Discussions
School Uniforms
Posted by sjtavo • 10/14/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: uniforms
As I scan the headlines this morning on USAToday, there seems to be discussion yet again on some kid's t-shirt that had a picture of Obama on it with the phrase "Hi Haters" on it. Then we have the other kid whose t-shirt read "Abortion is not healthcare." Both kids got into trouble for the t-shirts.
I'm all for free expression but I'm also very supportive of mandatory uniforms in both public and private schools. Save your self-expression for football games and social events - but let's instill a sense of integrity and a unified learning environment for kids - focus more on your education and less on your social/political statements.
Thoughts?
User Comments
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I agree with your feelings on uniforms. Also, it is way cheaper to wear uniforms than regular clothes. -
It would ruin the overpriced t-shirt industry -
My kids go to a public school with very basic uniforms: white shirt w/a collar, khaki/blue/black pants or skirts. If their pants have belt loops, they have to be wearing a belt.
Honestly, it's like walking into pee wee business casual day when I visit school. But you'd be amazed at what a great leveler it is. Kids aren't focused on what they're wearing -- when they show up, they're ready to learn. -
if you want the kids to all look alike, have they go naked. Anything but those dowdy uniforms.-
No they wont look alike naked -
I guess I'm not concerned about the kids being 'dowdy' as much as I like the way it streamlines our preparation for school -- no one spends an hour figuring out what to wear... they just put their uniform on.
And when the kids grow out of clothes, the school has a uniform exchange room to donate clothes or get larger sizes -- free of charge. In all seriousness, we like it.
Besides, there are plenty of other ways for kids to express themselves. It doesn't have to be through their clothes. -
Yes, but think how much easier it would be to have them go naked. No preparation at all.
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... but ooh -- chilly.
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here in Ohio, on a day like today where it's 40 and sleet - the boys might have a problem with their willy's shrinking up inside them to stay warm!
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A year after I graduated high school they band white and black tees where I'm from, they assumed it was gang affiliated. Free expression has gottin out of hand, I say band any clothing with political statements on them because change the uniforms will not solve the problem.-
Wow, that's crazy. Usually schools ban solid color red or blue clothing, but white and black...?
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I'm all for uniforms. If I would have had them in high school, it would have saved me tons of money because I'd just wear the same thing every day, like pigpen from Peanuts.
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I went to Catholic school for 12 years (gee, can't you tell?) so I was used to the uniform concept - ugly plaid skirts, khaki's and sweaters - back then, you could wear any color sweater and tights but I think they've tightened that up now. I just think it's easier on the parents, most schools do that swap thing for different sizes, etc...
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Whoa, so that means I could have worn a 49ers Superbowl sweater everyday? I'm all for it!
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I think uniforms are a great idea. The cost of kids clothing is outrageous.. That money would be best spent on their educational needs and supplies.. -
I like school uniforms when my kids were in school because it broke down social disorder. In other words come kids would have all the cool expensive clothes and others can afford name brand clothes. In uniform, it puts them all on the same playing field. Plus it was easier to shop for school clothes. I only hated it when one of the kids would forget their belt. -
Next there will be slutty-schoolgirl-halloween-costumes-for-kids
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you mean there already aren't? remember the Britney Spears years? -
they exist already, even on Amazon
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My son needs to wear a uniform every day. I think it's great all around, for many reasons.
Back when I was in high school, there was this one kid that got sent to the principal's office once a week because of his Mr. Zogs Sex Wax T-shirt. -
I would've preferred uniforms for my kids. They actually agree too. The clothing trends were either hang off your butt pants and droopy shirts or expensive AE clothing. They both used their sports as an excuse and wore sweats but neither liked either trend and while it sounds great to say "teach them to wear what they like" in reality HS is about being a lemming of sorts. I myself wore black concert t-s and skin tight jeans to HS with long sweaters or leather jackets and work boots. Now there was a look
Our local school district had to make some pretty drastic COC requirements for clothes. Not just for the draggy butt jeans on boys
but to keep the girls covered in all the places they need to be covered. which makes me wonder how if parents are really aware of what their sweet little girls will leave for school barely wearing.-
We had a 4 inches above the knee rule for shorts and skirts. When the warm weather hit, there were hall monitors with little 4 inch rulers who could send kids with skimpy clothing home.
(Tell me there wasn't heavy competition for *that* job...)
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Uniforms were suppose to make everyone look alike but it doesn't necessary stop school violence. -
Heck! Throw those self-expressing kids in an army uniform. That will teach'em!-
That reminds me of a time when it was considered right and proper to learn about civics in school. I guess now kids are just supposed to learn skills for their future work lives.
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I went to catholic school 1st - 8th grade and wore a uniform, then I went to a public high school with no uniforms. For me there really wasn't a difference, maybe because I was a guy who didn't give a damn about the latest style, or fashion, but jeans and a football jersey, t-shirt, or polo shirt isn't rocket science. I would expect someone who is considered responsible enough to drive to be able to figure out what clothing is and isn't appropriate.
Personally I think the fact that what was on a t-shirt interrupted school is the problem. Why do we worry so much as a society about what someone else is wearing, saying, doing when it affects only themselves? The fact is however we do care about everyone elses opinion, and if it's something we don't agree with we complain about it. I think we should be teaching children to make responsible decisions in the first place, so they know what is and is not innappropriate behavior. I also believe people would be well suited to look at their kids before they leave for school.
If uniforms were mandated, don't think it would be a great injustice.-
I agree with you completely! I also didn't focus on buying that "in" thing or most expensive item but just develop a tiny style and bought what I thought would look good. My other half's sister former school banned dying the hair. That pink hair makes it impossible to learn in school apparently.
It is entertaining to see people get worked up over some things, though. The raging over "controversial" shirts and someone making a decision that has zero effect on the person complaining, are going to send me to an early grave from laughter. I'll have to make sure it's comfortable in there.
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I feel sorry for the girls in uniform for a completely different reason today. It's cold and rainy and those skirts do not look warm. That matters, because a bunch of them have to wait for a bus to take them home.
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At our school, the girls may wear pants if they like. It's not all plaid skirts anymore. (Thank goodness!)
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One woman I was talking to on the bus yesterday was happy about the uniforms in her town's school, because it removed the problem of outfits that were far too revealing. But schools when I was a teenager had a solution for that: send the kid home to change.
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My kids' school district tried and failed miserably on trying to implement school uniforms. As parents, it will save us lots of money on buying regular clothes. There's also the pressure to fit in and staying fashionable but if every student wore the same thing, the uniform, then it would eliminate this problem. -
I think about it only in practical terms. Where I went to school, the temperature indoors was always 10 to 15 degrees hotter than was comfortable for me. Other freakjobs were like "I'm so cold, can't we turn the thermostat up to 130." Different people dress how they wish based on comfort. If I had to wear what other people were comfortable in, it would have been cruel and unusual
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There are always lighter materials which could be used to make into uniforms. No excuses for not conforming. The kids today need direction and also safety. If everyone has the same thing then no one wants what you have. -
Yes they could be used, but because most modern children are Ground Sloths the rest would be f***ed
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Uniform and Books on Good Manners that they have to digest.
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Here in Peru all use uniforms for school, that is because the difference between economic class and all look the same there but I believe that it is not good because you must look like you want, it is for the freedom of the person, I look like I want, thats liberty. Freedom is first. Look like robots is not healthy for the personality. We want individuals in our country no collective people.-
But after school is over the students can change into their individual play clothes. That is freedom.
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but you start to understand things when you are in school and make you free let you be better person, uniforms are different in rich school in Peru, thats finally not a collective idea in reality, even in the classroom you must be free to be yourself, with order of course. A boy or a girl must be individual, learn to thing for himself, uniforms dont help, all little things restrict your freedom. The world must be free, people must be free, understand that is difficult if you start to resctrict people, teaching this and that to be a collective is not good.
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agree. -
unisex proletarian jumpsuits should do the trick...
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I wore them until I came to this country and opted for a public school. They didn't hamper my blooming individuality, any more than being able to dress anyway I wanted in school fostered it.
We had to wear our hair tied back in school as well, it didn't matter to me one way or another that here I didn't have to do that. -
Those shirts are badass.
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