public school uniforms: your thoughts?

[npincus]

Next year my daughter, age 4, will enter kindergarten at our local public school in Hoboken, NJ. I just learned there are mandated "school colors", with the option of purchasing uniforms in these colors directly from the school. According to the school's hand-out at a parent orientation: "There is compelling research indicating that children who wear uniforms do better in school". The mandated school colors are "kahaki-colored" bottoms and "white or dark green" tops.

OK, I plan to 'go with the flow'- apparantly all the primnary schools in our city have madated colors/uniforms. It's not a battle I choose to fight, but I'm not at all thrilled with this policy. Other parents I've discussed this with are pretty ambivalent about it. My opinion is that choice of clothes is an expression of our creativity, personality and response to how we think and feel as individuals. Some days my daughter feels like wearing stripes, other days leopard stockings, other days her favorite pink beaded skirt, she loves blue, pink and orange.

I really don't like the school dictating what colors our kids can wear. In my opinion, it's a suffocating, stifling policy. Or am I projecting my own feelings here? Your thoughts, opinions?

[ProfessorGAC]

1. My Niece Wears One

She goes to a magnet school in the large city north of me. She loves it and so does my sister.
The Professor

[ShortnFiery]

2. I saw those images (children in uniforms) in public schools once ...

but I didn't understand it. You see, I viewed it from old 1940s news reels and the narration was in GERMAN. :P

Absolutely NOT!

[NMDemDist2]

3. ***disclaimer*** I am not a parent

but I think uniforms are fine. easy for everyone. poorer students don't stick out as not having the "coolest" thing

kids can let their creativity flow when they get home

[Skidmore]

13. I liked it when my daughter wore uniforms to her school.

It was actually cheaper than trying to keep up with all the fads and whining when she went to a school where they did not have uniforms. Didn't have to worry about accessorizing either. I have no problem with them at all.

[Mist]

43. That's what I was going to point out--class/income differences don't show as much--

kids can concentrate on the classes and the material, rather than "Marcie's new purse" or "Katie's cool T-shirt." Kinda like they're all on the same team. DISCLAIMER: I'm childless too, and probably would have been pissed as hell at 15 at someone telling me what to wear! But you're the parent, and uniforms are certainly easier for parents.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. I think of pictures of North Korea

Ok it might work, it might even be a good idea, but I hate it.

[TechBear_Seattle]

26. And England, France, Sweden

Most schools in Europe, public and private, either require uniforms or have a uniform dress code.

[Kerrytravelers]

5. In the areas I have taught, the "uniforms", well, I consider them more dress codes,

have been a blessing. It certainly kept me from having to send kids home to come properly dressed. No logos means no gang signage (yes, even in Kindergarten. Parents can send messages through their children's clothing.) It meant a lower rate of kids attacking one another to steal their shoes. It means no sagging pants, no baseball hats and other ways os stashing things that don't belong t school. It brought a different sense of behavior.

Our kids didn't mind it. They recognized the change in behavior. The parents loved it because the school clothes were way cheaper. The local stores all offer huge discounts.

I equate it to when we are in the workplace. Some jobs require certain dress codes. Some don't. For school dress codes, some really need it and others just find it easier. I don't know anything about your district or situation. Perhaps there is stuff going on that you may not be aware of, I don't know. Most districts don't necessarily like doing this, but many do for various reasons.

And, it's only for a few hours a day. Outside of school hours, she can dress any way she likes. And usually, if the children don't have many disruptions of behaviors, schools offer school-wide free dress days, on picture days you can dress as you like, and earned free dress days based on behavior. Again, since I don't know your district, I don't really know the situation.

[wakeme2008]

6. I would used to be against this but gangs and gangs colors

changed my mind. Plus the price of some kids clothes and shoes are way above others.

Does make dressing them simple. Blue bottom, white top... repeat as needed. :rofl:

[sui generis]

11. then we should do something about the problem, not the symptom

if gangs and gang colors are the problem, then making your kids wear plaid is not the solution.

People always seek the action that requires the least energy, and not solving a problem requires the least of all.

[hlthe2b]

24. This is a societal problem that no single school can "solve"

Schools are left trying to deal as best as possible to what the larger society is dishing out. Don't fault schools for trying to cope. I'm sorry, but while I agree WE need to address the larger problem, your comment strikes me as unrealistic and judgemental.

[sui generis]

35. well I am judgemental

so what.

I judge that if the school has to tell me how to dress my kids, then something besides my kids is fucked up.

The answer is no, I would not agree to it and I would in fact fight it. School uniforms teach that if you can't solve a problem, change its clothes.

[hlthe2b]

48. I don't have a strong opinion either way on this..

I'm just more open to it after so many horrendous incidents have highlighted the problems with bullying in the schools, the epidemic of teen suicide and the effect of cliques and gangs on underprivileged kids in public schools.

So, I am open to schools trying to find solutions, but I would respect any parents right to disagree and for schools to decide jointly with the majority of those parents.

[Ron Green]

53. School uniforms also teach that the corporate marketers of brand-name fashions,

produced mostly by enslaved and sweat-shop workers, have no privileged place in schools that belong to all the people and seek to teach citizenship rather than consumerism.

[sui generis]

69. who cares!!!!

jeez, we're solving every problem but the one in front of us. Be a good teacher. Be a good parent. Be a good student. Don't rely on threads or corporatism or political messages or whatever ails you to define all the evil in your life. "You" being collective you.

[aquart]

38. That DOES solve the problem.

It keeps the gang emblemage and mentality out of the classroom.

Let individuality shine in achievement, not in wardrobe.

[sui generis]

41. let it shine for your kids - be my guest

please don't tell my kids how to dress. In fact, I won't let you.

[hlthe2b]

20. yes, that's what brought me around... may cut down the clique

behavior as well. Children can be so absolutely cruel in school to poor kids, and others with less social "clout." I think (although I've seen no studies) that uniforms may help with that.

[aikoaiko]

7. Overall good thing.

Sure it may seem stifling, but not anymore than tyranny of Abercrombie & Fitch, GAP, Tommy Hilfiger, Nike, Lilly Pulitzer, Izod, etc etc etc.

Plus, if a child can only express him or herself with clothes, then the parent has much bigger problems to deal with.

[sui generis]

8. "compelling evidence"

that children in boarding school do better than children in public school, and compelling evidence that children of upper middle class do better than lower classes and compelling evidence that everybody worries too much what kids are wearing and not enough about what they are learning.

I absolutely resolutely despise the thought. If it's part of the requirement of a private school, who cares. But in a public school, it by far oversteps their authority in the life of the family.

[Ron Green]

57. Wrong. I taught in public schools for years, and I can tell you that

behavior issues surrounding clothes took up vast amounts of what should have been teaching time:

* Sagging trousers, exposing underwear
* Exposed midriffs and see-through tops
* Gang-related colors
* Oneupmanship brand display
* Theft of ugly-ass athletic shoes
* Questionable slogans on shirts and sweats
* And on and on and on.

The corporate masters love this, 'cause it keeps kids enslaved to bullshit fashion trends, training them as consumers rather than citizens, and not learning enough to demand and get a better government when they grow up.

[sui generis]

68. wrong. I was a kid.

duh.

Sorry it's not about "right" and "wrong".

It's about parenting and figuring out that lipstick on a pig does not change the fact of pig.

I defy you to tell me I'm a bad parent because I'm against uniforms in school!

Really.

[AValdoux]

9. Kids wear uniforms anyway

Only now it is peer pressure and marketing execs who decide. I think it would end a lot of the label conscious ranking of kids by other kids. My kids are out of school now but when I was doing their back-to school shopping and the "jeans to wear" were over $50 I often thought that uniforms would have been a great idea.


AValdoux

[NoSheep]

30. I tend to agree with your thinking here.

[mzteris]

10. don't get the white!

My son used to wear a uniform at his old school.

It was great as far as he was concerned. No worrying about "what to wear". No dithering over whether something was "cool" or not. No labels. No status clothes. No thinking! Just get up - throw on blue pants, white shirt. Just clothes.

The only bad thing was getting those darn white shirts clean! lol...

[soup]

28. "Don't get the white!" Very good advice.

Another consideration -

Make sure - no matter what else is going on in your life - that the laundry is done.

When my (then) 4 year old grandson was in pre-K, uniforms were mandatory. I received a warning call from the office one day because he showed up at school in street clothes. I hadn't done the laundry - don't remember why now - broken machine? one of those weeks? whatever... I do remember thinking it was more important for him to go to school than to keep him home for lack of a clean uniform. (silly me.)

They agreed to send him back to class that once, but in the event of a second offense, they'd keep him in the office until someone either brought the appropriate clothing for him to return to class in, or came to take him home.

[aquart]

39. Yup. Cuts down huge amounts of anxiety for the kids.

[seabeyond]

12. kids went to private. first 4 yrs no uniform, was great. yrs last two

uniforms..... and i did not like it. this was jeans (no holes in knees) and collar shirts. not a big deal, but now that they are in public school, and no restrictions, we like it a whole lot better.

i also have boys and they are not clothes horse. i do NOT spend a lot of money on clothes. pesonally i think it is a waste and the collar shirts where more expensive than what i find with tshirts. my youngest always sensitive to clothes since birth fought the shirts. but my kids wear clothes that are appropriate, we would have nothing less in this house so there is no reason to restrict limit or control. we dont buy expensive tennis shoes. we dont do fads. t shirt and jeans. no angry or disrespectful logos

i am not a fan

i thought i would be when i was younger, but not now

[BlackVelvet04]

18. Congratulations Seabeyond!

seriously, you are being a parent and not shuffling the duty off to the schools. And that's why so many parents like uniforms. THEY don't have to teach their children the meaning of the word NO when it comes to purchasing fad and outrageously priced clothes....they can make the school the bad guy. My parents had no trouble saying no to expensive clothes and inappropriate clothes. Instead of teaching children HOW to make good decisions the parents just have them conform to a school's policy.

How do kids learn to make appropriate choices if they are never taught? Conforming to policy doesn't teach children anything except to conform and obey authority. That's why we have a country full of followers like the bush supporters.

[seabeyond]

50. congrats to you too. not many pick up on that. aren't you the clever gus, lol

you are right. when kids started school i saw how parents relinquished parental rights to school. i have made it clear to every school that child goes to, i am the parent. i can do a better job than them. no need for them to waste their time doing my job. not to mention i will not allow it. they have also found quickly that it is true. and they willingly and happy allow me to be the parent. they have other, more important things to do.

when private christian school went to uniform i told the head dude, of all places, for this school to do this because they cannot maintain control, is sad. that by doing uniform it is saying you are unable to trust. and if any place should be able to, it is here. i told them they take away the ability for people to do right, by dictating right. and that.... is wrong.

i appreciate your post. i value hearing your words. many people dont understand the importance for our children, with what you are saying. but... it is vitally important.

[BlackVelvet04]

62. I bet your children are really

good kids.

I don't have children. But I have carefully observed two of my sisters who do. One sister is incapable or unwilling to tell her children no. She tries to be their friend and consequently her children are brats. They have no respect for her, are quite secretive and in general a pain.

Another sister was quite strict with her children but spent an incredible amount of time with them. She gained their respect as their mother and now that they are almost grown she is their friend as well. Her children are very open with her and trust her to tell them the truth even if they don't like it.

I don't think children trust adults who are too buddy, buddy and who let them do whatever they want.

[seabeyond]

70. i am impressed

how clearly you expressed the differences. and it is true, right on.

my 11 yr old is very refelctive. he says how i am very strict.... yet in ways i am sooooo easy. i allow all our imperfections. we never make another less to feel better about ourselves. lying isnt worth it so dont bother. earn respect and that goes both ways. i am boss, no if and or but. and i love to listen. i love to watch them

it is connection.

i tell my kids... i have learned more about life watching them, than a lifetime of study. they teach me so much.

we value each other

yes, they are good. better.............they are easy.

[sui generis]

44. we don't want to admit that they actually do pick up our values

I wasn't a "clothes horse" either, and managed to not be a gang leader underworld villain myself. I wore jeans and t-shirts and sweaters and crappy old tennis shoes like most of the students in the school. There were two other kinds:

the ones who wore really expensive crap their officer dads could afford to buy, and the wannabe's who had anxiety attacks because they couldn't compete. Both kinds of kids were in the minority; so once again we want a rule to take care of the least common denominator that everyone has to adhere to.

It's just silly.

[seabeyond]

51. you are right on. just right on. i forget that too. the majority

there is nt an issue. just the few. i told the head dude at the school that too. most of the kids do just fine. the few that dont, call the parents and have them take kids home ot change. a couple times of that and that parent will do the job too.

yes

[PassingFair]

14. Uniforms breed uniformity.

I think uniforms are out of line in public schools.
I have been in or involved in public schools for a
lifetime, and "dress code" violations are the LEAST
of anyone's worries from my POV.

I wouldn't want to wear a uniform to work, either,
but that's just me. I don't work with heavy machinery,
or need to be identified as part of the hive, and neither
do my kids.

They pretty much choose blue jeans and t-shirts anyway!
I might feel better about uniforms for public schools if the
"uniform" consisted of jeans and a t-shirt!

[porphyrian]

15. If public schools want them, they need to supply them. - n/t

[TahitiNut]

16. I wish the 'uniforms' were like hospital scrubs.

As a former teacher in a boy's parochial high school with the typical jacket/tie/slacks/shoes uniform of the time (late 60's), I know that such policies are favored in many venues. It's often, but not always, something that indoctrinates authoritarian modes of thought.

What I personally reject is the 'fashion' - it has nothing to do with physical health and hygeine. I personally wish that something like scrubs became the basic 'style' for unisex attire. Washable, non-binding, modest, functional ... it's the most sane clothing 'style' I know of.

[slackmaster]

17. Mixed feelings - probably should be dictated by the situation

The desire to follow fashion trends and the need to compete with other kids can become a distraction, especially for families that cannot afford the latest, greatest, name-brand attire. I know a couple in Orange County, California that have two teenage daughters in public school. The clothing issues are a big strain on the family.

OTOH I am generally against making anything compulsory for anyone.

[noonwitch]

19. They save parents money, but I would have hated them as a kid

The Detroit Public Schools went all uniform this year-it's not the same thing, every day, but plain shirts of specific colors and plain pants of specific colors. The parents like it, because they can buy the uniforms at the cheaper stores and save money over regular school clothes. It also ends the "your're going to wear that to school" argument.

The schools like it because no kid is shooting another for his clothes.

I would have hated it-we wore jeans and t-shirts to school most days when I was in high school (I graduated in 1982).

[Lerkfish]

21. I might have appreciated uniforms as a kid: I wore my dad's hand me downs

Every day of getting ready for school was an act of humiliation for me.
Clothes were ways of stratifying the social structure, and I had absolutely no chance at all.

I was hopelessly out of style by about 20 years.

now, having said that, I think social structures will form regardless. its the nature of the beast.
I just know that as a kid on the lower end of the spectrum, I'd have jumped at uniforms...however, if I were at the upper end, or the more creative end, I would not.

:shrug:

there is no perfect solution

[SoCalDem]

32. Uniforms are an equalizer..

the "rich" kids already have an edge.. why NOT make school about learning and leave the fashion show for the "private arena".

I'm with you 100%..

Uniforms do not have to be ugly and they don;t even have to be "uniform-y".

dark slacks/pants/skirts
neutral polo style shirts are flattering to most kids (tan/white/light blue)
leather lace up shoes (no "sneaks")

what's wrong with that?

nothing..

and the actual clothes could be from Kmart/Target/walmart or from Nordstroms..

it's up to the parents to decide how much those clothes cost..

No logos..no excesses..

kids have enough free time to "express" themselves..

the things kids profess to love include uniforms anyway..LIFE includes uniforms too

"some" parents use their kids like Status Barbies, to show how well they are doing financially..and the rish kids love to lord it over the poorer ones who cannot afford the "real thing".. bah!

[BlackVelvet04]

64. What you succeed in doing is

is avoiding the inevitable......there WILL ALWAYS be someone richer, smarter, better looking, cooler, more popular. Children who are spared that reality are ill-equipped to deal with life.

Conformity is exactly what has produced the clones of the right wing.

[SoCalDem]

67. Life is not fair, but while kids are in school iit might be nice

to allow them all to concentrate on the education that might allow ALL of them to have a better life as an adult..

There are millions of kids who go to shcool every day, feeling shitty about themselves because they don't "measure up" in the looks and coolness department.

I can't imagine too many parents who would turn down a chance for their little darling to go to a chi-chi private school because they required uniforms:)

MY kids are grown, so I have no vested interest..y'all with little ones, fight it out :hi:

[tinfoil tiaras]

22. I had uniforms at my private school from Pre-K to 4th grade

It got a little looser in grades 5-6 when we could wear khaki bottoms and blue/white polo shirts. 7th grade we could wear jeans/khaki with any color polo shirt. But in 8th grade, the school thought our 7th grade clothes were too innepropriate and we had to wear the nastiest psyudo-uniforms from Lands End.

But this year, we can wear whatever we want. It's wierd. I've been to the same school and it has this much variaty in uniforms...:shrug: Though the middle school this year has plaid skirts and all....

[SmokingJacket]

23. Yeah, it's stifling.

But stifling of freedom of clothing expression is not a big deal. As long as kids are allowed and encouraged to express themselves in words, art, music, conversation perhaps they'll realize that what other people wear is not necessarily indicative of who they are.

There's too much emphasis on fashion in our culture, IMHO, and I'd be happy to send my kids to a school that just did away with all that.

Plus, there's so much uproar in our local schools about clothing (girls wearing revealing clothing, boys wearing pants that show their underwear, kids wearing gang colors or the confederate flag) it would be a relief if they just said, Fuckit, everyone in beige! Now, back to focussing on things that really matter!

[SoCalDem]

25. I like the idea, but corporate america does not.

why?

With uniforms, Moms & Dads all over the USA will not be pressured to follow the fads and might just quit maxxing out the credit cards to keep their kids "stylish"..

Imagine!

a comfy, decent looking outfit, worn every day (mix & match gives some flexibility)..sensible footwear..(who needs to spend $150 every few months for the coolest new shoe made by an 8 yar old for $2.00 in Bangladesh)

not a winning proposition for the offshore american companies.

[IndyOp]

27. I like it. Why? Several reasons.

It reduces the likelihood that parents are dressing their kids to "show off their own personal wealth/style." I worked at a daycare and was always disappointed when dealing with parents who treated their kids as little models born to display the latest fads. Infants in Guess jean sets? Gag.

Also: The focus should be on learning - academic and social - not on "looks." School is a hotbed of comparison and competition no matter how hard teachers work to make it otherwise. Wearing similar outfits means that kids are somewhat less focused on the differences among their peers and somewhat more focused on internal characteristics rather than looks.

Finally: Putting on the school outfit is a very simple way to cue children as to the type of behavior that is appropriate. At home I wear whatever I want and I have lots of freedoms to choose what I do next. At school I wear my school outfit and I behave in a way that is appropriate for school. So long as we have classrooms with one teacher and more than 6 students in each classroom we will have to expect children to behave differently at school than they would at home or elsewhere.

Sorry - one last... Dressing the boys and girls alike is a really good idea. Khaki pants and a green or white top on boys and girls. This has to reduce the "infantile sexualization" of our children. The last time I saw a 6-year-old in faux black fish net stockings on the cover of a mail circular for Target was the last time I looked at a mail circular for Target. :(

Just my 2 cents...

[Wiley50]

29. As someone who was victimized in a military prepschool

I find the custom almost Orwellian

Thumbs down

[MamaBear]

31. Not a parent, but a thought

I don't like uniforms where the girls are restricted to skirts. I went to public school back in the 60s, and girls were not allowed to wear trousers. The walk was cold, the hoisery cost was outrageous (took up so much of my allowance that my mother let me use her Christmas club at a local shop to buy them. The skirts blow up in the wind and you had to be constantly aware of how you were sitting. Skirts were short back then.

If the girls are allowed to wear pants, my objections are lessened. I'm not a big fan of uniformity that's imposed from the top. It will, unfortunately, arise on its own from within.

[gollygee]

33. There are good points and bad points

yes it doesn't give kids an opportunity to express themselves. That is a bad point.

On the other hand, it keeps kids from competing over who can buy the most expensive clothing. It keeps kids from making fun of kids whose parents don't have money to buy nice clothes. Well I'm sure kids will find other things to make fun of each other for but it will eliminate that one thing.

Eh. I don't care. Our school district doesn't have them but I wouldn't fight it if they started.

[Red Zelda]

34. uniforms are absurd

...unless it's a Hitler Youth organization.
"Hey - all you kids - THINK ALIKE OR ELSE!"

[rhiannon55]

36. Khaki-colored and dark green are military colors

Sounds like indoctrination to me...too reminiscent of Nazi Germany.

[aquart]

40. Oh, good grief.

You'd rather electric blue and shocking pink? They're easy on the eye.

[rhiannon55]

46. How about light blue and dark blue

For example? Or maybe purple and teal? Are the choices only between khaki/dark green and electric blue/shocking pink? I seem to remember that there are other colors in the palate. ;)

[AbbyR]

37. I wore uniforms when I was in school

and I never thought about it, but in retrospect, it's so much easier - you don't have to think in the morning to get dressed - just grab the blue skirt and white shirt and go.
Uniforms were instituted in my older daughter's last two years of high school, and I liked it then, for more reasons than simplicity. She went to a school where the wealthy kids were SO very well dressed, and I could not afford jeans with designer labels and $200 gym shoes. It evened the playing field.
She expressed her creativity in her music and art, and she is now in New York, pursuing her dream, so I don't think it hurt her a bit.
Younger daughter thought it was fine, too, although now that I think of it, neither one of them wear green, white or maroon polo shirts any more. Hey - that's another good thing - I got the hand-me-downs.

[BlackVelvet04]

66. Is not having to think

what we should be teaching children? Aren't the formative years all about learning and thinking and developing the skills of making good choices?

[obreaslan]

42. Every time this question comes up, I am reminded of ...

This image from Pink Floyd's The Wall. The image of a Teacher pushing the uniformed school children through a meat grinder so they all come out looking and acting exactly the same in the end. It's too frighteningly close to reality.

So I say no to public school uniforms.

[MrCoffee]

45. i'm pro-uniform...

i don't think there's much creativity in school fashion, just desperately trying to keep pace with what's cool. uniforms are (in my experience, anyway) tremendously cheaper than whatever latest mall craze is sweeping the school.

[tinfoil tiaras]

52. you can make 'em cute too

like wear bright jewelry with your uniform or cool shoes (if your school allows it).

[seabeyond]

54. wasnt cheaper for us. 5 collar shirts at 20 opposed to tshirts under 10

not to mention i still had to buy the tshirts for out of school. toward end of school year the two pair of jeans kids wore had holes in knees. they dont wear jean in summer. i wait until fall to buy two more. with new rule i would have to buy two more before school out and then again in fall because they grew. if it is khaki pat they have to wear to school you buy those and then have to buy jeans anyway for after school.

it really wasnt cheaper though we all think that initially. not the way it worked for me. one of the reasons i didnt like it. i was spending more on clothes than i ever had in the past

[halobeam]

47. Glad to see some feedback on this thread...

My kids are "the poor kids" in the neighborhood, as they put it. They don't want to "stand out"/ apart from most of the other kids in the school. That isn't hard to understand. I don't think it's an issue as far as lightening the load for them (so to speak) for then they wouldn't have to deal with "reality" that they have less. They already know that. Clothes wouldn't make a difference in that lesson, IMO, it would just be easier on our wallets and one less thing for them to contend with. The fashion/class statement that is being expressed in school is seriously in need of attention, it would probably aid in teaching those children who actually do have the ability to wear the latest brand name clothes, that its what's inside that makes the person. Either side of the situation, I believe they learn to treat others with respect from the parents and not so much, at school.

I'm not one for conformity, uniformity, etc in its negative sense, so I understand that point some posters have made here, too. I just believe there are undeniable benefits. It wouldn't be something I'd fight to have or fight not to have either. Like I said, the real lessons about the root of the concern here (on both sides) are taught in the home.

[wisteria]

49. I think they are a good idea for public schools. n/t

[DemoDemoCratCrat]

55. Another reason for

Another reason for uniforms that I haven't seen mentioned is that of identification. A child in a school uniform is more easily spotted when out of place and draws people's attention. If a child is abducted or lost, a precise description of his apparel is given to police.

[tinfoil tiaras]

56. or if the uniform has a school logo or monogram on it

that would be an identifier too...

[Pithlet]

58. I see both sides of the issue.

My older son's school switches to uniforms next year, so I'm sure I'll form a more solid opinion after dealing with it first hand.

[greenbriar]

59. My school has "standardized dress"

it saves hassles, the staff and we teachers know at a glance if the people belong in the school or not.


don't fight it

it is a good thing



besides, many jobs require uniforms.

[Mikey929]

60. Uniform

As someone who went to private school for 7 years, I know nothing but uniforms. Coat and tie every day. Who really cares? Clothes are just external nonsense that don't change who we are. Tell your daughter to be who she is on the inside and she will be a true and full person because of that.

And at home she can wear her leopard tights! :)

[damntexdem]

61. Get rid of the board of education or whoever else ...

voted to do this to your kids.

[BoneDaddy]

63. Like anything

there are pros and cons.

As a school counselor I think uniforms actually are working against what many students are trying to do developmentally and that is creating an identity, being creative, autonomous and independent.

Growing up and going to a Catholic High School, we had to wear a uniform. I never liked it but it didn't leave any lasting scars. I just think it is too "German" if you get my drift. Not a huge fan of anything that homogenizes a person.

[npincus]

65. thanks for all the feedback...

quite a diversity of thought and experience here. Very interesting and informative. The gang color issue never came to mind.

I don't know if I agree w/the economic-equalizer view; brand-name or designer duds are available in all colors, as are Old Navy and inexpensive brands.

I guess this type of restriction goes against my non-conformist, artistic grain, plus I know my girl will not dig this particular color combo (this morning she announced her brown pants were "not beautiful" and wanted to wear pink). However, she will most likely want to fit in, if that is what all the other kids are wearing (she's very, very shy and does not like to call attention to herself).

Thanks again. :)

[FunkyLeprechaun]

71. I didn't wear uniforms for school, but my British partner did

I've always been for a uniform policy in school. I don't think you should be thinking that it's an orwellian thing. I remember being in high school and we would talk about who's wearing what. It dominated class discussion because Laura's wearing the latest Abercrombie and Fitch shirt. We would have been better off with uniforms.

My partner wore an uniform to work then when he came home, he changed to street clothes. Easy-peasy.

I think it's better for schools to have uniforms. We're there to learn, not to make any fashion statements. My partner stopped wearing uniforms before he entered university. Lots of students at my university were private-schooled and didn't really comment on the latest fashions.

Better for everyone, honestly. Focuses on the students academic achievements rather than what the student is wearing.