I will admit it. I wish my kids had a school uniform. My reasons:
1) We don’t have to pick out what to wear everynight, to have the kids argue about it again in the morning.
2) I could buy in bulk! Clothes for four girls can get expensive!
3)The school dress code would be easier to enforce. Schools seem to have a hard time enforcing dress codes.
4) I’ve done some reading on how wearing uniforms increases test scores and decreases behavior problems.
The counter argument is that kids cannot show their “originality” and be themselves. This argument doesn’t hold water for me. First of all, all the kids currently look like Hannah Montana if their moms let them (I don’t by the way). If you look around the mall all the kids are dressed alike in their groups. Kids can be original with their hair, fingernail polish, ear rings, henna tattoos, etc. They can be original in their school work! Wow that is a thought: Being Creative With Learning! I wonder how that idea would go over?!
What has brought this rant on this morning? My daily issue with flip-flops/sandals. Meg understands she cannot wear flip-flops to school. She knows this and it is no big deal. Mita and Enu have only been here for a year. It is hard for them to understand why other kids can get away with wearing flip-flops, belly-showing shirts and butt-crack-showing pants and they cannot. I repeat over and over, “I am your mom, we dress appropriately in this family and follow the school dress code. I cannot control other people’s kids.” I feel like a disclaimer at the end of a commercial!
If a school bothers with having a dress code please enforce it! Having school uniforms would only help with making sure all kids are dressed properly and parents who do not follow the rules will be held more responsible .
I am not a prude. My kids wear things I hate quite frequently! They do not, however, show butt-cracks or have sexy clothes.
Tell me what you think about school uniforms, dress codes or the lack of…
I am for school uniforms. I believe it instills a sense of pride in one’s self. You always feel better about yourself when we dress for Church or business . It makes you want to be your best.It would do wonders for the pier-pressure kids suffer at school also. It might do wonders for school employees too, some of them dress like teenagers.
That’s my opinion
I’m with you! Dress codes never get enforced (even some of the teachers at my kid’s school need a reminder about what is appropriate attire) and really, school administrators have more important things to be doing with their time and energy. Having a uniform puts everyone on a level playing field and makes expectations clear from the start. Especially with girls, too much physical and emotional energy gets wasted on who is wearing what. As for flip flops – they are really not allowed in my house. As a kid I had too many bloody,broken toes and twisted ankles from playing in them and decided my kids would benefit from my experience. The girls howl about it but Crocs work as a compromise for water play and when quick slip ons are needed (they don’t do much for ankles but do provide more protection for those little toes) and snappy little keds look so cute with those spring skirts and dresses.
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