What school is Petula Devorak talking about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We struggle with this a lot at our school. We have a uniform closet, but it is not enough for the demand. We have also found that when the younger set have accidents, teachers often rely on the uniform closet to provide dry clothing.

I was told a couple years ago that assistance for homeless children is available through the Neediest Kids Fund. This year I was told that that "assistance" often takes months to get through (our social worker put in a request in May of last year that has still not been filled) and that when the request is finally filled, there is a low limit to what kids can receive from the fund. It's something like 1 pair pants and 3 shirts. To me, that does not sound like real assistance.

These are PUBLIC schools. Children have a right to attend them. That children are being punished, sent home from schools they have a legal right to attend, because they are not wearing the proper clothing is disgusting to me - particularly when the schools do not provide the clothing themselves.

I feel very strongly that if schools are going to require uniforms, the schools have a moral obligation to provide those uniforms themselves.

PP - I agree.

This would be a great issue for OSSE to take on and issue a policy that all schools would have to comply with. Given your first hand experience please please email Hanseul Kang (she actually will answer within a couple days) and raise it.

PP here.

My kid goes to a uniform school. Navy and white. I just calculated up what we have spent on uniforms this year. We got some of the Children's Place deals that tend to occur before school starts. White shirts for $5-7 each, depending on short or long sleeved. 3 short sleeved, 3 long sleeved. Navy pants for $7 each, x5. 2 short sleeved polo dresses for $10 each. 2 long sleeved polo dresses for $12.50 each. Plus a new pair of shoes ($15), plus a 3-pack of heavy tights for winter for $15 on Amazon. That's $146, requiring a credit card and a stable address where things can be shipped.

Yes, uniforms make things easier and avoid the North Face Stabbing, but it's not a magic bullet.

I will email this person. Thanks for the suggestion.

And the costs only go up from there. There are schools which require specific uniforms with logos from specified vendors (ie Lands End). The costs are much higher than allowing a comparable budget at lower cost outlets, plus the clothing can be used outside of school year round. It also precludes second hand clothing from outlets like Goodwill, Martha's Table, etc where families of need can acquire affordable outfits for their children or get access to social services to do so. Uniforms are yet another barrier to poor children, even if there are some resources available to offset the cost. The example of access to washing machines just illustrates that point.

Don't get me started on the other issues -- school as a source of joy and expression, or the industrial service inculcation of public school children dressed like box store workers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We struggle with this a lot at our school. We have a uniform closet, but it is not enough for the demand. We have also found that when the younger set have accidents, teachers often rely on the uniform closet to provide dry clothing.

I was told a couple years ago that assistance for homeless children is available through the Neediest Kids Fund. This year I was told that that "assistance" often takes months to get through (our social worker put in a request in May of last year that has still not been filled) and that when the request is finally filled, there is a low limit to what kids can receive from the fund. It's something like 1 pair pants and 3 shirts. To me, that does not sound like real assistance.

These are PUBLIC schools. Children have a right to attend them. That children are being punished, sent home from schools they have a legal right to attend, because they are not wearing the proper clothing is disgusting to me - particularly when the schools do not provide the clothing themselves.

I feel very strongly that if schools are going to require uniforms, the schools have a moral obligation to provide those uniforms themselves.

PP - I agree.

This would be a great issue for OSSE to take on and issue a policy that all schools would have to comply with. Given your first hand experience please please email Hanseul Kang (she actually will answer within a couple days) and raise it.

PP here.

My kid goes to a uniform school. Navy and white. I just calculated up what we have spent on uniforms this year. We got some of the Children's Place deals that tend to occur before school starts. White shirts for $5-7 each, depending on short or long sleeved. 3 short sleeved, 3 long sleeved. Navy pants for $7 each, x5. 2 short sleeved polo dresses for $10 each. 2 long sleeved polo dresses for $12.50 each. Plus a new pair of shoes ($15), plus a 3-pack of heavy tights for winter for $15 on Amazon. That's $146, requiring a credit card and a stable address where things can be shipped.

Yes, uniforms make things easier and avoid the North Face Stabbing, but it's not a magic bullet.

I will email this person. Thanks for the suggestion.

And the costs only go up from there. There are schools which require specific uniforms with logos from specified vendors (ie Lands End). The costs are much higher than allowing a comparable budget at lower cost outlets, plus the clothing can be used outside of school year round. It also precludes second hand clothing from outlets like Goodwill, Martha's Table, etc where families of need can acquire affordable outfits for their children or get access to social services to do so. Uniforms are yet another barrier to poor children, even if there are some resources available to offset the cost. The example of access to washing machines just illustrates that point.

Don't get me started on the other issues -- school as a source of joy and expression, or the industrial service inculcation of public school children dressed like box store workers.

Original PP here. I actually like the uniform just fine - it simplifies our mornings greatly (though I think it's ridiculous to have white shirts be required anywhere that serves spaghetti or has markers, period). But I think it's pretty telling that something that is supposed to eliminate a distraction (clothing-related conflict or stigma) ends up being a thing that, if not complied with, becomes disruptive (kids pulled out of class, sent home, etc.). We can do better.

[Anonymous]

What schools require lands end ???? Christ. We've had two kids in 4 DC public schools and all have required uniforms, none have been so specific.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Uniforms are stupid.

you are nuts. My kid wears one at her DCPS preschool and its awesome. It makes getting ready in the morning super easy, plus its cheap! And no we aren't low income like most people on DCUM assume.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What schools require lands end ???? Christ. We've had two kids in 4 DC public schools and all have required uniforms, none have been so specific.

Stuart Hobson -- not just red shirts -- has to have school logo as of 2015 which is remarkably dumb

from website "Long or short-sleeved solid red polo shirt with logo for incoming 6th 7th and 8th grade students"

Website used to list Lands End as one of two vendors (updated July 2016 pref# 900153511) but now it only links to another vendor on the SH site. Lands End still carries SH gear even if families are steered to slightly more affordable alternative. Both are priced higher than generic options like Old Navy and the like. School arranges hand me down drive as SH is 1/3 FARM. Loaned uniforms to be returned washed the next day (fines included for violators). Could be a hardship for family with housing instability or no ready access to washing machines.

[Anonymous]

Interesting article related to this issue re: the impact of putting washer/dryers in schools: http://www.citylab.com/cityfixer/2016/08/school-attendance-washing-machines/496649/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting article related to this issue re: the impact of putting washer/dryers in schools: http://www.citylab.com/cityfixer/2016/08/school-attendance-washing-machines/496649/

I would happily come to school in the evenings and on the weekends to do the laundry. I would bring a book and kick back for a few hours, NO PROBLEM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there a central place to donate uniforms other tha Goodwill, Salvation Army, or those big yellow donation boxes in parking lots. Bought uniforms for child to go to school, but got called of the wait list at another school. Instead of returning the two week supply to the merchants, thought they could be donated. Really don't want to actually take them to the school abandoned.

By the way, uniforms are good because parents and guardians don't have to think about what the child wears and the cost isn't bad if one shops around and tries online, too.

The only way to make sure they get to the kids will work for is to give to the 'abandoned' school for distribution. The yellow boxes are kind of a scam and send things overseas. They sell clothes in bulk. They don't distribute to needy people. . Goodwill or Salvation army donations may end up in the suburbs or another city, and who knows if parents from that school will shop there.

Take to post office tomorrow am, put in the priority mail box and send.

Leave it at the front door of the school or hand to someone at the entrance. They won't know who you are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting article related to this issue re: the impact of putting washer/dryers in schools: http://www.citylab.com/cityfixer/2016/08/school-attendance-washing-machines/496649/

I would happily come to school in the evenings and on the weekends to do the laundry. I would bring a book and kick back for a few hours, NO PROBLEM.

Ditto. Or maybe a generous local dry cleaner could offer drop off/pickup service over the weekend. I'd donate to that and use that dry cleaner.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if students being sent home from public school for not wearing a uniform has ever been challenged in court.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if students being sent home from public school for not wearing a uniform has ever been challenged in court.

It should be. There are eleventy one hundred lawyers on this site. Surely one of you has some spare hours.

[Anonymous]

Wow. Thats your solution? These children are way better off in the same uniform as everyone else, than fighting the status wars of clothing. This is a problem for schools with uniforms to work out with the right entities. They should enforce their uniform codes in a reasonable way (otherwise they're pointless). However there should be some relief available for homeless and high poverty students. There are a hundred mechanisms to do this. There are many ways to do this short of getting lawyers involved, including donating, pta funds, uniform exchanges, or someone mentioned a mechanism through social workers that needs to be speeded up. If you are at a school with uniforms ask how children in the immediate future are being taken care of. And then start working to longer term solutions. That involves effort.

[Anonymous]

She's a drama queen. Every minute you spend reading her is another piece of your life you can't get back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She's a drama queen. Every minute you spend reading her is another piece of your life you can't get back.

So you're saying that she's being dishonest? That she's making these stories up?

Or you just don't think the problems of poor kids--particularly homeless kids--are worth the attention she gives them? Because I think she's doing an incredible service.

[Anonymous]

Not the pp but the article made me raise an eyebrow . I dont think its an endemic problem and I do think its something schools would be willing to resolve on a case by case basis. Did petula talk to them and they said no?