We have worn uniforms since K-3 and, as a parent, I LOVE them...no arguing in the morning about what we're wearing and whether or not the shirt is too tight or the skirt too short. On weekends, my 11-yr old tends to look 4 years older than she does on school days when she's wearing her sailor blouse and plaid skirt! We "express ourselves" on weekends...I'm not saying everyone should do it, but once you do, I think you'll love it. We buy uniform skirts for $2 from our used uniform closet at school.
I just had my 30th high school reunion and we dressed up the scarecrows in our old Catholic girls' school uniforms for our decorations!
My kids were in public schools that had their version of uniforms: blue pants (jeans were fine) and white shirt w/sleeves (long or short, but no tank tops). That worked nicely.
Then they went to Catholic schools. The uniform was khaki pants & navy polos. On mass days, the girls wore plaid skirts & boys wore white dress shirts & a tie.
Now that they are in public schools, I dread shopping. We aren't just buying a couple of cute outfits for the weekend - it's a DAILY concern. And my kids are hooked on labels (A&F, AE, Hollister, etc.) so "expressing their personalities" is not within my budget.
Starting a new school in uniforms can be a big upfront cost (about $150/kid), but it's not even close to what I've spent in the last 2 months in non-uniform schools.
And the next year is so much cheaper -- used uniforms are great because they are really well made (at least those from Dennis Uniform) and last a LONG TIME. To keep costs down, I chose to only buy my kids 2 pairs of pants each and do laundry every other day. Even with the extra washings & wearings, they still were able to pass their pants down to their younger siblings.
I would LOVE to have my kids back in uniform again! And while I completely respect the opinions of uniform-haters, I don't think I'll ever understand it.
Here's something to giggle about -- as much as my kids claimed that they wanted out of uniforms, they still occassionally wear a uniform polo, khaki shorts, PE shirt or hoodie to school - just because they want to!
Like I have told my school board before- "Educate, don't eliminate." Teach my kids that we are all equal and clothing won't matter, don't remove their freedom of choice. Teach my kids how to eat properly and offer more healthy foods, don't remove their freedom of choice!
It is the job of a parent to teach their child, but the schools do need to impliment and teach morals as well.
I'm really reaching with this one, but why don't public schools offer a lesson plan on respect & honesty. So many kids do not get those lessons at home, so it's up to public schools to fix these children. If it was taught maybe we wouldn't have to worry so much about "picking on a kid for the clothes they wear."
Tell me about it. We try to teach our kids to think for themselves. (We're not nabby-pamby~ we have rules ~ but we encourage individualism.) These are public schools, not private~ I have a hard time w/someone dictating to me what is acceptable for my child. I get to decide that. As my own mother used to say "Because I'm the mother" [img]smile.gif[/img]
I'm your classic non-conformist. I actually have considered home schooling... public school is becoming too political! Telling me what I can and can't feed my kids, what they can and can not wear is infringing on my rights. What next...
hey shawn, that is precisely why public shcools were developed in the first place. conformity.
keep people in line (the immigrants, as we all are).
curious that some sectors, the ones in charge, dont welcome questions, discussions, etc when it comes to childrnes education and making things better (myopinion of course, ie the paddling discussion and the principal that wont let parents congregate in one room)
instead they want people to stayed dumbed down, regression to the mean. no one should excel, or fail, just stay average and dont be different from the rest. at least, those are sme theories i have read about, written by veteran administartors.
