Do you think public schools should require uniforms for all students?

Question

The largest public school system in our state has implemented a policy that all students K-12 will wear khaki pants or khaki skirts with a polo shirt (four choices of color). Does your school require uniforms? Will this work?

Answer 1

Our school does not require uniforms but I think it is a great idea. This gives ppl a chance to be judged for their character instead of their possessions.

Answer 2

I have worked in a public school system for 22 years. I have mixed feelings about the dress code. Yes because all children look the same and none can lord over the other. Some children dress in designer clothes while others dress from the Goodwill. The reason I don't like it is because some teachers aren't as strict as others in enforcing the dress code. That gets everyone upset. Too I work in a every low income district and by the end of the year you can't recognize the color of the clothes because they are so dingy. Especially if the shirts have to be white. So if everyone is on the same page as to enforcing it then I say yes uniforms are the way to go.

Answer 3

I do believe that school uniforms are a good idea. It takes away the fashion show that has become of public schools. With uniforms children do not have to worry about having the latest fashion simply to go to school they can focus on class activity's and not what little Johnny is wearing. This takes some of the elitist attitude out of the class system as well which is good for morale. Kids will always find something to pick on each other for in school but having uniforms will erase one thing that they can make fun of someone about.

Answer 4

Do I think public schools should require uniforms for all students? Yes... public schools should not be a big party so students should not dress up like they are going to one.

Do schools here require uniforms? Yes and contrary to popular belief, economic classes are made with with uniforms. For example, poor kids get stuff from thrift stores, the middle class kids get stuff at Wal Mart and the richer ones get them from some designer store. A pair of khakis from a thrift shop aren't as good as the same a pair of khakis from a Wal Mart and neither are as good as what you will find in a designer store. The economic classes are still very, very apparent with uniforms.

Will it work? Yes. Most of the students will comply because parents like the idea. Parents like the idea because it is cheaper than letting kids wear club clothes to school. And because most of the students are complying, the rest will want to comply and not complain to anyone. The few who do not comply are the type that will be moved to special programs for other reasons.

Answer 5

We are proud parents of 2 children who are going to start attending a good public school.
Regarding the uniform, we strongly recommend having uniforms for boys and girls. This way, nobody gets identified for such different fashions, nobody will be standing out, nobody is branded, nobody is left out. Plus, having pictures or prints with words, letters or numbers on tops, shirts, jackets, or even any head dress (caps, colored bandadas, etc.) might offend other students, leading to fights or heated discussions. Pants should also be waistline high, not low-waisted, as if close to the knees. It's totally inappropriate in any school anyway. Having a uniform, everybody can be identified just as a student of that particular school, like everyone else. The individual can be known for who they really are, and not who they are wearing...
If expressing themselves is a concern, there can always be a free dress day, still with no wordings or offensive pictures on it.

Answer 6

I teach at a public school district where uniforms are worn in most of our schools. Only 1-2 schools out of 17 in our district do not have uniforms. Those schools have a lot more trouble with gang activities, because it is more difficult to recognize who belongs at school and who does not. Also, gang colors can be worn at those schools, so there is more trouble because of this.

Uniforms are a good idea, especially if they are "normal" clothes, and not something too outlandish. "Catholic school plaid" would not work in most public arena. However, Khaki, black or navy blue, usually with white or gray are good, neutral colors. Parents can't complain too much about having to buy these sorts of clothes because they can be gotten just about anywhere where children's clothes are sold. Collared shirts are also easy and inexpensive to obtain.

We do have some trouble with kids breaking the uniform rules, but on a whole, as long as the administration is willing to enforce the uniform rule, it does work.

The reasons for uniforms are many: safety of the students, anti-gang clothing, recognition of student body, having properly covered body parts, etc.

I, as a teacher, am in favor or uniforms and enforce it in my class.

Answer 7

Yes, public school should require uniforms. Fitting in at school is hard enough. It would close some of the gap between the income level and take focus off name brands..to an extent.
There is always the weekends and after school to express yourself with clothes, if you need to.
Our public school here does not require uniforms. No reason why it wouldn't work.

Answer 8

Yes, absolutely, I think public schools should require uniforms, for obvious reasons. This would prevent peer pressure to dress a certain way, keep the focus on education instead of what someone is wearing, and just prevent distractions. Unfortunately, my children's school doesn't require uniforms. However, I wish all Montgomery County public schools should have this requirement.

Answer 9

My son goes to a Charter school now, and they are required to wear uniforms. I think that it makes getting ready in the morning so much easier. There isn't all that - what am I going to wear today - going on in the morning. And growing up in the late 70's early 80's I remember that the wardrobe trends changed every other day, (we all remember fluorescent and spandex) and it was difficult to keep up with the trends sometimes. As we all know - kids can be mean if you 'stand out'. Having everyone wear similar or the same uniform cuts down the distractions or "what is he/she wearing today" etc. Just my 2 cents!

Answer 10

I think uniforms are a good idea. It allows kids who are not well off to look the same as all the other children. It is hard if everyone is wearing Nike's or FUBU and you can't afford it, people make fun of you.
On the other hand it takes out some of the creativity and individuality of the kids.
i think it will work in your school system. If they had specific uniforms ALL identical to eachother it may work out even better.

I never went to a school that required uniforms.

Answer 11

This just happened in our school system as well. Part of the problem was due to teachers not enforcing the dress code. So my question is, if they didn't enforce the dress code, will they enforce the uniform. On the flip side, I came from a private school and think that uniforms are a good thing.