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Until my family moved to America, when I was in 8th grade, I wore the same old school uniform every single year. Soviet-time school uniforms were horrible — brown or black dress, made partly from wool, which was itchy and hot and annoying, a black or white apron (the latter for special occasions, like Lenin’s birthday), and a red Pioneer tie (once you were in fourth grade or older). Everyone looked the same, with a few exceptions — someone’s tie was more wrinkled than others’, one girl might be wearing white tights while another one, black ones.
(I tried to find a better image, but this one is a pretty good representation of how pathetic we looked.)
My first few years in American schools were a mixture of pure hell and horror, a lot of which was caused by the fact that I hardly spoke English and had extremely uncool, weird, and few and far between articles of Russian clothing. I remember in those days how much I wished that I went to a private school near where we lived — not because I thought my education would be better but because those kids wore a uniform.
My daughter is only four but I am already thinking about her starting school. I am sure there will be a day when she comes home and asks for some expensive pair of shoes because her friend has them or a particular brand of t-shirts because you know, popular girls are wearing them. I play through our conversation in my mind, how I will talk to her about not needing to be like everyone else, and how she will tell me that I just. don’t. understand! I wonder if I’ll start to miss my itchy Russian uniform then.
But perhaps a school uniform isn’t such a good idea, after all. I recently read a post on Alpha Mummy, about a British poll that showed 70% of parents were stressed about school uniforms, including their expense. I quickly counted my lucky stars at being able to buy cheap Old Navy t-shirts and pants for my daughter.
What do you think about school uniforms — good idea or an added headache?
This entry was posted on Thursday, September 4th, 2008 at 5:49 pm and is filed under Parenting & Family.
Tags: back-to-school, school, school uniform
September 4th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
oh my goodness. this photo brings back memories. Just in case you can’t tell by my name, I am from former Soviet Union too.
I really don’t know what to think about school uniforms. The positive is that you don’t have to compete, you know who looks nicer, better and wears more expensive clothes. The negative is that I remember hating uniforms as a child. I also hated competing about clothes too. I don’t know.
September 4th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
My son had to wear a polo shirt of either blue, white or gray at one of the schools he went to. Bottoms could be any color. I loved that uniform - no fighting with a kindergartener about what they were going to wear for the day! When the uniform is flexible enough to let you choose where you’re going to buy the parts (Old Navy, Target!), I like the idea a lot. If I had to buy it from the school and it was expensive, I’m sure I wouldn’t like it quite so much. Especially when stained by said Kindergartener and it has to be replaced.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
I taught for 11 years and my students had ’standardized dress’ for 5 of those years. The kids still have competition. You can tell which polos are brand name and where the pants come from. Even if your school bans the logos on the shirt, you can tell by the buttons, or other ways. Then there’s the purses, shoes, and other accessories that are still expensive brand names. You can also tell which kid has two polos and wears them all week long, the white polos that haven’t been white in months, and which girl has a new polo on every week. The girls still try to look sexy. They will buy their pants two sizes too small. There were also a lot of girls that tried to tuck in their shirts so tight that polos actually created cleavage! I have my own personal opinion and am not arguing either way here. Its just that a lot of the reasons uniforms have become so popular in the first place are not holding up and the issues are still happening.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
I am VERY much in favor of school uniforms. Our daughter when to Catholic school from Pre-K thru 6th grades. Other than buying new sizes, it was a total blessing. There’s no fighting, no one-upmanship, no status clothes, etc. When we took her out of private and went public in the 7th, she went to the dumpster divie fashions - a 180 turn. She’s a lot better now (couse she’s a senior now and has grown up a bit), but she still marchs to her her own drummer. But we’re past the hooker/dumpster look, thank God.
Some of the public schools here in the Richmond area are doing uniforms. I’m totally in favor of it.
September 5th, 2008 at 6:55 am
I live in the poorest county in Georgia, and our school system is fairly abysmal. *sigh* One of the things they recently did at our highest poverty-rate school as a part of restructuring was require a polo-and-khakis uniform of all the kids, plus they subsidized them so that it wasn’t a problem for families to obtain the uniform.
Two years later, that school is now second in the district in performance, coming in just behind our wealthiest school.
I’m not saying it’s BECAUSE of the uniforms — there are many factors at work, obviously — but it sure did make me rethink my anti-uniform stance. I wouldn’t want my kids wearing something uncomfortable, of course, but there’s nothing wrong with a little equalizer amongst kids.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:39 am
My children go to a Catholic school where a uniform is required for all. I love it! No battles over clothing in morning, no issues over which is cooler or more hip or what is inappropriate vs. appropriate.
The only negative for me is cost. However, I have been lucky enough to have friends with kids 3 years older who give me their kids hand-me-downs. There is also a used-uniform sale twice a year. The shoes get to be ridiculous though, especially with a boy who seems to be growning out of shoes every 3 months. YIKES!
September 5th, 2008 at 8:42 am
Woops! Typo there. It should be “growing out of shoes…” I don’t even know what growning is.
September 5th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
My children have only attended public schools where uniforms are not a part of the requirement.
We aren’t big name brand people, but I enjoy the fact that my kids do care about how they look.
Yes, for my 12 year old who is the sports fanatic, we buy Under Armour because it appeals to him and his nature.
But it might be paired with a pair of shorts from Wal-mart. (smile)
It helps us so much to lay out what we are going to wear the night before to avoid any morning issues. Because both of my boys are use to the freedom of choosing what to wear, it would be hard to convert to other ways.
But, I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer. It’s a matter of preference.
September 5th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I never had to wear a uniform. When I was younger I was really against them. However, now I’m not so sure. I think that it might save money overtime form all the expensive clothes that kids like. However, apart from that, I like to dress my son. No, I LOVE to dress my son and pick out his clothes and in a couple of months he will have to wear a uniform and I will lose that fun.
Now, on a nother more serious note, there was severe ridicule in my school - middle school in particular - for not having certain clothing. not only would you be ridiculed and called names but you would sometimes have things thrown at you. If your shoes weren’t BK’s (that’s how old I am!) or FILA, etc., you would be completely humiliated at lunch hour and have tater tots thrown at you. One of my now good friends, her mom had bought her imitation Guess jeans and the ridicule she received caused her a severe breakdown, actually. So, I honestly have to say due to this reason, I would not mind at all if he wore a uniform. I would never want my child ridiculed so harshly for clothing or have people not speak to him because of his clothes. Kids are far more cruel than most people can imagine and I don’t wish that on anyone’s kids.
September 5th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
i lived in India for the better part of my life and have always had a uniform on. Yes it was yucky brown too. BUT i loved it.
Y? Coz there was no competition! WHen there is no “look she has new this-she has old- that” conversations, focus can be maintained on studies. Also when we friends met outside of school, we could “enjoy” the non-uniform looks!!
I think uniforms are much better than everyday headaches and time uselessly spent in front of the Mirror..esp for today’s day and age girls!!
Thats just how i feel!
September 5th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
I think kids are going to judge whatever they can judge. My sister’s kids are in parochial school where the uniforms all have to be bought from the same place, so the kids judge on shoes!
My kids are in public school with no uniforms and so far we’ve had no issues. They’re young, but I do like how my kids (well, mostly my daughter) express themselves through fashion.
September 6th, 2008 at 1:47 am
I grew up in India and I think this is one thing the Brits got right. We had ugly uniforms and I hated them. But when I went to college and the effort I had to put into looking even acceptable made me realize how great uniforms were. I also don’t get why they have to be expensive. I had 2 sets so I could alternate and they cost as much as any of my other clothing. Our school was also strict about skirt lengths etc and even the amount of jewelery we were allowed to wear. It was draconian and of course kids got were mean in other ways. But it was very very different compared to the stuff I see in American schools and I do think uniforms had a lot to do with it.
September 6th, 2008 at 10:37 am
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September 6th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Back to the subject of school uniforms, I would have been relieved to wear a uniform as a child. My family didn’t have much money and I felt, especially in junior high and high school, the inability to compete with the kids whose parents had much more money to spend on clothes.
My son is at a charter k-8 where a uniform is required. We purchased pants and polo shirts from Sears online - five pairs of pants and five polos for about $60. The quality is excellent and the price was amazing. My son really doesn’t care about labels (yet) so the uniform is easy.
I like the egalitarian aspect of the school uniform. I also notice the kids walking by to go to the middle school up the street (with no uniform, just a loose dress code) and they look much messier. I think the uniform/dress code helps the middle school to run a bit tighter ship. It goes along with their higher expectation of the students and in my son’s school’s case, it’s worked.
September 7th, 2008 at 10:38 am
My youngest had to wear uniform to school in
Middle school. I really didn’t see where it was
a help. They have to have regular clothes for
when not in school and the school “uniform”
for school so you have to buy twice as much
clothes as normal. The people who have more
are always going to buy the more expensive
polos and pants besides shoes- so it really
doesn’t make all the kids look the same. The
have’s are always going to make sure they look
different the the have not’s. It’s just the way
that they are. So I think it’s just a big waste
of money- how about instead trying teaching
that what you wear doesn’t make you who
you are and not alot of money is needed to
make you look nice.
September 8th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
I’m in high school now. I go to a public school without a uniform.
I can understand the argument for uniforms just fine… it “kind of” equalizes kids. However, people would still look different. Some would buy Abercrombie polos, others from Walmart. Some kids’ pants would fit, others’ wouldn’t. And that point has been discussed.
However, personally, I have found the tales of brand-discrimination to be not really applicable to my life. When I was in elementary school, all the cool kids had clothes from Limited Too. And yes, I kind of sort of didn’t fit in because I didn’t shop there very often (that crap was expensive and didn’t hold up.) But there were many, many other reasons I didn’t fit in as a kid. I was the “smart girl” who used four-syllable words and sat by herself on the playground half the time… they picked on me for that. Or because my pants were too short. Not because my pants didn’t have a label on them.
In middle school I started making more friends, and none of them cared about the labels on my clothes. Even the mean kids found other things to pick about.
Now that I’m in 11th grade, I notice patterns. A majority of the “popular” girls and guys wear Hollister and Abercrombie gear with the logos plastered all over them. But so do many who aren’t as “popular.”
I have never in my life experienced or heard of someone being kicked out of a circle or losing a friend over brand names on clothes, even among the “preps”. No one gets tater tots thrown at them for wearing Walmart clothes. I’m not saying kids are never catty, but it’s never been a huge issue where I live and go to school.
As for me, I wear all kinds of stuff. I wear short skirts, long skirts, skinny jeans, ripped jeans, normal jeans, my beloved Steelers jersey, frilly tops, lacy tops, vintage t shirts, man-type dress shirts, heavy metal band tees, sneakers, flip flops, whatever. The only brand-name thing I own is the hunter green Dooney and Bourke purse I’ve been carrying for almost two years. It was a Christmas present. It didn’t make me cooler. I didn’t want or need it to. I have tons of friends, and I didn’t make them by wearing certain clothes.
So, in short, school uniforms can kind of put brand-mania in check, but they’re not always necessary. Not every bunch of kids are evil, greedy, spoiled brand-flaunting elitists.
September 10th, 2008 at 7:10 am
I love, love, love school uniforms. This comes from a parent who was originally against them. It is sooo much easier in the morning. There is no question as to what will be worn to school. No stalling, no being late for the bus, no complaining that “there’s nothing to wear”. My kids can express their individuality on the weekends, or with their shoes,hair ties, and book covers. In the end it is actually cheaper. Most schools have also have a system in place for people to bring uniform items for those less fortunate. When your child grows out of them, you drop them off in the school office.
September 10th, 2008 at 11:36 am
I am totally against school uniforms. We do not need to regiment young children that much. They should be allowed to grow as individuals (within reason). Kids will be unkind to other kids regardless of the circumstances. As parents, we must take the time to teach them that it is not what you have, but who you are
September 10th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Oh how I love school uniforms!
Inexpensive? Check.
Decreases feelings of jealousy and income-related embarassment? Check.
Removes “dress code police” from my job description as a teacher? Check.
Increases focus on academics rather than appearance? Check.
Easier for parents? Check.
Kids can wear their other clothes after school and on weekends. School is supposed to be for learning. Anything that removes distractions is an A+ in my book!
September 10th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
I LOVE and miss school uniforms. When my oldest was in Pre-k threw 1st grade she had to wear uniforms. Now, back then I was totally against uniforms and thought that it took away from a children’s creativity. Not anymore! When I saw how much money I saved (i bought enough uniforms for a month then took advantage of the Labor day sales $3 per shirt and pants). I’m in a new school district and this school doesn’t require uniforms and I for one MISS them!
September 18th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
My son attends a magnet school here in our area and they have uniforms. It is fantastic. The school is not in the best part of town so if someone comes by not looking like the other kids there’s a red flag. Also, the socioeconomic levels in the school range from kids who live in public housing to kids who live in mansions. This is a great equalizer. By the way, you can still save a fortune because our uniforms are navy or khaki pants or shorts and white and/or navy shirts with a collar. Easy enough.