Public school uniforms

[Anonymous]

Just curious - do any of the public schools in this area have uniforms?

[Anonymous]

Yes. In DC, my impression is that they are more likely to be schools east of the park -- although my daughter's middle school, Hardy (normally on the west side but temporarily on the east side due to renovations), voted to move to uniforms last year.

[Anonymous]

Washington Latin requires uniforms. Although it's a charter, so I'm not sure if it answers your question.

[Anonymous]

Yes. In DC, my impression is that they are more likely to be schools east of the park -- although my daughter's middle school, Hardy (normally on the west side but temporarily on the east side due to renovations), voted to move to uniforms last year.

Read the code here -- poor kids who need discipline rather than the well-off children whose creativity should be fostered.

[Anonymous]

Also, it can be a gang/colors thing, and any MPD officer will tell you which Wards have more gang activity.

(And, before some outraged person reading this in Ashburn flames me to kill the messenger, please read the incident reports-with-addresses in DC for the past several years. Then type away).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Yes. In DC, my impression is that they are more likely to be schools east of the park -- although my daughter's middle school, Hardy (normally on the west side but temporarily on the east side due to renovations), voted to move to uniforms last year.

Read the code here -- poor kids who need discipline rather than the well-off children whose creativity should be fostered.

Hardy mom again -- Basically the argument for uniforms at Hardy, according to the principal (Patrick Pope), was that it would reduce the emphasis on clothing as a sign of class differences between kids from different class backgrounds. I'd been on the fence till I heard that but based on that argument, I voted for it.

However I think pp is right here. Generally uniforms are seen as something that will instill discipline in poor kids. But I'd like to see some actual research as to whether that is true. I'm skeptical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Read the code here -- poor kids who need discipline rather than the well-off children whose creativity should be fostered.

11:45, thanks but no thanks for the snark in defense of us east of the park.

Anyway. To OP's question: many public schools and charters have dress guidelines - like yellow polos and blue pants. As Hardy parent said, it's up to individual schools whether there are uniforms, guidelines, or just plain freedom. As to WHY it happens, that may very well include gangs or parents tired of kids wearing baggy pants (which I guess doesn't happen west of park?)

Regardless, official policy states uniforms are voluntary and kids can not be penalized for their "creativity" should they refuse.

http://www.k12.dc.us/DCPS/policies/BoardRules/rights-respons.html

OP, I hope this is helpful.

[Anonymous]

Lyles Crouch in Old Town Alexandria requires uniforms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Yes. In DC, my impression is that they are more likely to be schools east of the park -- although my daughter's middle school, Hardy (normally on the west side but temporarily on the east side due to renovations), voted to move to uniforms last year.

Read the code here -- poor kids who need discipline rather than the well-off children whose creativity should be fostered.

I've met the original principal of McKinley Tech and he told us that he would never have wanted uniforms but that the parents voted for them by an overwhelming majority.

[Anonymous]

And it has to be an overwhelming majority -- something like 80% of the families have to vote for it.

[Anonymous]

Maury Elementary in Alexandria requires uniforms. So do a lot of the Alexandria private schools, actually... my daughter seems not to mind.

[Anonymous]

There are uniforms at independent, DCPS, charter, and (of course) parochial schools in DC.

Some people like uniforms because they believe it instills discipline. Others like them because they believe it takes emphasis off of jockeying for status via clothes-horsing. Others dislike them because they believe it takes away from a child an opportunity to express their individuality and preferences.

Some schools skate the line in-between by having (and enforcing) a structured dress code but not uniforms (i.e., no shorts, no jeans, no logos, no licensed characters).

It's a preference thing - decided at the school level, even in DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, it can be a gang/colors thing, and any MPD officer will tell you which Wards have more gang activity.

(And, before some outraged person reading this in Ashburn flames me to kill the messenger, please read the incident reports-with-addresses in DC for the past several years. Then type away).

?????

[Anonymous]

I wish my FCPS had uniforms.

[Anonymous]

Is it legal to make a child wear a particular uniform to public school?