School Uniforms

[ericadawn16]

How come schools and businesses push for uniforms to level the playing field, eliminate peer pressure and look more professional but force everyone to look like WASPs from the 1980s with collared shirts and khaki pants?

How come many of those same places outlaw hairstyles that aren't predominately Caucasian?

Comments

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Closeted racists? ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hugs, Jon

[allisnow.livejournal.com]

lol... As someone who works at a school with a uniform policy... what are we supposed to tell them to wear?

[ragnarok-08.livejournal.com]

Good lord :/

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

This depends...

Many non-US schools, Catholic schools and schools that were established more than a century ago already had uniform rules and I respect that. It's born out of tradition and/or that students were expected to wear their Sunday best. In this, I also respect when schools require jacket and tie for boys because that doesn't represent a particular culture at this point.

If a school doesn't fall under that, then I'd like to know the predominant reason behind uniforms for them. In my research, I noticed many liked that it formed a cohesive bond between students or made them easy to identify because everyone wore the same colors.

However, everyone can be wearing the same colors without having to wear the exact same Polo shirts and khaki pants. They could wear plain t-shirts of a certain color or if the khakl color was mandatory, perhaps jeans in that color...

I personally think khaki or white are atrocious ideas for students because if they're anything like me, they'd become afraid of any little spot or stain which would happen even when I was trying very hard not to. Even as an adult, I have given up being able to wear these colors to work.

I have been employed at places that required uniforms but not schools. However, because I spent five years in places that required uniforms, I was utterly clueless when it came to a job that said I could wear what I wanted excluding beach attire. I had no personal style. It took me over two years to learn what looked good on me, what I liked to wear and what would work well at work.

My public schools all had lengthy rules of dress that worked quite well for them even though my principal complained as we were welcomed into high school that if he had his way, young ladies wouldn't be able to wear pants or jeans.

I feel especially sorry for the pre-schoolers that come into the store. Day after day, they're forced to wear polo shirts and khaki pants. It doesn't look comfortable or conducive to creative play.

[allisnow.livejournal.com]

White and khaki is tough for kids. I don't know if it's the norm but my school (public) also accepts bottoms and tops in navy blue. Because the district doesn't allow us to send kids home for not wearing uniform, it's pretty much a voluntary thing, but most teachers I work with support it. Plus I think the kids look adorable :)

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

I really like that it's more of a voluntary thing so that both sides win.

[allisnow.livejournal.com]

Eh, I don't know, seems kind of stupid to have a uniform policy if you're not going to enforce, you know, the wearing of a uniform. Then again, it comes down to leadership. We had a 5th grader last year dressing like a total hoochy (short-shorts, spaghetti straps, etc) and the principal didn't even send her home...