ATS

[Anonymous]

My two girls are at ATS and yes there is a high Mongolian population. I asked one of the Mongolian moms why this is the case. She told me that the Mongolian community works hard to encourage Mongolians to apply to the VPI program and if they don’t qualify then for the kindergarten lottery. One Mongolian will bring another and getting into ATS has become a thing to strive for. As to why ATS, she said it’s because it’s the closest to what school was like back home, where there are rules and academics are the focus. Also she likes the fact that there are a lot of Mongolians in the school because that way her child doesn’t feel different. I think most immigrant parents have the same rationale. We want our kids to go to a school where the focus is on academics and behavior. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea I understand but that’s what many of us value. In fact many of us wish there were uniforms lol! I was just talking to a parent who felt that ATS isn’t strict enough haha.

[Anonymous]

I would not want a uniform, but I am fine with a dress code. Uniforms often increase costs a lot, because one needs to put the school logo or whatever on shirts and such.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My two girls are at ATS and yes there is a high Mongolian population. I asked one of the Mongolian moms why this is the case. She told me that the Mongolian community works hard to encourage Mongolians to apply to the VPI program and if they don’t qualify then for the kindergarten lottery. One Mongolian will bring another and getting into ATS has become a thing to strive for. As to why ATS, she said it’s because it’s the closest to what school was like back home, where there are rules and academics are the focus. Also she likes the fact that there are a lot of Mongolians in the school because that way her child doesn’t feel different. I think most immigrant parents have the same rationale. We want our kids to go to a school where the focus is on academics and behavior. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea I understand but that’s what many of us value. In fact many of us wish there were uniforms lol! I was just talking to a parent who felt that ATS isn’t strict enough haha.

This is why ASFS was so popular with the Mongolian community for generations—a similar focus academics. The school might still be popular with Mongolian families, but I’m not sure.

When ATS was created, it was inspired by earlier methods of teaching and learning from the 1950s and 60s as a response to the open classroom trend. Uniforms were not part of a traditional public education, but dress codes were, hence the unique ATS dress code. (Uniforms in public schools came about in the 1990s in inner cities due to fights over shoes and clothes and also gangs then identified with certain colors/styles.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not want a uniform, but I am fine with a dress code. Uniforms often increase costs a lot, because one needs to put the school logo or whatever on shirts and such.

I feel uniforms are cheaper no? You have two or three sets of uniforms which your kids wear so you need less clothes in general. I always found uniforms to be a great equalizer too since everyone is wearing the same thing. But then again I was born and raised overseas and came to the US when I was 18. So my perspective is different. I understand that uniforms are controversial in the US so I stay away from advocating for them. ATS does have a dress code but the tucked shirts thing isn’t really enforced anymore. They did attempt to enforce it last year but I haven’t heard anything about it this year. I don’t think it makes much sense now that most girls wear leggings. Tucked shirts look weird when you are wearing leggings.

[Anonymous]

[twitter]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My two girls are at ATS and yes there is a high Mongolian population. I asked one of the Mongolian moms why this is the case. She told me that the Mongolian community works hard to encourage Mongolians to apply to the VPI program and if they don’t qualify then for the kindergarten lottery. One Mongolian will bring another and getting into ATS has become a thing to strive for. As to why ATS, she said it’s because it’s the closest to what school was like back home, where there are rules and academics are the focus. Also she likes the fact that there are a lot of Mongolians in the school because that way her child doesn’t feel different. I think most immigrant parents have the same rationale. We want our kids to go to a school where the focus is on academics and behavior. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea I understand but that’s what many of us value. In fact many of us wish there were uniforms lol! I was just talking to a parent who felt that ATS isn’t strict enough haha.

This is why ASFS was so popular with the Mongolian community for generations—a similar focus academics. The school might still be popular with Mongolian families, but I’m not sure.

When ATS was created, it was inspired by earlier methods of teaching and learning from the 1950s and 60s as a response to the open classroom trend. Uniforms were not part of a traditional public education, but dress codes were, hence the unique ATS dress code. (Uniforms in public schools came about in the 1990s in inner cities due to fights over shoes and clothes and also gangs then identified with certain colors/styles.)

Yes ASFS seems popular amongst Mongolian parents as well. Though I heard from one of the Mongolian moms in ATS that there have been complaints about the new principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not want a uniform, but I am fine with a dress code. Uniforms often increase costs a lot, because one needs to put the school logo or whatever on shirts and such.

I feel uniforms are cheaper no? You have two or three sets of uniforms which your kids wear so you need less clothes in general. I always found uniforms to be a great equalizer too since everyone is wearing the same thing. But then again I was born and raised overseas and came to the US when I was 18. So my perspective is different. I understand that uniforms are controversial in the US so I stay away from advocating for them. ATS does have a dress code but the tucked shirts thing isn’t really enforced anymore. They did attempt to enforce it last year but I haven’t heard anything about it this year. I don’t think it makes much sense now that most girls wear leggings. Tucked shirts look weird when you are wearing leggings.

No. Uniforms will be more expensive. We already have only 3 sets of clothes (3 pr pants plus 3 shirts) and all the clothes are from a random affordable store. We do not want to pay the higher cost for uniforms, and yes the uniform clothes with a logo really are more expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not want a uniform, but I am fine with a dress code. Uniforms often increase costs a lot, because one needs to put the school logo or whatever on shirts and such.

You don't have to have a uniform with a logo. It can merely be khaki bottoms and navy tops. Unless you consider that a dress code rather than a uniform.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not want a uniform, but I am fine with a dress code. Uniforms often increase costs a lot, because one needs to put the school logo or whatever on shirts and such.

I feel uniforms are cheaper no? You have two or three sets of uniforms which your kids wear so you need less clothes in general. I always found uniforms to be a great equalizer too since everyone is wearing the same thing. But then again I was born and raised overseas and came to the US when I was 18. So my perspective is different. I understand that uniforms are controversial in the US so I stay away from advocating for them. ATS does have a dress code but the tucked shirts thing isn’t really enforced anymore. They did attempt to enforce it last year but I haven’t heard anything about it this year. I don’t think it makes much sense now that most girls wear leggings. Tucked shirts look weird when you are wearing leggings.

That's because leggings are not pants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not want a uniform, but I am fine with a dress code. Uniforms often increase costs a lot, because one needs to put the school logo or whatever on shirts and such.

You don't have to have a uniform with a logo. It can merely be khaki bottoms and navy tops. Unless you consider that a dress code rather than a uniform.

That is a dress code if the parents can buy ANY store's navy blue top.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not want a uniform, but I am fine with a dress code. Uniforms often increase costs a lot, because one needs to put the school logo or whatever on shirts and such.

You don't have to have a uniform with a logo. It can merely be khaki bottoms and navy tops. Unless you consider that a dress code rather than a uniform.

This is how most of the lower income public schools with “uniforms” do it. My niece goes to a school like this. At the beginning of the school year you go to old navy or Walmart and buy a bunch of plain colored polos for 5 dollars each and a couple pairs of khakis then you are set. You could donate old sets for people who can’t afford new uniforms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not want a uniform, but I am fine with a dress code. Uniforms often increase costs a lot, because one needs to put the school logo or whatever on shirts and such.

You don't have to have a uniform with a logo. It can merely be khaki bottoms and navy tops. Unless you consider that a dress code rather than a uniform.

That is a dress code if the parents can buy ANY store's navy blue top.

OK. Must buy Old Navy khakis and navy polo shirts. No logo.

[Anonymous]

isn’t it still a cost saving to have just one wardrobe of clothes for both school and home? As opposed to uniforms for school and then casual clothes for home?

In any event, like most parents, I prefer the long tradition of no uniforms in US public schools. Reasonable dress codes and even the old ATS dress codes are fine with me, when feasible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:isn’t it still a cost saving to have just one wardrobe of clothes for both school and home? As opposed to uniforms for school and then casual clothes for home?

In any event, like most parents, I prefer the long tradition of no uniforms in US public schools. Reasonable dress codes and even the old ATS dress codes are fine with me, when feasible.

To be honest, our DC only has worn khaki pants and tennis/golf/polo type shirts since maybe age 2. Same clothes at school and at home - all unrelated to ATS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:isn’t it still a cost saving to have just one wardrobe of clothes for both school and home? As opposed to uniforms for school and then casual clothes for home?

In any event, like most parents, I prefer the long tradition of no uniforms in US public schools. Reasonable dress codes and even the old ATS dress codes are fine with me, when feasible.

To be honest, our DC only has worn khaki pants and tennis/golf/polo type shirts since maybe age 2. Same clothes at school and at home - all unrelated to ATS.

Okay, but by mid elementary many (most?) kids prefer athletic pants or leggings and t-shirts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:isn’t it still a cost saving to have just one wardrobe of clothes for both school and home? As opposed to uniforms for school and then casual clothes for home?

In any event, like most parents, I prefer the long tradition of no uniforms in US public schools. Reasonable dress codes and even the old ATS dress codes are fine with me, when feasible.

To be honest, our DC only has worn khaki pants and tennis/golf/polo type shirts since maybe age 2. Same clothes at school and at home - all unrelated to ATS.

Okay, but by mid elementary many (most?) kids prefer athletic pants or leggings and t-shirts.

So what? 8 year olds' preferences shouldn't be the driving forces in education policy.