Honeybun starts Kindergarten in August and while this transition is scary enough for any parent, what had me up for 2 hours the other night was the uniform policy. Honeybun will be attending our neighborhood public school where there is a strict uniform policy in place. I am adamantly against uniforms for so many reasons (and luckily hubby wholeheartedly aggrees); I even changed my mind about which preschool to send her to after learning our first choice required uniforms. I will clarify that I am all for a strict dress code which outlines what fashions are acceptable and which are not but a prescribed uniform where every child looks the same bothers me.
I realize school uniforms have been the norm in many other cultures for years. But I still don’t see the benefit in them. Even after living in Ireland for years and seeing all the school children walking around in their matching outfits (and especially after hearing how much my friends have had to spend on USED uniforms), I’m still not a believer.
We are allowed to opt out of the required uniforms by filling out a form within the first 10 days of school, which we intend to do. I have been obsessing over what we are going to write on the form under the “reason for exemption” line. Technically, per school board policy, our request cannot be denied but I am still worried about the push back we’re going to get from the school. After meeting with the principal a few months ago and attending the “kindergarten round-up” it has become more apparent that this particular school does not like non-conformers.
Here are the reasons cited by the Elementary school for why uniforms are required (and my response to why it’s nonsense):
Research suggests that school uniforms
- Improve discipline, self-esteem and self-respect: You mean by taking away every ounce of a child’s ability to outwardly express themselves? Just one more way to perpetuate the “sit down, be quiet, do what you’re told” mentality. I want my children to learn respect and self-discipline by being taught it and seeing it modeled by adults, not by being forced to conform.
- Focus the student towards learning: What does wearing comfortable clothes in colors other than blue and white have to do with learning? Honeybun has sensitive skin and constantly complains about itching. You really think wearing the stiff uniforms is going to help her focus when all she can do is think about how her clothes are itching?
- Eliminate the fear of whether their clothing choice will be acceptable by peers: This is a problem society has created. Instead of promoting self-expression and supporting children in making their own choices, we allow teasing, bullying and other forms of harassment. This one to me is just an excuse to be lazy and not take time away from the academic curriculum to teach moral and character building skills. I truly believe learning to be respectable, responsible people who can tolerate and work well with others is way more important than any academic topic. Aside from reading and writing, you can google most anything you need to know!
- Strengthens school pride: So in this line of theory we, as Americans, should walk around wearing only Red, White and Blue.
- Identify student population from strangers on school grounds: Totally get this one: for High Schoolers. You mean to tell me a 5-10 year old wandering around on campus not in uniform is going to be a red flag for a stranger? At the elementary level I think it is more important for the STAFF to be in uniforms to identify themselves, not the children.
- Cost effective: Not generally a curser, but BULL S***. Since Honeybun was a tiny little peanut in my belly I have had a rule of five. I spend no more than $5 (or 5 Euro or the equivalent) for a single piece of clothing (I will admit I splurge a little on fancy dresses, but still try to keep it reasonable). I will spend $10 on a two-piece set or up to $25 on a set of 5 onesies for example. But even everyday dresses (an all-in-one if you will) I do not spend more than $5. I realize this will not last forever and plan to increase with the child’s age ($6 for a 6 year old, etc.) but you can find some pretty great things on the clearance and sale racks if you just keep your eyes open every time you wander by. I have amassed nearly an entire 5 year-old wardrobe for Honeybun and do not have any interest in spending $10+ each (cheapest I can find) for 5-6 uniform bottoms and $10+ each for 5-6 school polos/t-shirts.
Oh, and by the way…as for that “research” that they are using to justify their policy? Every research study I’ve ever seen on school uniforms blatantly states that NO benefit has been proven for Elementary aged students.
Of course, if Honeybun decides she wants to fit in and wear the uniform like every other child, I will not prohibit it. But I will also not run out and spend a lot of money on uniform clothes, I will continue to obtain the necessary as I always have. Something tells me, though, that the little girl who loves being the silly one with seaweed at snack time might also like being the only one in bright colors on the playground. Now to figure out how to get out of kindergarten homework (another unbeneficial, unnecessary and unproven practice which has become compulsory for all grade levels)…
Honeybun’s size 5 wardrobe. I’m guessing in total this ALL cost less than $150, a little more than 1 weeks worth of uniforms (assuming we would want 6 full outfits to limit the need for excessive washing). Upper right shows what in the pile meets the school uniform policy (a total of 2 white t-shirts).
