School uniforms in DCPS or DC Charters -

[Anonymous]

Just wondering why all the hate on school uniforms (a la the Hardy threads). My kids (elementary and middle) go to charters that don't have uniforms but I wouldn't object if they did.

[Anonymous]

I find it annoying because I would rather clothe my child in her cousin's hand-me-downs, gifts, etc. Uniforms=spending more money. Also it is a pain to make sure there is a clean uniform every day. I miss daycare, where pajamas were always welcome.

Also, her school colors are black, white, and khaki. This is pretty blah, and irritates me because the khaki and white always get stained.

Having said that, I do know there is plenty of research backing up uniforms, and it is not among the top 10 things I would change about the school.

[dcmom]

I really like having a uniform at our EOTP DCPS. Makes getting ready so much faster. My daughter used to spend a lot of time picking out clothes, and now it's just standardized.

[Anonymous]

Uniform influenced why we selected a school other than AppleTree.

I could not imagine getting my child who wore a skirt over a dress into a uniform daily.

[Anonymous]

My child's EOTP school has a uniform. I don't like it, since I'd like to dress her in cuter, more individualized clothing (this is PK3). However, this is not my top concern, and I understand the reasons for it, particularly in the upper grades, where kids from poor families can get teased for not having the latest styles, and brand name clothing can be a distraction. So yes, don't think it's necessary for my particular family, but I understand it's for the greater good (my husband also likes the uniforms, but he's not very style-conscious and feels it simplifies things when he's getting her ready).

[Anonymous]

My DD goes to a uniform school EOTP. She's pretty picky about which uniform components she likes/dislikes. My strategy so far has been to get things similar to things she already likes wearing, just in uniform colors, and then personalize them with accessories, tights, shoes, etc. She looks better than I do half the time

[Anonymous]

There have been a couple of other threads on this over the past few years. I have always been in favor for various reasons. Lately, I have added another one: it seems to me that middle and high school girls are getting more and more concerned with appearances and who wore what and when and where (see social media - Twitter and Instagram). I think uniforms reduce the importance of wearing the "right" clothes in one important place in kids' lives.

[Anonymous]

Uniforms in public schools are a passe gimmick, a throwback to the early 1990s era of tough love, all-male classes and late night basketball leagues to turn around tough, ungovernable urban schools. I don't think that uniforms help much, but if folks feel they're necessary, then the question is what other issues are going on beneath the surface. In the Hardy case, new and prospective parents see the uniforms as a vestige of the "old" polarized Hardy that rose up against Michelle Rhee, and want to move on.

[Anonymous]

I'm fine with the uniforms at our EOTP DCPS. I don't think it's a big deal either way or a sign of issues under the surface. I think a few people on this board like to make it a bigger deal than it is.

[Anonymous]

As an alumna of a Catholic school, I don't see the big deal with uniforms. It makes getting dressed in the morning easier and it means that kids aren't getting teased for what they wear. As a kid who didn't have a lot of money to buy the "right" clothes, uniforms were awesome--I didn't have to worry about fitting in in that particular way. When I went to high school and uniforms were no longer required, my clothing became a source of major stress.

[Anonymous]

We are at an Appletree and don't mind the uniforms. Makes getting dressed pretty easy. Of course, our child is not picky about what they wear. I could see problems if your child didn't like the uniform.

[Anonymous]

I also rely on hand me downs and thrift store finds for my kids (6 and under) and would dislike having to purchase, wash, store, and manage uniforms on top of other clothes.

I would not rule out a school over uniforms though.

I can see if more in middle school and up here teasing, style etx is an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I also rely on hand me downs and thrift store finds for my kids (6 and under) and would dislike having to purchase, wash, store, and manage uniforms on top of other clothes.

I would not rule out a school over uniforms though.

I can see if more in middle school and up here teasing, style etx is an issue.

Our school runs a uniform closet so that anyone who needs to can get hand me down / thrift store level clothes too.

[Anonymous]

The thrift store is the best place to get uniforms. As a thrift store shopper, it is actually even cheaper to buy the uniforms there than regular clothes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Uniforms in public schools are a passe gimmick, a throwback to the early 1990s era of tough love, all-male classes and late night basketball leagues to turn around tough, ungovernable urban schools. I don't think that uniforms help much, but if folks feel they're necessary, then the question is what other issues are going on beneath the surface. In the Hardy case, new and prospective parents see the uniforms as a vestige of the "old" polarized Hardy that rose up against Michelle Rhee, and want to move on.

So says the completely out-of-touch with DC Ward 3 resident.

I beg to differ. With a Kindergartner in a Title I school, we're grateful that uniforms remove at least one of the SES dynamics/indicators, and since this is S2S, it is perhaps one of the most important.