school uniforms

United States
July 29, 2008 8:02pm CST
Most of the US public schools have rather loose dress codes and, fashion being what it is, there have been many problems. In the last couple of years, many schools have decided to use uniforms. The school where I teach is going to have uniforms for the first time, and I'm not sure about a few things. Please, somebody who has kids in a school with uniforms, tell me if the teachers are in uniform, too. Frankly, the uniforms we were shown at the end of last school year were absurdly expensive. If we have to wear uniforms, do we have to wear them all the time? I'm concerned for a couple of reasons. First, I have far more in my closets than anyone should have, and I love to dress nicely. Second, our school colors get really old, really fast : orange and brown! They want pants only, and I have a lot of skirts and dresses, even in school colors. You see, I'm very short and I get tired of cutting off so much fabric and making new bottoms for pants. If I buy what's supposed to be a miniskirt, it's perfect -- usually just below the knee. I can't believe I'm nervous about this!
9 people like this
21 responses
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
30 Jul 08
My children attend a charter school and the teachers are suppose to wear a shirt that has the school name on it. Other than that the teachers just wear dress bottoms shorts pants whichever. On Fridays it's a dress down day and they can wear jeans. Our schools colors are green and navy blue, so the staff wears blue shirts and the children wear green. When does school start for your school? Ours starts in about two weeks and I'm so excited since it's been a LONG summer.
4 people like this
• United States
30 Jul 08
Teachers start August 12, and the kids start August 18. Since budget problems cut out summer school, it has been a very long summer.
3 people like this
• United States
30 Jul 08
Thanks. One of the first budget cuts in our system was, sadly the school improvement committees that were working so hard to find ways to improve things!
2 people like this
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
30 Jul 08
I really wish we could fix our education system, some day maybe we will. Good luck with this school year!
3 people like this
@Ina926 (172)
• United States
30 Jul 08
My kids go to a school where they have to wear uniforms and no the teachers do not have to wear a uniform. Our kids are allowed to wear blue jeans instead of the usual khaki pants that go with their uniforms as long as they aren't faded, They have to be a dark blue jean and their burgandy shirts or whatever color shirt the school wears. On Fridays, they wear their pride shirts, which depending on what grade your in, is a different color, like orange or blue. A pride shirt is like a football shirt that the students get to wear when there is a football game or it's just friday and the teachers do wear this shirt but, only if they want to.
• United States
30 Jul 08
Welcome to myLot, Newbie! You're going to like it here. Thanks for the help. I think I'll probably do the uniform sometimes and not at other times. I really should be more worried aboutr what I'll teach, but after more than 40 years, that's fairly easy for me to deal with!
3 people like this
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
30 Jul 08
My son is in a school where uniforms are mandatory. They wear either red polo shirts (you can get them at WalMart 2 pack for $10) or a red school t-shirt ($8/each) and khaki shorts ($10 at Walmart) or pants ($12 at walmart). The teacher do not wear uniforms but they do dress nice. The uniforms save a ton of money!
• United States
30 Jul 08
Thanks. I have a feeling I'll be doing some of each.
3 people like this
@laglen (19759)
• United States
30 Jul 08
You will want to check with your school. My daughter attends a charter school. They wore uniforms for elementary. The teachers did not. But our uniforms had more than two colors. Khaki, blue, red, white. Our school colors are actually red white and blue. The kids could wear shorts, pants, skirts or jumpers. Good Luck!
• United States
30 Jul 08
Thanks! I wish we had a more flexible color scheme. It'll be like Halloween every day!
2 people like this
@ruby222 (4847)
30 Jul 08
School uniforms are a good thing to my mind,they ensure that every child goes to school wearing the same clothes,if there were no uniforms then im sure that there would be many youngsters going to school wearing designer clothes,and those with less well off parents wouldnt have the money to be able to afford any of that,so then there would be a division among the pupils
• United States
30 Jul 08
That was always a problem, and the reason most parents voted for uniforms. The competition for fashion has been fierce. There were afrguments, fights and thefts which a lot of people said can't happen with uniforms. The kids will probably find a way to compete, though. Maybe it will be jewelry or shoes or something.
1 person likes this
30 Jul 08
So true ,but I hope not.
@mimico (3617)
• Philippines
30 Jul 08
In my high school before, the teachers also wore a uniform. It didn't match our school colors though. They had a new color scheme every year, and in a year there would be 2-3 sets of uniforms. I think this would be advantageous for you not only because you won't need to buy new clothes that much anymore, but also because it'll save you time in choosing what to wear every day. It's only expensive at first, but it will definitely be cheaper if you need to wear it for an entire school year. :)
3 people like this
• United States
30 Jul 08
Thanks for the response, mimico. The idea of uniforms is still a little hard to handle, but I doubt that the teachers will go for it unless it's absolutely required. Most likely, we'll wear them for the first few weeks and for pep rallies, assemblies, etc., but our normal clothes the rest of the time. For many years, we've worn school shirts every Friday, and that became really tedious. Many of us changed shirts before we left the school at the end of the day.
1 person likes this
@venkygec (783)
• India
30 Jul 08
Atleast in my school, teachers did not have any uniform... Only students had uniform.. white shirt.. blue half pant... tie with a batch... belt... socks and shoes ... All these were compulsory... If we had no tie... we were punished... I never heard of teachers wearing school uniform... anyways in one way, i feel uniforms are nice... as you dont have to worry about... which dress to wear today.. Everyday its the same one.. hehe
• United States
30 Jul 08
I hope our students will have the same attitude. It's not very likely, but we can hope! Clearly, the students in India still show some respect, and kids here rarely do. Thanks for the response.
1 person likes this
• Canada
30 Jul 08
I thinnk u only need to wear uniforms during school time. It is not bad to ask students and teachers to wear uniforms.Frankly, dont be nervous about it. Everthing will be ok. Its common in Jap every students must wear uniform. so take it easy, U WILL adapt to the new system soon.Wish u can enjoy ur uniform.
• United States
30 Jul 08
Thank you for the response, and for becoming part of myLot. You're sure to like it here. I don't feel as nervous about the uniforms as I do about the arguments they're sure to case, at least at first. I thinkJapanese kids are still respectable in school, but American kids are very vocal about their feelings, especially if they don't like what's going on. Oh, well, it won't be long before it all settles into routine.
1 person likes this
@niushuang (265)
• China
30 Jul 08
Hey there. I think American and Japan's school uniform is very beautiful,it can shows students'youth and the vitality. Chinese school uniform's style is stereotyped,and is very rustic.
2 people like this
• China
30 Jul 08
The most beautiful school uniform i have seen in the film is the Japan's.I like the short skirt and the stockings.It's so cool.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Jul 08
Thanks for the response. I don't think American kids would agree with you, and I expect plenty of arguments about it when we begin, but I guess everyone will just have to deal with it.
1 person likes this
@fiona08 (454)
• United States
30 Jul 08
I hope you are allowed to wear what you will choose to wear, as a teacher. I have always been in favor of our schools changing to uniforms, because it takes away the competitive nature of dressing in name brand clothes. Also children seem to push the dress code to the extreme. Parents allow them to come in ever skimpier skirts, and tops. I think children coming in uniform allows the focus of the day to be placed on academics and not on a fashion competition. And for those who claim their kids need to be able to show their own individuality, I say let them show it after school. I think it is great that most of the uniforms are readily available for reasonable prices. As a teacher, though, I never even considered that I would also have to wear a uniform. Like you, I enjoy dressing up for work, and I love skirts. Also we have had the option to wear our school shirt on Fridays, and I never wear mine because I feel like a camp counselor in mine! Teachers who dress nicely should not be a distraction, so I hope you are able to continue to wear what you would like to. I'd be interested to know, as your year progresses, whether you think uniforms do make a difference in the academic feel and achievement in your school.
2 people like this
• United States
30 Jul 08
I really hope you're right. We know the kids will push it as far as they can, but we'll see how it works out ...
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Jul 08
i hate the school uniforms ... because they looks ugly .... we need to wear the normal clothes which we wear at some marriage anniversary or which we wear at home ... these uniforms cost too much and they are bad
2 people like this
• United States
30 Jul 08
Welcome to myLot, newbie! And thanks for the response. If kids hadn't been quite so outrageous in their clothing choices, I doubt that the uniform issue would have come up. I'm not sure uniforms are going to help a lot, because within the guidelines, they can still find ways to let it all hang out, but we'll see...
1 person likes this
@reckon21 (3479)
• Philippines
30 Jul 08
School uniforms is necessary because it carries the identity of the school. Others don't want to wear one. As long that the school uniforms are comportable to wear I'm okay with it.
• United States
30 Jul 08
Most of the kids don't want anyone telling them what to wear. I hope it doesn't become a disruptive thing, but whatever the results, it'll all settle down before long. The vote had to include at least 51% of the parents, so we'll get their backing, which should help.
• Denmark
30 Jul 08
School uniforms shouldn't exist! You can't force people to wear uniforms at such a young age. It's the government's way of saying "Hey, we don't really want to look like we're preparing your kids for serving our country in unnecessary wars, so we're doing it in a much smarter way! They just have to wear these cute little uniforms, so we can prevent disturbing things like freedom of speach and expression..." You should never join a school using uniforms - you'll be supporting oppression of free speach.
2 people like this
• United States
30 Jul 08
Welcome to myLot! New ideas are always welcome. I must admit, I was one of the few who voted against uniforms. We voted it down several years in a row, but we knew it was coming, because we were the last high school left without them. If kids were dressed for school instead of for clubbing so often, we could have voted it down again, but the kids took it too far in the judgment of faculty and those parents who are involved with their kids' schools. It seems as if you're saying that, n Denmark, kids have a choice of schools to attend. Here, if you're going to a public school, you're going to have to go to the one you'e assigned to.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Jul 08
Personally, I think school uniforms are a great idea. It makes it so that rich and poor are all wearing the same things. There is no more status symbol in the clothes.
• United States
30 Jul 08
I personally did not wear uniforms when I was in school, but I hightly support the idea. I have cousins in school in India who wear uniforms and it instills a sense of disciple and work ethic in them. School is for learning not for fashion.
• United States
30 Jul 08
Welcome to myLot, newbie! It's always good to have new ideas. I'm afraid the discipline and work ethic are the important things, and those have disappeared in America in the past several years. I wish it could come back, but it's highly unlikely. There's been too much acceptance of rudeness and disrespect permitted, and it's going to take many years and much work to get things back as they should be. Thanks for your response.
@irishidid (8688)
• United States
30 Jul 08
They had uniforms for a few years here. They don't anymore. Why they ended it, I don't know.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Jul 08
Thasnks for the response. Maybe that's what will happen here.
• Hyderabad, India
30 Jul 08
I certainly understood your concern. Rather than them implementing school uniforms they should ammend rules which takes care of dressing modestly. That would be perfect. Try talking to your sup and explain them that teachers need not follow uniform code because they do dress accordingly or try to have some restrictions on dress code that might help you out. Cheers.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Jul 08
We've always tried to implement those rules, but it get harder all the time. Both students and some of the parents tell us we have no right to decide what their kids will wear. Often the mothers come to school dressed even more offensively than their kids. It's become an issue too big to handle, so alost all the schools have gone to uniforms. My high school is the last high school in the school system here that didn't have uniforms, but I've noticed that some are more compliant than others. A friend of mine didn't know her children's school even had uniforms, and she made it a point to bring them to school in the mornings to see how other kids were dressed. So few were in uniform that she thought it was a particular club or somethng. I guess the administrators will ahve to make those decisions.
1 person likes this
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
30 Jul 08
There were schools in Texas that did a smart thing, I think. The uniforms were either khaki or gray pants or skirt, and the tops were cheap(er) polo-type shirts in white, red, or navy. The kids had some choices that way.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Jul 08
Thanks for the response. I think that ssounds very reasonable. Maybe we can be flexible, so we'll have fewer problems than we would if everyone were just alloed to look like everyone else.
• United States
30 Jul 08
I grew up having to wear uniforms to school because I attended Catholic schools. I got used to it and saved a lot of money on clothes. However, we were never forced to only wear school colors. I think it would be best for schools to implement policies at the lower grade levels first. Teenagers who have never had to wear uniforms will probably resist the idea.
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Jul 08
They did do it that way. The lower grades have had uniforms for many years. I think it's a realistic choice of uniform -- pants a particulat color and standard polo shirt in a different color. Thanks for the response
@ABJones (34)
• United States
30 Jul 08
I had to wear Unaiforms in high school and Middle school. We were one of the first schools in town to try thr unaiforms and at the time it was expensive. But at my school the teachers did not wear the unaforms.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Jul 08
Thanks for the response, Newbie, and welcome to myLot. Good ideas are always needed!
• United States
30 Jul 08
I dont believe uniforms are necessary. If schools just enforce their dress code like any other school rule there wouldnt be a problem. And i think having to pay for one is even worse. If a school wants a uniform, they should at least give u your first one free. Then you could pay for replacements. Besides in the end it is not the clothes that distract people but the minds of the children that allow themselves to be distracted
• United States
30 Jul 08
Wow! Another newbie with good ideas! We're glad you're with us. At your age, you should be well aware that, no matter how convinced teachers and administrators are that they can enforce all the rules for behavior, kids are going to violate al the can. We've fought that battle for so long, it's insane! Many times administrators come in and try to become popular with the kids, so they're inconsistant, at best, with enforcement. Anyway, we'll see how it goes...