Why no Uniforms in MCPS ?

[Anonymous]

I am all for uniforms, but I am surprised that there have not been more teachers commenting on what a pain it might be for them to have to enforce school uniform policies.

[Anonymous]

I had uniforms growing up in Catholic school and my son went to Catholic school for a few years. I never found it easier. It was stressful finding clothes that fit that were acceptable - especially shoes. It's also so boring. Why not let kid express themselves?

[Anonymous]

This 10 year old post is back!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am all for uniforms, but I am surprised that there have not been more teachers commenting on what a pain it might be for them to have to enforce school uniform policies.

I don’t even enforce the current (racist and sexist) dress code. I have zero desire to make sure a polo is the correct shade of blue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why no uniforms in MCPS? Because MCPS isn't

1. an expensive private school
2. a Catholic private school
3. a poor urban public school district

OP, how would wearing uniforms instill discipline? Besides discipline in doing laundry, for the parent who is responsible for the laundry...

Actually, we notice a difference in behavior in our private school when they have free dress days. Something about being in a uniform is a reminder that you follow rules and focus. They might be less comfortable than athletic wear, hence kids sit up properly and focus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had uniforms growing up in Catholic school and my son went to Catholic school for a few years. I never found it easier. It was stressful finding clothes that fit that were acceptable - especially shoes. It's also so boring. Why not let kid express themselves?

I found it much easier. No decisions to be made in the morning except what color underwear. The kids have some free dress days they look forward to. And if you are going to get into arguments about gender norms, pants are allowed for both sexes. I have yet to see a boy wear a skirt though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why no uniforms in MCPS? Because MCPS isn't

1. an expensive private school
2. a Catholic private school
3. a poor urban public school district

OP, how would wearing uniforms instill discipline? Besides discipline in doing laundry, for the parent who is responsible for the laundry...

Actually, we notice a difference in behavior in our private school when they have free dress days. Something about being in a uniform is a reminder that you follow rules and focus. They might be less comfortable than athletic wear, hence kids sit up properly and focus.

Mcps is not private school and maybe it is expectations and parenting. Why would you let your kids go to school in athletic clothing.

[Anonymous]

We are in DC and have uniforms, which I thought I’d like for the reasons people mentioned on the thread— easier, puts all kids at the same level. But turns out I hate it and here is why:

- It doesn’t get rid of the competition or pressure to dress a certain way, or change the fact that kids with more expensive clothes stand out. Our uniform is very standard and includes an option for a plaid jumper dress over a blouse. This option easily costs 4x what the polo shirt with shorts/pants/skirt option costs. The girls are of course all obsessed with getting the jumper dresses, which are also fussier and harder to play in. It’s ver annoying— without uniforms she’d be happy in brightly colored (an inexpensive) tees and shorts.

- The uniforms look good for a month and then look awful. You can buy higher quality from Lands End but it’s incredibly expensive— it’s really only cost effective if you have multiple kids who will wear it. Without uniforms, I could buy good quality items from Primary or similar that would hold up without breaking the bank.

- Uniforms require everyone to buy the same items at the same time, which means there’s often a run on certain items in August. But then if you need to size up mid year, it can be hard to find things because stores don’t stock it and inventory online is low.

A lot of this could be solved if the uniform was just a t-shirt and a set of permitted bottoms, which many schools do. But people get attached to the boarding school look and that’s what we have. I was enamored with the idea of my kid in plaid skirts for like a month and now I’m so over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why no uniforms in MCPS? Because MCPS isn't

1. an expensive private school
2. a Catholic private school
3. a poor urban public school district

OP, how would wearing uniforms instill discipline? Besides discipline in doing laundry, for the parent who is responsible for the laundry...

Actually, we notice a difference in behavior in our private school when they have free dress days. Something about being in a uniform is a reminder that you follow rules and focus. They might be less comfortable than athletic wear, hence kids sit up properly and focus.

As someone who went to private school and wore a uniform I can absolutely say that being in uniform has absolutely nothing to do with following rules. And having a niece in charter who has uniform in another state, can attest to the amount of time teachers spend dress coding kids for shoes, shirts, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This 10 year old post is back!

Not sure why people keep resurrecting this thread. Sure a few kooks like it, but it's insanely unpopular with the majority of residents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are in DC and have uniforms, which I thought I’d like for the reasons people mentioned on the thread— easier, puts all kids at the same level. But turns out I hate it and here is why:

- It doesn’t get rid of the competition or pressure to dress a certain way, or change the fact that kids with more expensive clothes stand out. Our uniform is very standard and includes an option for a plaid jumper dress over a blouse. This option easily costs 4x what the polo shirt with shorts/pants/skirt option costs. The girls are of course all obsessed with getting the jumper dresses, which are also fussier and harder to play in. It’s ver annoying— without uniforms she’d be happy in brightly colored (an inexpensive) tees and shorts.

- The uniforms look good for a month and then look awful. You can buy higher quality from Lands End but it’s incredibly expensive— it’s really only cost effective if you have multiple kids who will wear it. Without uniforms, I could buy good quality items from Primary or similar that would hold up without breaking the bank.

- Uniforms require everyone to buy the same items at the same time, which means there’s often a run on certain items in August. But then if you need to size up mid year, it can be hard to find things because stores don’t stock it and inventory online is low.

A lot of this could be solved if the uniform was just a t-shirt and a set of permitted bottoms, which many schools do. But people get attached to the boarding school look and that’s what we have. I was enamored with the idea of my kid in plaid skirts for like a month and now I’m so over it.

Just a heads up that Kids For Less carries uniforms year round.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in DC and have uniforms, which I thought I’d like for the reasons people mentioned on the thread— easier, puts all kids at the same level. But turns out I hate it and here is why:

- It doesn’t get rid of the competition or pressure to dress a certain way, or change the fact that kids with more expensive clothes stand out. Our uniform is very standard and includes an option for a plaid jumper dress over a blouse. This option easily costs 4x what the polo shirt with shorts/pants/skirt option costs. The girls are of course all obsessed with getting the jumper dresses, which are also fussier and harder to play in. It’s ver annoying— without uniforms she’d be happy in brightly colored (an inexpensive) tees and shorts.

- The uniforms look good for a month and then look awful. You can buy higher quality from Lands End but it’s incredibly expensive— it’s really only cost effective if you have multiple kids who will wear it. Without uniforms, I could buy good quality items from Primary or similar that would hold up without breaking the bank.

- Uniforms require everyone to buy the same items at the same time, which means there’s often a run on certain items in August. But then if you need to size up mid year, it can be hard to find things because stores don’t stock it and inventory online is low.

A lot of this could be solved if the uniform was just a t-shirt and a set of permitted bottoms, which many schools do. But people get attached to the boarding school look and that’s what we have. I was enamored with the idea of my kid in plaid skirts for like a month and now I’m so over it.

Just a heads up that Kids For Less carries uniforms year round.

They are constantly sold out of many sizes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why no uniforms in MCPS? Because MCPS isn't

1. an expensive private school
2. a Catholic private school
3. a poor urban public school district

OP, how would wearing uniforms instill discipline? Besides discipline in doing laundry, for the parent who is responsible for the laundry...

Actually, we notice a difference in behavior in our private school when they have free dress days. Something about being in a uniform is a reminder that you follow rules and focus. They might be less comfortable than athletic wear, hence kids sit up properly and focus.

As someone who went to private school and wore a uniform I can absolutely say that being in uniform has absolutely nothing to do with following rules. And having a niece in charter who has uniform in another state, can attest to the amount of time teachers spend dress coding kids for shoes, shirts, etc.

Nope. Clothing choices don't stop kids from carrying knives and ghost guns to school, that's for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why no uniforms in MCPS? Because MCPS isn't

1. an expensive private school
2. a Catholic private school
3. a poor urban public school district

OP, how would wearing uniforms instill discipline? Besides discipline in doing laundry, for the parent who is responsible for the laundry...

Kids would focus more on studies and other things than remarking/keeping up with latest fashion. Reduce Bullying for kids who do not follow the latest and greatest trends.
It would have everyone at same level in terms of clothing - rich/poor/middle

Good God, these are such tired arguments. Hope much do you really think kids “remark on” fashion anyway??

[Anonymous]

This thread is nine years old, and despite the time, nobody wants uniforms nine years later.