 Member
    I'm pro uniform...and I don't think my kids mind it in the least (although it's all they've known and are now in middle and high school). No worries about what to put on in the morning, etc...just throw it on and go. Our elementary school has a store that sells gently used uniforms that parents donate. You can outfit your child head to toe from there, if you'd like. Pants are $5, jumpers/skirts about the same...you can't beat the prices, and it's not like the clothes are worn out. Just try to destroy a Catholic school plaid skirt...it's indestructable, lol. My son's all boys' high school also sells used clothing..pants/shirts are a buck, ties $.25, etc...crazy cheap!
  • MamaCatO
    MamaCatO Posts: 100
    My kids have done better since we moved to schools with no uniforms. At their old middle school, where they had uniforms, my daughter got bullied. Mostly for her hair, because it's frizzy and hard to tame. My son hated school and got horrible grades. Since we moved a year and a half ago and they have no uniforms they're more comfortable and happier. We live and a very tight budget and can't afford all the "cool" clothes, but there has been less bullying, grades are up and there generally happier. They're both in high school now, my youngest started last week. No uniforms, no rules on hair color and she's in all honors classes. This is from having d's and f's at the school before we moved. All kids may not be the same, all districts may not be the same, but I know my family is happier without them. So is our budget.
  • NanoBear
    NanoBear Posts: 67
    I went to a private catholic high school (even though I'm very much an atheist). Our uniform included dress shoes, tie and blazer. We used to cop some flack from other kids about it, but most of us liked our school and took pride in the uniform. The public school down the road had a uniform, but it wasn't compulsory. Anyone who actually wore it got regular beatings. Anyone who couldn't afford $200 jeans to wear to school got regular beatings. People who wore last week's fashion got regular beatings. I'm very much pro-uniform. 10 years on from my graduation, my old school is growing every year and doing better than ever, while the public school down the road is still attempting to project a false public image that they have never been able to live up to.
  • Joreanasaurous
    Joreanasaurous Posts: 1,384 Member
    I fully support uniforms. My only issue would be in a public school system there should be financial assistance in purchasing said uniform if it was required for low income families. Public education should be free.
  • Cp731
    Cp731 Posts: 3,195 Member
    Uniforms can be as simple as the required color's, as long as you have the colors correct you can buy any style of clothing you want.

    my child is required to wear a uniform and we have fun w/it and shopping for her clothes.
    the clothes arnt any more expensive and don't have to come from a special uniform store, unless you want the school name or the childs name on the shirt
  • Kaylee_law_123
    Kaylee_law_123 Posts: 450 Member
    You'd struggle to find a school in Australia that doesn't have a a uniform,

    They are extremly expensive (where I went at least) and generally don't last long as you are wearing it everyday and washing it a couple of times a week,

    BUT it did mean that everyone wore the same thing, no one knew who could afford the "brand" clothes and who couldn't, we were all the same,

    Having never had any different I can't really comment on what I'd prefer, but I think it made everyone on the same level at my school :-)
  • ChristinaR720
    ChristinaR720 Posts: 1,186
    I went to a private Catholic school and wore the plaid jumper. Didn't mind it too much. My younger son wears a uniform and I actually prefer him to do so, as he is really hard on his clothes!
  • Madame_Goldbricker
    Madame_Goldbricker Posts: 1,625 Member
    I'm for them, and am too from the UK where it's pretty much guaranteed you'll be wearing a uniform (I literally don't know 1 school wear you can wear what you want)

    I don't think it will stop bullying, however, I think it can reduce it. You go to school to learn stuff, and work, not to have a fashion show, and I believe that's what it'll turn into. We had "mufti" days where we could wear what we wanted, usually on the last Friday of the term, and it was basically a fashion show. Kids were more fussed about what everyone else what wearing, than much else.

    The cons of wearing one, I can see how it might be more expensive depending on what stuff you have to buy. For younger children it's literally just black trousers, white polo top and black plimsolls, you can get those dirt cheap in the supermarkets. For older children, it's when you start getting blazers with logos, special skirts for netball, school logo jumpers.... which can get more pricey. Although the supermarkets will still sell the trousers, skirts and shirts really cheap.

    UK here too. Parent of a teenager who goes to the school I went to as a teen. Prices skyrocket in comprehensive! Not only shirt, tie, blazer. All through official supplier, but sports socks are £6 a pop too! They have to wear those ones & of course you need more than one pair. Last years uniform was £86 before trousers,shoes, bag (which of course have to be "labels") for her. Grinds my gears :explode: Pretty sure the schools get a kick back from the suppliers.

    Side note when I was there they had an official uniform, but basically you could get away with black trainers, trousers, bog standard white shirt..
  • katmat98
    katmat98 Posts: 1 Member
    In elementary school I had no uniforms but moving into high school, we were required to wear uniforms. I'm not going to lie I think they suck! To start they have really awkward sizes and are ridiculously expensive for what you get. On top of that, there are different styles of uniforms and all that so you know who's wearing "what" and "why" sorta thing.

    They say that uniforms well allow kids to get ready faster in the morning and not have to worry about what to wear and that since everyone is wearing the same thing that you don't have to worry about bullying, but that's not true. Everyone I know at school spends almost double the amount of time in the morning worrying is my uniform by the dress code? does it look right? what will my friends be wearing? However, time in the morning is not the issues, it's bullying, no matter what you wear someone is always going to find something to pick on you about.

    So in my eyes, schools should just have a "dress code" but no specific uniform, for example, Back pants or beige, and a polo or golf shirt, from anywhere, by any brand. This way people aren't forced to spend hundreds of dollars at the beginning of the school year just on clothing that may last them 6 months... but this is just one opinion there are many more and many other reasons as well, but yeah.... :)
  • fitmomhappymom
    fitmomhappymom Posts: 171 Member
    I think school uniforms are a sign of a bad district. The higher rated schools in my city do not require uniforms. It is the lower income/higher crime areas that require them.

    That's interesting. It's the exact opposite in our area. Only the private and charter schools have them, and those are the schools with the highest ratings and more afluent families.

    Thanks. I was trying to figure out a way to say that. I agree. Kinda judgey on that persons part.

    Not "judgey", it's actually fact based. The schools in districts with high gang activity require uniforms where I live (houston). It's not like a "nice private school" type of thing here. It's a "everyone wears uniforms so they can't wear gangbanger clothes".
  • This content has been removed.
  • jenbit
    jenbit Posts: 4,252 Member
    All the schools in my county went uniforms years ago.... I hate having to buy uniforms and then pretty much having to refresh in january (kids grow to fast) However it does make laundry and planning what they wear really easy. Its just so expensive. MY kids have to wear not only school colors but uniforms with sown in emblems from the school. So I cant just go down to whereever is having a sale a buy the shirts
  • Zomoniac
    Zomoniac Posts: 1,169 Member
    Thread title gave me false hope. I'll be on my way.
  • fbmandy55
    fbmandy55 Posts: 5,263 Member
    Yes

    That way it's harder to single out the poor and the kids can be accepted for their own merit instead of how nice their clothes are (how much money the family has).

    Really? This is probably the number 1 reason I see parents defending them but it's simply not true. Our public schools that have uniforms just limit dress to non-denim pants (khakis, chinoes, etc) and polo/oxford shirts. You still have kids wearing the goodwill or off brand clothes and still have the kids who are wearing the Hollister brand pants and tops. Still have kids with trendy shoes and backpacks or kids will beat up shoes and backpacks... I have a really hard time seeing how this is a valid point...
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    My kids were in a uniformed public school district for about 5 years. We have since moved to a non-uniformed public school district.

    I can understand the intention of the school system. If the kids all dress the same, then they won't pick on each other... except, they still do. They just find other reasons besides clothing.

    As for personally, uniforms made it easier to shop for school clothes, but I found I was having to do it three times as often because the kids didn't take care of the clothes. When they were able to make their own clothing choices, they were far more likely to take care of the clothes.

    Honestly, I think I prefer my kids in non-uniformed schools.
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    I think school uniforms are a sign of a bad district. The higher rated schools in my city do not require uniforms. It is the lower income/higher crime areas that require them.

    I totally agree with this. My school district lost accreditation completely right before going to uniforms. My kids were in the district for years. I thought all the problems were administrative... until we moved to a new school district. Then I realized how truly crappy the district was. I can't even intimate the differences. It's like night and day. The uniformed district didn't want to help my children learn. They just wanted to push them through. It sucked!
  • FearAnLoathingJ
    FearAnLoathingJ Posts: 337 Member
    No no no

    I hate school uniforms,and I hate the reason they gave for them in my town. So some kids wont feel bad that other kids have nicer/designer clothes.
    Now its kids with uniform clothes from wal mart,versus kids with uniform clothes from American eagle. You can still tell the kids that have more money.The kids with the faded clothes or cheaper clothes are still getting teased,now they just get to look like best buy employees as they are getting teased.
    I had to go bring my daughter a new pair of socks last year because her socks had a pink stripe on the top.
  • FearAnLoathingJ
    FearAnLoathingJ Posts: 337 Member
    I think school uniforms are a sign of a bad district. The higher rated schools in my city do not require uniforms. It is the lower income/higher crime areas that require them.

    I totally agree with this. My school district lost accreditation completely right before going to uniforms. My kids were in the district for years. I thought all the problems were administrative... until we moved to a new school district. Then I realized how truly crappy the district was. I can't even intimate the differences. It's like night and day. The uniformed district didn't want to help my children learn. They just wanted to push them through. It sucked!

    my school district is really good,they have uniforms here. its also not a very large school district,up until 3 years ago they only had one high school. there is still only one jr high
  • skinnymalinkyscot
    skinnymalinkyscot Posts: 174 Member
    My daughter aged 16 has just finished doing her GCSEs here in the UK and is moving onto 6th form college where no uniform is required thankfully.

    The cost of her state school uniform all had to be bought from a specialist official uniform shop.

    1 x Jumper with badge £40 (bought 2) so £80
    1 x Blouse £12 (bought 3) so £36
    I x tie £10
    1 x skirt £40 (bought 2) so £80
    clarks school shoes £45

    2 separate PE Kits

    2 x official school bag £10 each
    Green sports top £20
    green hockey skirt £20
    black hockey socks £6
    white trainers £20
    black leotard with school logo £20
    black cycle shorts £10
    black sweatpants with logo £20
    black sweatshirt with logo 35
    shinpads £10
    mouth guard £10

    plus school rucksack, waterproof jacket, underwear, winter coat hats scarves and gloves the scarf being in the school colours, books , notebooks, maths equipment, art supplies and stationery , school dinners and school trips, visits and holidays, music lessons and voluntary donations on non uniform days.

    This is just for ONE year and ONE child ( I had 3 at the same school)

    You can tell who doesnt have the money to replace the uniform year after year because they walk around with holes in everything, the clothes look worn out or too small, so not sure if any kid got bullied for having a bad uniform.

    My son had the same official uniform shop but obviously wore trousers, the only modification is I deliberately sent him with black trainers and not black shoes as Im just slightly troublesome lol, Luckily they werent noticed! dont ask me why I rebelled I dont have any idea.

    I like the idea of unifrom BUT even at secondary school age they can achieve the everybody needs to look the same principle with a sweatshirt, jeans and trainers. And it would be a lot cheaper for parents or even send the kids in the primary school uniform of supermarket polo shirts trousers and a sweatshirt, still a huge amount cheaper than the official uniform shops

    I begrudged spending £40 on a green school sweatshirt when they sell them in supermarkets for £10 now THAT is a rip off
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    I think school uniforms are a sign of a bad district. The higher rated schools in my city do not require uniforms. It is the lower income/higher crime areas that require them.

    I totally agree with this. My school district lost accreditation completely right before going to uniforms. My kids were in the district for years. I thought all the problems were administrative... until we moved to a new school district. Then I realized how truly crappy the district was. I can't even intimate the differences. It's like night and day. The uniformed district didn't want to help my children learn. They just wanted to push them through. It sucked!

    Here they lost accreditation right after they went to uniforms. Luckily, where we live, the schools in this neighborhood were annexed by a good district. The first thing they did was end the uniforms and the metal detectors, and then cleaned the place up and painted and put a new sign out front. The kids are great. It's the bureaucrats that are the problem. It's like a real school now, a part of the community, where before it was like a factory for pushing kids through, like you said.