Opinions on school uniforms

Diamond Member Joined: Apr 30 2004 Posts: 4367

hey shanie even all these responses don't convince you? 8)

so far no one seems to have strong feelings of hating them
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Posted: Sun, Feb 01 2009, 11:00 am Post subject: re: opinions on school uniforms

I would love to see school uniforms in the girls' school here. It eliminates so many issues, and there are plenty of ways the girls can be individuals without the clothes having to be the defining factor. It doesn't have to be anything particular or expensive, just the same is all. These days, many of the secular schools in Jerusalem have at least uniform t-shirts, so why is it so hard to start this in a mamlachti-dati-torani elementary school?
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Diamond Member Joined: Apr 30 2004 Posts: 4367

hey tomorrow! I love this! what a cute way of describing your kids ages!!
Busy Ima to:
Planning bar mitzvah, looking for high school
Taking apart, exploring and building
Math, math and reading a book
I want to be in first grade
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Posted: Sun, Feb 01 2009, 11:27 am Post subject:

Shucks, thanks!0

Posted: Sun, Feb 01 2009, 11:41 am Post subject:

Posted: Sun, Feb 01 2009, 11:46 am Post subject:

Posted: Sun, Feb 01 2009, 11:59 am Post subject: re: opinions on school uniforms

You want someone who hated uniforms? I wore one and I hated every minute of it. When I got to 12th grade I got subversive and stopped wearing the shirts and wore sweaters in the same color, and then in a different color with the school blouse underneath, we were ostensibly able to wear a sweater in the same color that wasn't the school sweater but not another color...and I did. but it was 12th grade and nobody really cared.'

Only one of my girls had uniforms, the boys didnt. The girls didn't have uniforms at the beginning, they had done away with them years before, and then along came youngest dd and she innovated them.

Here's the story.

Youngest dd was the head of the student council, she was the one pushing for the uniforms and the school loved the idea, by the time she left she had made lots of revolutions in tznius there and everyone especially the principal and the assistant were very happy with it. The girls didn't mind as it wasn't draconian and she went personally to every class to explain the reasons behind it.

The way she explained it to them, the uniform was to solve three problems. Not to have fashion shows among the girls, to be tznius for those with a problem in that department and to give "school pride" with the school insignia printed on the T shirt of the uniform

But to make sure it wouldn't cost that much she suggested to the principal after running this by the school council that it be a blue skirt of any kind as long as it was navy, and they had five colors of T shirts 3/4 sleeve and long sleeve to choose from with the school symbol printed, they were very cheap, youngest dd still fits into hers and wears them sometimes around the house and she is 22...anyhow It worked as they could choose between five colors, black, white (for rosh chodesh), green, orangey (they loved that one) and maroon. They were cheap, they were loose (no darts allowed) and as it was a DL school there was no code about not wearing jeans skirts or the like, it just couldn't be faded and had to be navy blue. The girls didn't seem to mind as they could wear sweaters in different colors on top of the T shirts.

So from a mother who hated uniforms came a daughter to pushed for them and loved the idea. I don't know if the other girls would have been so happy, certainly not oldest dd who was a rebel from day one, but it worked.
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Platinum Member Joined: May 13 2007 Posts: 8153

Gold Member Joined: Dec 25 2007 Posts: 1247

I agree that uniforms are the great equalizer. Especially with teenage girls. In my dd's HS, everything is mandated, down to the monogrammed shirts, the color of the socks and the color of the shoes, so everyone looks equally dreadful. They hate the skirts, hate the shirts, hate the whole thing.

My problem now is Rosh Chodesh, where they get to wear civillian clothes. Each month is a new fashion show --

dd- "I have nothing to wear I need a new shirt - skirt - sweater - pair of shoes (pick one or more)"

me - "I'm not buying you another (name it) you already have a closet full of (name it)"

This is a repeating pattern. I cannot imagine what this would be like if she had to figure out what to wear every day. I actually rejected a HS because there was no uniform, only a dress code, and lots of very high income kids in the school. I felt I could not keep up!

Platinum Member Joined: May 13 2007 Posts: 8153

I also like uniforms.

To me this would be the ideal uniform:

1. A-line skirts in two or three colors. They look much better than pleated skirts and look normal enough that they can be worn after graduation (my school had an A-line skirt and I still wear it, seven years later)

2 A choice of button down or polo shirts, with a school-issued shell (that has a high-enough neckline to go underneath)

3. A requirement to buy the items from the uniform company, so they will all be the same.

4. A nice sweater

Posted: Sun, Feb 01 2009, 1:47 pm Post subject: re: opinions on school uniforms

I went to a school that did not have uniforms and I hated it!!! Evil or Very Mad

I was always challishing for unifroms. Every morning I would stand by the closet and frustratingly sing the same chorus of: What should I wear today?!? Even if I had 4 outfits, one I didn't like, one was too this, one was too that, and the one that I did like I couldnt exactly wear every day. I also had this complex that I am not dressing as nicely as the other girls. ugh, I hated it. I'm so happy my kids do have uniforms.

Gold Member Joined: May 24 2006 Posts: 1527

Ilove uniforms!! My elementary one wasn't comfortable but highschool was and my kids have a great uniform. I think it does contribute to moral. I notice when my dd sees something in her uniform colour she gets excited! Even broccoli kugel makes her think of her nice green uniform and feel proud. when she sees a kid on the street in the uniform she gets excited.

Diamond Member Joined: Dec 26 2006 Posts: 4316

I am very happy my dd has a uniform. As far as it not being flattering on some girls, in dd's school they offer a few types of skirts, pleated, a-line etc.(I think) so that helps in what looks nice on different girls. It is so much easier then trying to coordinate an outfits all the time. I find they wear like iron and really last a long time. She out grows them before they fall apart.

As far a individuality, they can wear basically whatever shoes (not open toed or no backs) and any type of knee sock. That helps expressing themselves. On R"C they can wear Shabbos clothing.

She needs far less weekday clothing since she is only wearing it on Sundays.

It certainly helps keeping girls in different finacial levels from feeling different.

Diamond Member Joined: Apr 30 2004 Posts: 4367

so what would you answer someone who says that she cannot afford uniforms. all her kids wear only hand me downs and she won't be able to afford buying uniforms for all her kids.

Diamond Member Joined: Dec 26 2006 Posts: 4316

Gold Member Joined: Mar 26 2006 Posts: 1626

At one school where I worked, there was a fund for uniforms for families who couldn't afford it.
I think the first-graders got new ones, and the older kids got second-hand ones in perfect condition which were donated by other families.
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Boy aged 8, Girl aged 6, Girl aged 4, Girl aged 2, Girl aged 4 days ka"h

Posted: Sun, Feb 01 2009, 7:53 pm Post subject: