On the school uniform issue...

[sarahmichelef]

I personally am completely agnostic about school uniforms.  I can see their value, I can see the arguments against them.  In both cases where we are considering schools with uniforms, the uniform consists of a school polo shirt or a button-down shirt and khakis/khaki skirt or a plaid jumper.  That's pretty innocuous.  And, frankly, it's just not an issue I can get all that worked up about.

Our neighborhood school is a K-8 and the older grades are DEFINITELY a time when I can see the value of uniforms.  Let me tell you how much easier my life would have been in sixth grade if everyone had dressed the same.  I still think sixth grade would have been the worst school year ever, but it would have been a damn sight less bad.

Comments

[marajade648.livejournal.com]

There's catholic high school few blocks from where I work and the kids wear the polo with khaki combo. I think they look good and you still can see individuality in how they dress, but with out the craziness of "what are they wearing!" Looks comfortable and I'm sure saves time at shopping and getting ready in the morning. Not sure I'd go looking for a school with uniforms for whatever potential offspring I may raise someday, but I'd be happy if they wore simple uniforms too.

[elliesam.livejournal.com]

Yes. I changed schools between 6th and 7th grade, and the new place didn't have uniforms. Many times I wished we still did because, you know - jr. and sr. high, fashion and social hierarchies? It would have been nice to have some level ground.

Some parent groups tried twice to get the school to adopt uniforms, but it was always quashed by the big contributors. Because how dare anyone say that their precious Ashley can't wear her $300 outfits to school but instead has to look like everyone else? (late 80s)

[cranky-dragon.livejournal.com]

My high school didn't have uniforms, but it did have the most (unintentionally) brilliant way of preventing inappropriate dress. Anybody wearing a naval-bearing top or a shirt with drugs/alcohol/nudity on it was sent to the vide principal's office and given a D.A.R.E. "Say no to drugs" shirt to wear instead.

It was perfect. Everyone knew you'd tried to wear something stupid, and you got laughed at all day while you were wearing your D.A.R.E. shirt. There were few repeat offenders.

So I can say with all honesty that D.A.R.E. made some effective changes at my high school.

[nenie.livejournal.com]

i loved my k-8 uniforms...they ruled

that yellow polo with brown cords...AWESOME!

seriously
that was a great look for my complexion