Three quarters of traditional public schools in D.C. now require uniforms

[Anonymous]

I know everyone has their opinions on the value of uniforms, but can we please ditch the polo shirts? They look like fast food worker attire . . . or maybe Staples. I'd rather see t-shirts (long or short sleeve), sweatshirts, choice of acceptable pants/shorts -- you know, the kind of clothes children actually like to wear.

[Anonymous]

Agree. Jeans and a school t-shirt or sweatshirt would look much sharper on the kids than poorly fitting, wrinkled khakis and a polo.

[Anonymous]

At my child's DCPS high-school they are quite stylish. They have shirts, sweaters, blazers, scarfs and ties with the school insignia on them They allow the students where the approved school-spirit tee-shirts, extra-curricular team participants can wear their jerseys. The variety of what to wear is good idea and what is noticeable the staff has a variety of gear to wear too. In my opinion I think Eastern and Roosevelt have the best clothing line for students and staff with Phelps coming in a close third.

My issue is not the uniform policy but the dress code policy which is a differences. Offering you what to wear and telling you how to wear it becomes a touchy subject.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like the uniform and the way a white shirt looks on my prek3er when he gets to school ... But by the time he gets home he looks like he has been rolling in the gutter! It would be cute if they could all wear madras plaid shirts or something more practical.

White tops seem like a REALLY bad idea. The person who came up with that doesn't have kids and doesn't do laundry. Had to be some recent MBA grad on a consulting gig.

White isn't bad - BLEACH. Or Oxy Clean. We just keep a tub with Oxy and water in it and put the day's shirt in every night, wash once a week. It requires some effort, but minimal.

Aren't you the superior laundress. You must be very proud.

P.S. I bet you are one of the people who was posting that everyone overreacted to the Pope's visit?

yes, those of us in tiny apartments without laundry in our unit cannot do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't like uniforms in general, as it seems like imposed conformity to me. On top of thst, my pre k kid has to wear khaki pants. They stain easily, aren't warm enough for the walk to school in cold weather, and the boys run through the knees in two months.

agreed. though my boy has never burned through the knees on any of his pants while my daughter has since 18 months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's HRCS dress code: Official school T-short (short or long sleeved), polo, or sweatshirt on top. Anything else goes. It's a nice compromise. Allows individuality but also accomplishes some of the goals of full uniforms.

I hated that HRCS uniform. Why? Because my DD was there, during the phase when she would only wear dresses. We compromised on skirts, but it was a battle ALL THE TIME.

Shirt over dress, deary.

nope. TOO HOT! TOO HOT! TAKE IT OFF TAKE IT OFF TAKE IT OFF!!!!!

It ws not a good year (but that's not why we left).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like the uniform and the way a white shirt looks on my prek3er when he gets to school ... But by the time he gets home he looks like he has been rolling in the gutter! It would be cute if they could all wear madras plaid shirts or something more practical.

White tops seem like a REALLY bad idea. The person who came up with that doesn't have kids and doesn't do laundry. Had to be some recent MBA grad on a consulting gig.

White isn't bad - BLEACH. Or Oxy Clean. We just keep a tub with Oxy and water in it and put the day's shirt in every night, wash once a week. It requires some effort, but minimal.

Aren't you the superior laundress. You must be very proud.

P.S. I bet you are one of the people who was posting that everyone overreacted to the Pope's visit?

yes, those of us in tiny apartments without laundry in our unit cannot do this.

Yes, you can. We used an empty cat little container - the big tubs. Put in scoop of oxy, add water, ever evening put shirt in. When it was time to do whites, pour off water. Dump wet clothes on top of laundry basket of whites. Drag laundry basket to washing machine. Dump all white clothes in. Do laundry. Repeat weekly. Did all the stains come out? No. Did I care? No.

You can look for problems, or you can just....cope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At my child's DCPS high-school they are quite stylish. They have shirts, sweaters, blazers, scarfs and ties with the school insignia on them They allow the students where the approved school-spirit tee-shirts, extra-curricular team participants can wear their jerseys. The variety of what to wear is good idea and what is noticeable the staff has a variety of gear to wear too. In my opinion I think Eastern and Roosevelt have the best clothing line for students and staff with Phelps coming in a close third.

My issue is not the uniform policy but the dress code policy which is a differences. Offering you what to wear and telling you how to wear it becomes a touchy subject.

you lost me there. if you're going to require that much gear I fail to see the cost savings unless you provide it gratis. they might as well wear their own choice of clothes at that point. That attire sounds more suited to private school where cost is no issue.

[Anonymous]

Not in upper NW - this makes most of the system seem so "ghetto."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you think white uniform shirts are a recent invention of a bored MBA, then you missed out on decades of parochial school uniforms dating waaaay back. Not everything, good or bad, was invented in your lifetime.

I did appreciate the Booz comment though.

As someone who went to parochial school, with our options being white or baby blue blouses, I agree. We had hideous plaid skirts (seriously, the ugliest ones in the diocese) and these terrible Peter Pan collar blouses. Argh! That said, in retrospect, uniforms were awesome. Getting dressed was a breeze. No arguing about clothes. Saved my mom a ton in school shopping. Lots of hand-me-downs from older students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not in upper NW - this makes most of the system seem so "ghetto."

Okay, your shitty racism aside, that's not what it does for everyone. It makes me think of Catholic schools. And being able to wear khakis and a polo shirt would have been a vast improvement over a polyester plaid skirt and blouse.

[Anonymous]

Really wanted uniforms when my three attended John Eaton. I always vote for simple morning routines. The children can be unique in their attire on the weekends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't like uniforms in general, as it seems like imposed conformity to me. On top of thst, my pre k kid has to wear khaki pants. They stain easily, aren't warm enough for the walk to school in cold weather, and the boys run through the knees in two months.[/quote


This!!!!

People can debate uniforms for high school but there is nothing more ridiculous than dressing a 3 or 5 year old in khakis every day. What is this, the 1950s? Khakis and dress pants on little kids are cute for weddings, that's it.

The best idea for elementary is a cute school t-shirt that is optional but encouraged on special "spirit" days, field trips and the like.

Think about what the point is. The point is to foster some school spirit and togetherness. Like in college when you voluntarily wore school colors to an event or game. Uniforms are totally over the top at any age but especially elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like the uniform and the way a white shirt looks on my prek3er when he gets to school ... But by the time he gets home he looks like he has been rolling in the gutter! It would be cute if they could all wear madras plaid shirts or something more practical.

White tops seem like a REALLY bad idea. The person who came up with that doesn't have kids and doesn't do laundry. Had to be some recent MBA grad on a consulting gig.

White isn't bad - BLEACH. Or Oxy Clean. We just keep a tub with Oxy and water in it and put the day's shirt in every night, wash once a week. It requires some effort, but minimal.

Aren't you the superior laundress. You must be very proud.

P.S. I bet you are one of the people who was posting that everyone overreacted to the Pope's visit?

yes, those of us in tiny apartments without laundry in our unit cannot do this.

I lock my big Home Depot bucket full of dingy white shirts in the bathroom for an overnight soak a couple of times each semester. Then, I run it through the wash twice. It felt like Xmas when I opened up their uniforms this year. I'd soaked and washed them well before putting them away for the summer. They were so lovely and ready to go. DC2 inherits all of DC1's uniforms, so I do my best to help them last.

Not sure where the nastiness is coming from. We're all in the same boat when it comes to young children and white shirts!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm mixed on uniforms. I like the simplicity of it, but it's also boring. Also, khakis seem a popular choice, but yet universally unflattering.

What is the purpose of school? Your priorities aren't right