School Uniforms Yes or No

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.

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.

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 :-)

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..

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".

Thread title gave me false hope. I'll be on my way.

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.

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.

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