Uniforms sucks
My2Beauties wrote: I hate that Hanna has to wear uniforms to school when she starts school next month. As a mom, you always want your kid's first day of school to be a day where you dress them in their cutest outfit, do their hair all up and make a big event out of it. Her school requires they wear either navy blue or khaki bottoms, either navy blue, red or white collared polo type shirts, and if the pants have belt loops a belt must be worn and tennis shoes of some kind, no sandals, no casual shoes, just tennis shoes!  The problem is almost every school in this county (Elementary) requires a stupid uniform  I hate that. I'll get used to it I just hate that she has to look like everyone else.
coasterqueen replied: 
I must admit, though, I'd L O V E it!!!! Not have to argue with what they are mismatching, or rush to find that favorite shirt she wants to wear three times in one week. I think it's great for them, too, because there is no decision making in the morning and I know for Kylie she hates thinking about what she's gonna wear.
As far as the tennishoes thing......we are in public school and they require them all to wear tennishoes - for safety reasons. We break the rules now and then and just send tennies that day, but we usually get a note home.  It hasn't gotten Kylie in trouble yet, and she's the one who hates to wear them - so some days I don't fight her.
At least you knew about the shoes before school started. We didn't find out until afterwards...after I had already spent a lot of money on regular shoes. 
My2Beauties replied: Maybe I'll appreciate it more as she gets older and does fuss w/ me about what she wears As of right now she could care less, she lets me put on whatever I pick out, she doesn't really argue about her clothes. Maybe when she is 7 and 8 I'll love uniforms. 
DVFlyer replied: I think I'd probably hate the reason they have to wear uniforms more than actual wearing of them...
Why do they have this rule?
coasterqueen replied:
Yeah, I can see that. With both girls I've tried to make them pick out their own for independence reasons  . So Kylie is used to it. Some mornings she'll ask me to pick them out because she doesn't feel like it and every time I do she hates what I pick out. Megan, on the other hand does not want me picking out her clothes at all. 
My2Beauties replied: Because of the no tolerance policy for bullying and stuff like that in our county. The poorer kids get picked on for their clothes and things of that nature. They don't have any interruptions when someone wears something that might offend someone else. Girls aren't wearing anything inappropriate. I see these issues possibly arising in middle/high school...but Elementary you would think that it wouldn't be this way for Elementary kids. Almost all the Elem schools in our county have uniform requirements (with the exception of one that I can think of) and there are several middle/high schools that don't require uniforms which I think is just backwards. I still think you can tell the poorer kids based on the shoes they are wearing and I don't know kids have a way of telling these things. I don't think it stops bullying as much as they might think it does, esp in Elem school.
Edited for typos
mummy2girls replied:
This can be a good thing. girls expecially can be really mean if somebody is wearing not the "right" brand of clothes. This way with uniforms girls and boys cant get on each other over what clothes they are wearing
A&A'smommy replied: I understand what you are saying and I think I might feel the same way about elementary school... BUT our elementary schools go to 2nd grade and I have seen the bullying as early as 1st grade over clothes.. I have seen parents send their child in belly shirts at that age also and I don't get it so really I think its a good thing. I almost wish they would here just because the kids who wear the higher name brands or the "popular" clothes clique as early as 1st or 2nd grade and its just SAD and ridiculous. Yeah my kid doesn't get to wear the "popular" looks but only because I don't like them on a 5 or 6 year old they are cute on babies though LOL
MommyToAshley replied: I don't know, I think the uniforms are kind of cute, at least the jumpers. I don't care for the pants so much. But, it's true that there's not much room for individuality. And, unfortunately, I have already seen in some of the other schools where kids get teased for not wearing name brands... I was shocked to see it start so early.
mckayleesmom replied: I'm with ya...I HATE uniforms. I thought I would love it because of the reasons behind it, but it is a pain in the rear if you ask me. It gets pricey too. The clothes get stained and you have to replace them..you can't just throw it away and use other outfits. Mckaylees school even made them wear their uniforms for both picture days...so I didn't buy any.
I would check with the school, but ours didn't want the kindy kids to wear belts..they want them to be able to learn to tuck their pants in and go potty on their own easily.
I would really like to go back to school shopping too..for normal clothes. They advertise it hear and put stuff out, but all the schools hear wear uniforms..so its pointless.
My2Beauties replied:
I checked even the kindy ones have to wear belts.....  Hanna is not good w/ belts. LOL!
coasterqueen replied:
Ooh that does suck. My kids despise belts.
MommyToAshley replied:
Ashley's school is pretty strict on their uniform policy but even they don't have to wear belts until second grade.
LovelyBear18 replied: I love uniforms. Don't have to figure out what to set out for the next day. I think a child going to school for the first time in their uniform is cute. Always a picture moment. The uniform is nothing. It's the urge you get to go back and pick your child up from school right after you drop them off because you miss having them  . That is when you realize they are growing up  .
maestra replied: I hate the uniforms too. Jaci is only allowed to wear white or navy tops and navy pants. White tops, and we have an all sand playground. Imagine what happens. 
Cece00 replied: We also have compulsory uniforms but I love it.
I wore them in school too.
They are so easy, you can mix and match whatever color shirt with shorts or pants, so my kids can pick out what they want and make it easy on me.
And they are cheaper than regular clothing, so I am not annoyed if they mess up the uniforms where I might be if it were an item of their regular clothing.
They are just so easy IMO.
I dont really understand why ppl care if kids wear uniforms so they dont look different IMO. That is just never an issue that would cross my mind.
Cece00 replied:
Our school either.
This is the first year my son will have to wear a belt. I think he will do just fine though.
My2Beauties replied:
I guess to me it's because they sort of lose their individuality, they look like everyone else there. I can understand from a bullying standpoint and stuff why uniforms are necessary, especially with older children, but I think about Kindy and 1st grade and I'm like do we really have to put uniforms on them too. I mean I guess I have seriously never ran across a kid that young who downright is a bully. I don't know that is learned behavior as a child gets older, unless it just started with their parents at a young age. Who knows, but I just hate 'em. I think they are hideous and not to mention they were just as expensive if not MORE expensive than regular clothes. That's what gripes me the most!
coasterqueen replied:
I see what you are saying Lea Ann, but honestly I truly believe their individuality should come from within - their personalities, etc, not from their clothes. Of course this is what I am trying to teach my children, so I'm not saying this is the belief of all. I want my child knowing that clothes don't make her. That if she is wearing Walmart clothes and another kid is wearing Gymboree clothes, she is still no different. Unfortunately I think parents (and children) have placed so much importance on clothes, label of clothes, etc that is why bullying (and there are all forms, not just the kind I think you are thinking of) has become such an issue in school and why uniforms become necessary.
It truly is pathetic - I mean, I remember girls in high school somehow getting a hold of Guess labels and sewing them on their cheap jeans so they could appear to be wearing the "in" clothing. Obviously this is a learned behavior, one I think parents have a hand in.
When Kylie says something to me about someone wearing High School musical clothes, or fancy clothes that she doesn't have, I quickly remind her that she is not them. She is herself, an individual, and she doesn't need clothes to make her that individual. Unfortunately too many parents out there think their kids have to wear all the latest fashions, wear clothes that make them "individual" and that is why we are in the society we are today of having to wear uniforms.
I've had people comment to me before that Megan has worn the "old style" Gymboree clothes......because they aren't this month's style then they are "old". Um, who cares, she wears some of Kylie's hand-me-downs that are in great shape. I will never understand how people place such importance on clothes. I would rather them place importance on my personality, my intellligence, etc. So, I guess, I too will never understand how clothes makes a person individual, but I've never placed much on clothes, latest styles, etc. My children are individuals because of their looks, their mind, their personality, etc.
My2Beauties replied:
You are right and I let my kids know this as well. Granted my kids do not wear name brand anything really except maybe shoes unless someone else buys the outfit for them or it's like a birthday outfit. When I go shopping it's normally at Target or Penney's and it's whatever is on sale. I don't necessarily think that her individuality comes from her clothes but I also remember that feeling of wanting to be comfortable in school and be yourself and I think kids are themselves when they are wearing what they wanna wear. The truly sad thing is is that I will teach my kids as you teach yours about individuality and I will also teach my kids not to make fun of anyone ever (whether it be for what they're wearing, if they accidentally peed in their pants, if they are different, anything) but I guess lots of parents do not teach their kids these things. I have to admit I am a fashion addict, it makes me feel good when I am wearing something that I like, now is it name brand and expensive things NO. Anything I have name brand is always bought on clearance or sale. I don't have to have brand name, I just have to like it for myself and it never really matters what anyone else says about me. It's a woman thing. I think you can teach your kids to dress nice if you have the means of doing so without them bullying and making fun of other kids. But I get what everyone is saying...again...not all parents teach their kids like that. It's unfortunate for the ones who do teach their kids good values.
Boo&BugsMom replied:
Yep. This was my thinking too. I saw it even in early elementary school when I was little.
I personally would love uniforms, but that's JMO. There are too many kids that are brought up to think that kid's are only "cool" if they have the best of the best clothes, etc. I know it seems young, but the reality of it is that kids notice this stuff at a really young age. I can think of one girl inparticular at Tanner's school right now who fits this mold to a tee. Everything has to be perfect and she has to have the best of everything...and her mom is the same way.
Cece00 replied:
where did you buy the uniforms?
Here its pretty standard (unless you buy from the Gap or something) for a uniform shirt to be around $6-7, shorts about $7-10 and pants around $10.
I usually buy a lot at the end of the "season" (after school starts) if I can find them and get shirts for like $2-3 and shorts around $5, pants around $7 and sometimes even less. I watch for polos on sale all year round bc they get them so dirty (esp the white!!)
So I personally spend less on them than regular clothing.
redchief replied: I didn't mind the uniforms. My daughter found ways to make the uniform her own as well (high school). For the boys it was pretty easy. For Erin it was horrible! First off she's a 00 short. The only clothes that fit her LOOKED like they were made for a fifth grader (because they were), not a high school freshman with those bumps that girls grow during puberty above and below. The policy became a bone of contention between the school and me, until by the end of year one they basically left her alone.
The following is excerpt of the conversation I had with one of the Vice Principals the first morning that Erin arrived "out of uniform."
Read below at your peril.
The school disciplinarian yanked her into the office for a pants infraction one day and I arrived and asked what the problem was. They said her pants had rivets and that was not allowed. I said, "I agree. I recall seeing the rivet prohibition. Who's coming with me?"
She said, "What?"
I said, "She wears a 00 short. Have you looked for a 00 in the uniform stores?"
"No."
"Then someone has to come with me. No one has them."
"Can't you buy her pants a little big?" she inquired.
"I thought you wanted to control bullying," I countered.
"Exactly," she said.
"So she comes to school in clothes that are sloppy loose, 2-3 sizes too big, and bullying won't be the result?"
"Oh, we have rules against that kind of bullying."
"Then why have a uniform policy in the first place, if it doesn't solve the problem?"
She's a little embarrassed at this point but thinks I've given her the argument she needed to get me out of there. She says, "Because you know how horrible teenagers can be toward each other. And we've had gang problems."
I said, "Yes, I was in here a few weeks ago because my daughter got dragged to the office for sticking up for another girl who was being picked on. By the way, my daughter isn't in a gang. I promise."
"Well, Mr. Dean she was involved in a fight. We have a strict no tolerance policy," she sits back and smiles.
"How's that working for you? I'll remind you of my argument that day if you want."
"No no, you said she can't get in trouble for defending an innocent person."
"All right. So you know my daughter has zero tolerance for people who are bullied. What makes you think she won't fight for herself?"
The extremely smart Vice Principal says, "I'm sure she would."
"Then I ask again, what are we accomplishing here except pulling me out of work and generally making life difficult on all the parents?"
She gives up, "Well Mr. Dean, you can always take your argument to the school board. They made the rule."
I wasn't letting her off that easily, "On your recommendation."
"That's not fair. I wasn't the only one."
I smile, "So what are we going to do now?"
"Well she has to have an appropriate uniform."
"Fine. I'll take her shopping now, but I don't know how long this is going to take. I may wind up in (a town about 30 miles away)," I said.
She says, "That's OK, we'll just dismiss her early."
"Excused?"
"We only give excused early dismissals for doctor's appointments."
I insisted, "Either she's excused or she stays the day and we shop tonight."
She gets flustered, "But she's out of uniform. She has to be removed."
I countered, "And I told you that the store (5 minutes away) doesn't carry her size. I have to go to (the town 30 miles away) and it's still pot luck."
The secretary calls the store which confirms they do not have her size, but they have several "smaller" sizes. I told her we looked at those and they didn't fit her, back to the VP, "She's excused or she's not leaving."
"Fine, Mrs. Soandso, write Erin dismissed early excused on my order."
On my way out the door I said, "Have the principal call me. If he doesn't, I'm going to be back in here tomorrow looking for him."
We actually had to drive 40 miles to find three pair of pants, but Erin had a test that day and didn't want to miss color guard practice so we did get the pants that were two sizes too big. The Vice-P commented that they were way too big. I told her I wasn't speaking with her anymore - that I was waiting to hear from the Principal. She commented that I'd "undermined" her "authority" that day when she told the principal that I wanted a phone call from him.
He called me later that afternoon. That conversation was even better.
IN RETROSPECT - I HATE SCHOOL UNIFORM POLICIES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE PROBLEM IS IN IMPLEMENTATION, NOT IN THE HAVING. Parochial schools have had working uniform policies for over a century.
My2Beauties replied: Ed I would have lost my cool....you're so quick on your feet Which brings up the fact that I had to buy Hanna size 7's to fit her waist but they are entirely too long. The 6X fit her length wise but wouldn't even button up...I give up  I hope they don't tell her her pants are too long because I will blow up on someone.
gr33n3y3z replied:
Thats what they are shooting for
mckayleesmom replied:
I had the same problem with McKaylee...the pants in the uniforms were way to long...so I went to the toddler section and got 5 t's....Geranimals makes a really cute pair in a darker khaki that didn't pick up stains to well...
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