My Newbie is Showing...Part 3

30BC: the Sunday News

The Sunday News!

This week in the UK, police we called on approximately 50 students because they were wearing improper uniforms. Should students be required to wear uniforms in schools, for any reason? And should these uniforms require very specific standards, or should families be allowed a little leeway regarding lesser items like accessories, jewelry, and shoes? Have you ever had to wear a uniform to class? How would you feel if you had to purchase an expensive set of clothing for your child to wear, only to be told it wasn't enough, or that he or she was wearing something improperly?

I put my kids in private school for the first couple years and then the school lost its collective mind and tried to steal my daughter, so I pulled her and put her in public school.
I don't mind uniforms. They were a good idea. It discouraged sexualizing kids at an early age. It discouraged boys from wearing their pants on the ground. Loved that.
And expense is a myth. When the uniforms are outgrown, they are sold to the next class for a moderate price. Some schools sold the uniforms at wholesale. Here's the thing, if you can afford pants on the ground and boobs hanging out clothes, you can afford a uniform.
Expense of the uniform is always the argument of the uninformed -- and it's hogwash. Uniforms are cheaper than street clothes, wear longer and are easier to maintain. You do not need five uniforms, only two or three. It will lessen the cost all around because you will only need two or three Sunday/go-to-meeting outfits and the after school stuff can be garage sale specials. Families on a budget will find about a 50% savings on their kids clothing budget with uniform schools. Complainers will always complain and idiots will always do that which does not make sense -- so why listen to their arguments to begin with?
So is the real question, should we have an opinion and exercise authority on how another family dresses their child, raises their child, etc. Yes. That's what communities do, that's what laws are for, that's how kids are protected. Do we have a right to tell another culture how to do business? No. But we can learn from a practice that works. In this case, on uniforms, we should learn.