I am in the same district as ScottsMom. I remember the form going home and we totally disagreed and therefore we don't have uniforms. My kids go to low income schools, most of the kids can barely afford to live, let alone by a certain outfit. We even have Rescue Mission kids, and most of them don't stay long, so they would be buying a uniform and not get much use out of it.
At one of our high schools the sophmores have to wear a certain type clothing. I think it's black pants and a white shirt. But it can be any kind, it's not bought through the district.
In the school building I mentioned, the district did pay for a basic number of uniforms for each student. Not sure how they came up with the bucks. If parents wanted more, they could buy them.
We have had a few of our surveys returned saying, "Sounds fine, but I ain't paying for it" - and others saying "if we have them, the school better buy them", etc...but I can tell you now, the district nor the school would pay for them. Maybe a few...get companies to donate money - just as we "provide" for our free lunch program - if you can show the certain income level requirements, etc...
We are in Northeast Mississippi, and our state capitol (Jackson, MS) just implemented a DISTRICT wide uniform policy, K-12. I firmly believe if we do it in the fall of 2005 (as a pilot school), it will be district wide in 2006. The Superintendent says he's for it and would love to have it district wide (I believe), he,......and others are just waiting for it to be brought up by PARENTS.
The public schools in my sister's hometown implemented uniforms about the time my niece started high school. This girl is a majorly free spirit--a music major in California, currently--and HATED the whole idea of uniforms. But she adjusted, as does everyone else. And interestingly enough, she found lots of more creative ways to express herself than through her clothing, which usually just means conforming with the group uniform of your choice. Unless the kids actually design & sew their own clothes, there's nothing really unique being expressed there.
They do have uniforms for the teachers as well, and my sister, who teaches there, has found it a godsend to be able to get dressed at the requisite predawn hour with no thinking involved.
I completely understand the individuality aspect. I was what is referred to these days as Goth (Mod then). That was high school. However, your future artists, thinkers and philosophers may not even be able to afford clothing that expresses their own personalities. Clothing is also not the only way to express your personality. Uniforms may actually free those who can't afford the latest styles etc. and give them a chance to really shine. Instead of thinking everyone is like everyone else, perhaps you can suggest that the shift be to, who are you on the inside/don't judge a book by it's cover etc.
Cost is easy to overcome if you choose something inexpensive like I mentioned before. Blue pants, light blue shirts. They can pick them up at Walmart or Target.
Seriously the pros outweigh the cons. Bullying is also decreased because it's harder to find something to pick on. Clothing is a good bullying target.
As for the Hitler reference- That is SOOO FUNNY!! Surprisingly enough, children DID NOT wear school uniforms during the Third Reich. On certain days boys would wear their Hitler youth uniforms, girls their BDM uniforms (these groups were instituted to replace Boy and Girl Scouts with an Aryan twist) but parents were allowed to choose children's clothing for school. The uniforms were for official events for the aforementioned groups. Little history lesson there...
So technically, children who are not in uniforms actually emulate the school children under Hitler. How's that for ironic!! [img]smile.gif[/img]
Here in our big city, Philadelphia, the public schools have a uniform policy. It has been in affect for 3-4 years now. I do not see any cons about it. It definitely helps the school climate to be more at ease. I believe that wearing uniforms is the first step of discipline in school. As far as enforcing the policy, that is up to each and every individual school in the district. Some schools police it more than others.
