As a teacher I would love to see HS students in uniforms- it would make life much less awkward. Currently we see a lot of exposed butt cracks, bra straps, midriffs, boobs, piercings in places other than ears, and tattoos.

My kids uniforms were really expensive because we had to go through a specific supplier. The skirts were $40. Jumpers $65. The shoes were also dictated. I do think uniforms cut down on distractions at school, but more importantly they save time in the morning. No time wasted deciding what to wear.

Kids would focus more on studies and other things than remarking/keeping up with latest fashion. Reduce Bullying for kids who do not follow the latest and greatest trends.
It would have everyone at same level in terms of clothing - rich/poor/middle

DS goes to an all boys school that requires a jacket and tie. The boys do worse on tests and have more behavioral issues when they are out of uniform.

bullying?

Kids in PRIVATE schools WITH uniforms experience bullying. I went to private. I wore a uniform. And I can guarantee you that while our uniforms were the same, our shoes weren't. So you knew who wasn't wealthy enough to buy the most expensive pair of acceptable shoes.

Uniforms don't solve that problem. Clothes don't equip children with coping skills. Parents do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why no uniforms in MCPS? Because MCPS isn't

1. an expensive private school
2. a Catholic private school
3. a poor urban public school district

OP, how would wearing uniforms instill discipline? Besides discipline in doing laundry, for the parent who is responsible for the laundry...

Kids would focus more on studies and other things than remarking/keeping up with latest fashion. Reduce Bullying for kids who do not follow the latest and greatest trends.
It would have everyone at same level in terms of clothing - rich/poor/middle

I see private school uniformed kids on teh metro all the time..it is like a short skirt contest for the girls..and they are all still decked out with expensive or trendy earings/purses/shoes. I don't really get what is accomplished.

Uniforms also create a feeling of being part of an organization or institution ...think Hogwarts.

I wore a uniform for middle and high school and my mother always says that the money she saved on clothing practically covered my tuition. In HS, I had 2 dresses, one pair of shoes and a handful of sweaters (I tended to lose them). That's all for 4 yrs of school. Now, I did have some other clothes for weekends but not much. Oh and I had one gym uniform too. Our school district has a dress code (solid color tops with khaki bottoms). I wish my son's district would adopt a dress code.

As a person who went to a public school requiring uniform (in a different country) I can tell you that uniforms do nothing to stop kids from showing off. They still manage - with shoes, jewelry, pens, backpacks, etc etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why no uniforms in MCPS? Because MCPS isn't

1. an expensive private school
2. a Catholic private school
3. a poor urban public school district

OP, how would wearing uniforms instill discipline? Besides discipline in doing laundry, for the parent who is responsible for the laundry...

Kids would focus more on studies and other things than remarking/keeping up with latest fashion. Reduce Bullying for kids who do not follow the latest and greatest trends.
It would have everyone at same level in terms of clothing - rich/poor/middle

Also, easier to ID everyone on a field trip, demonstrably CHEAPER than normal clothing, etc.

There have been a bunch of studies.

I don't know if it's cheaper really. My kid goes private. His uniform clothes cost me about $300-$400 for the school year. My DD's wardrobe is not that expensive (caveat: my DD is in 1st grade so we have not gotten really into fashion yet). I'm a thrifty clothes buyer and it was hard to do that with the uniform selections out there. Even uniform pants from Target are $16/pair this year. I do happen to agree that it cuts down on bullying and the whole keeping up with the Joneses mindset though.

School uniform in public school? Possible in PS in Bible Belt, but not in MCPS, IMO.

Uniforms do not stop bullying. People stop bullying. A bully will just find another reason to be mean.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son goes to a private school that requires uniforms. I like them, but feel they are more expensive than just using regular clothes. At least in elementary school. If there were a uniform subsidy for lower-income kids to buy the uniforms, or a really good used uniform swap, I think it would be a great idea.

Are the uniforms from a specific supplier and/or include insignia?

Most PS uniforms can be purchased at almost any kids store this time of year. Wal-Mart, Target etc., carry them.

But how would this resolve the "have everyone at same level in terms of clothing - rich/poor/middle" problem, if the poor kids got their uniforms used or from WalMart, and the more affluent kids got their uniforms from Lands End, and the rich kids got their uniforms from [I have no idea, but surely there are stores that sell school uniforms for rich kids]? Or (for girls) the poor kids had two pairs of pants, one to wear and one to wash, and the rich kids had multiple pairs of pants, skorts, skirts, leggings, tights, etc.?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son goes to a private school that requires uniforms. I like them, but feel they are more expensive than just using regular clothes. At least in elementary school. If there were a uniform subsidy for lower-income kids to buy the uniforms, or a really good used uniform swap, I think it would be a great idea.

Are the uniforms from a specific supplier and/or include insignia?

Most PS uniforms can be purchased at almost any kids store this time of year. Wal-Mart, Target etc., carry them.

Lands End is official, but you can buy from any uniform store as long as they are the right colors. Don't know about anyone else's experience, but my son blows the knees in every pair of long pants in 3 weeks. Even Lands End iron knees, and I've tried them all. "That" is what got so expensive...

Please go to uniforms. We're 1 week in and all I hear is..."but so and so has XYZ"

Uniforms don't stop bullying! British schools were notorious for bullying despite uniforms!