To uniform or not?

[zanzanfergie]

What's your opinion on whether schools should have a uniform or not?

Almost all schools in Australia have uniforms, including mine. Plus mine's an all girl school, so we end up looking super sensible in our pleated skirts and big shouldered blazers.

I guess my feelings are that uniforms can't hurt, and probably do improve the image of a school. And they reduce perceived differences between the kids, and help reduce the labelling of people based purely on what they wear. But then again, if a school doesn't have them then kids are free to wear what they feel suits them, and have more freedom is expressing themselves. It's a hard question. I just wondered what people who go to free dress schools think about it.

[popcornbird]

Although I don't like being forced to wear something in particular, I like uniforms in the sense that then, those wierd girls can't wear their nasty tight, half naked clothes that make everyone gag, to school. I HATE HATE HATE the clothes some girls wear here at school. It makes me want to puke. They have so little sense of shame its amazing. So yes, I do see a benefit in uniforms. Also, kids can't exactly pick on others because of their clothes style. I like flexible uniforms, for example, if its a skirt, and some girls don't want to show their legs, they can wear the same thing but longer, etc. I've never gone to a school that requires a uniform, so I hate having to see all the nasty clothes people wear with no shame. Most private schools here require uniforms, but most public schools are free wear. I personally love girls only schools because I think I'd feel so much more comfortable in them, but unfortunately we don't have enough of those here, for even the people who like going to girls only/boys only schools. I for one, consider you lucky to be able to go to such a school, and if we had girls only schools here, I would definitely go to one of them.

I also understand why people may not like uniforms, and when I was younger, I hated them, because I like to be free to wear what I want to wear, however, after getting older and seeing what kids wear to high school I'd very much prefer uniforms than 5 sizes smaller jeans with tiny tight tight tight tops.

[Cataholic]

I am totally for uniforms. I wish I worked in an environment that had one. I could then wear the same thing week after week, and spend my money on fun things.

[binka_nugget]

I'm sitting on the fence. I'm for because no one can really judge anyone else by how they dress...which is one less thing to worry about. Also, because you wouldn't have to worry about what you're going to wear tomorrow. I'm against if the school doesn't give a reasonable amount of freedom to the kids. I think as long as they have the option for whatever hairstyle, haircolor, piercings, etc..then I'm fine with uniforms.

[primabella]

I'm with Ashley. My school has uniforms (which I was totally against at the beginning but now it's alright) but don't have stupid rules like 'no bright nailpolish' or 'no earrings'. It is good in a way because everyone looks the same so even if we do like losers in our gray pants and polos, we ALL look like losers. Those who can afford the really expensive shirts don't get to show it off but those who like to spike up their hair punk-style can.

[Amber]

My school dont have uniforms. We wear what we want, although I think it would be cool to wear uniforms.

[Sevens]

I wish our schools would've had uniforms where we were growing up. We lived in a good section of the suburbs, but since my dad was in the Navy, my mom was a stay at home mom, and there were three kids and a dog to support, we had a nice place to live and food on the table, but not the "cool clothes". And it was pretty hard keeping up with the other kids, as most had two income households.

As I think back on it now, I can see how shallow it was to argue with my mom about wanting designer stuff (which probably wouldn't have fit right anyway), just so you'd have the "right" label on the back of your jeans.

I'm all for uniforms. I think it would help equalize things, although it has been almost 10 years since I finished high school, so maybe my perspective is a little skewed by my old age..

[mugsy]

Speaking from the teacher point of view, I am all for uniforms. I wouldn't have to waste my teaching time telling boys to pull up their pants are almost around their ankles because they are so big. I kid you not, I have seen boys carry their books in one hand and hold their pants up with the other. I also wouldn't have to tell girls that their skirts, shorts, or shirts are too short and not to wear them again (yeah that happens and with no support from the office on the matter, why should they listen?) Dark blue pants and white shirts sound good to me.

[Cincy'sMom]

When I was in school, I never would have wanted to wear a uniform. When our school dress code changed and we were allowed to wear jeans, it was the coolest thing!!!

Now, I think uniforms are a good idea. I don't think we dressed the way kids do now, even 10 years ago. Sure there weer things that were inappropriate that people wore, but I don't think there was as much skin showing as today. But maybe that is all prespective, and getting older.

I do work wear we have a uniform...sort of. Our company provides Scrubs for us to wear...they only started this about 2 yrs ago and I love it!!! We were given a catalog to go trhough and not restricted on how much to order (just be reasonable) and so i have 5 scrub "outifts", in different clors and with some cool (animal) tops and don't ruin my own clothes. ( I'm a chemist)

[babolaypo65]

I'm with Mugsy. As a former middle school and high school teacher I would have LOVED it if the school had uniforms. So much time wasted on all that stuff. Looking back I wish we had had uniforms in school. I too tried to keep up. My family got by okay, but did not have the money for all my silly fashion whims.

Finally, I'd like someone to do a study on long term results. I suspect that adults who wore uniforms as school kids may make more responsible clothing choices when they enter the work force.

[mugsy]

You can't believe the parents that don't want uniforms. They say it interferes with their freedoms. I just want to smack them. The ones that kill me are the ones that say that the clothes where the girls have half the butt hanging out or a skirt so short that they can't sit comfortably and the shirts so tight and so short that they leave nothing to the imagination are "cute." And they are also the parents and get all nasty when their daughter gets propositioned. "DUH!" Uniforms would totally eliminate that kind of crap. Sorry, I'm just venting.

[Cincy'sMom]

I played softball with a woman who is on the school board of her children's elementary school. This school decided to adopte an optional uniform policy...if the parents choose to dress the kids in a uniform, we suggest, blah, blah , blah. This is voluntary...the kids to DO NOT have to wear the uniform.

One night after a game we all went to eat at one of our team sponser's restaraunts. She gets a call on her cell phone from a friend whose kids also go to the same school. This woman is ouraged. She and a group of parents are talking to a lawyer to sue because of the uniforms. I don't know what the end result of all this is/was, that was one of our last games. Just seems a little silly to me, let's sue over a Voluntary dress code?!?

[mugsy]

What premise is she going to use for her lawsuit?

[Cincy'sMom]

Who knows...I don't know if it ever went anywhere or not...haven't seen anything in the paper.

We are having a softball team dinner on the 25th, I'll ask then what is going on.

[Uabassoon]

When I was in elementary school I had to wear a uniform, it was one of those pleaded jumpers. I didn't mind it too much, especially since most of the kids there had a lot more money than my family I knew I would have felt bad as a kid not being able to afford the clothes that they wore. My only issue with uniforms where girls have to wear their shirts tucked in, is that it really sucks for girls like me who have issues with their big booty . Picture Jeniffer Lopez butt on steriods.