Catholic School Uniforms

[Gordon_Sims]

I have seen the pattern, too, though, where the kids whose parents step up, volunteer, and contribute are also the students who do the same. They have the confidence to step forward and do that. They have the self-concept that their family does that. It is not unusual for the families who make up 80% of a parish to be the families who started it and the ones everyone knows will still be there supporting the school long after their children graduate. Yes, that builds a reputation in their favor.

People favor those who reach out to them, help them out, and treat them like more than servants. I know that some families are less involved because both parents work and the family resources are stretched thin, but other families fail to step up because they only want to make the minimum contribution they’re forced to make. Those who can’t do better and those who could do better and choose not to wind up in the same pot. It isn’t fair, but I don’t know how you help that. Those families you resent are the people who keep the parish running at all. If they all left, the school could not function. The parish could not function. Yes, if the student acts like the parent acts–that is, if they assume they’re supposed to pitch in when they’re not forced to do it–that builds a prejudice in their favor. And yes, the school can’t afford to lose those families who do more than is required. It is human nature that they’re going to be seen as more loyal to the school. It shouldn’t mean that their word is believed over anyone else’s, but I don’t see the big scandal when that happens. It isn’t just cow-towing to the wealthy. It is also favoring those who are (consciously or not) seen as being in it for the long run. Not fair, but human nature.

Back to school uniforms, though…although the advantage of narrowing the gap between the haves and the have nots is one of the advantages, another advantage is that the students act differently for school than for free time when they have to dress differently for school than for free time. That is true regardless of whether they dress better or worse when they’re not at school.

I’m not sure where I said I resented those families. They’re not the ones showing preferential treatment. I’d personally love to be in the position to give a lot more and volunteer more than I do, but it wouldn’t be for the sake of my kids’ place in the pecking order, and I don’t begrudge anyone else for doing it. As for who keeps the parish running, I’d be curious to see how the few big donors with kids stack up against the mid-range donors. I’m guessing there’s a good deal more of us and that we give more overall. I’m not saying that should beget unfair treatment, but it should encourage more equitable behavior. As for the families who can’t give as much as even I give, isn’t one of the main reasons I give to my parish to help those folks out? If so, is it right that their kids are always going to fall below mine in the pecking order?

I will agree with you on the uniforms as far as behavior goes. If you’ve ever been in a school on out of uniform day, you get to see the difference first hand. It makes me wonder why they ever have them.

 

[mommy_k]

I was from a Catholic school in singapore. Our uniforms looked like this google.com.sg/search?q=chij+uniform&client=ms-android-asus&prmd=ivmn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj2prK2-v3LAhVMcY4KHXc5BXAQ_AUIBygB&biw=360&bih=559

Not that glamorous

Mine was like that only grey plaid with green, and the bottom has pleats. We wore green knee highs. What was interesting is one of the other schools in the area was St. Patricks-and they had red uniforms–we thought they should have the green ones.

 

[mommy_k]

I don’t see where I said that. I said that I’ve yet to find a Catholic school where there weren’t families that receive special treatment. It was that way at each of the parishes we belonged to when I was a kid, it’s that way at our parish and it’s that way at the parishes where my friends and family go. I have one friend whose oldest just entered school. She was thrilled because, after hearing about what us and others have been through she knew she had found the parish where this sort of thing doesn’t happen. Then it happened. She was devastated. I didn’t tell her I told her so, but I did tell her so. Now just about every time we talk I hear about another new transgression. For some reason I’m supposed to act surprised or outraged.

As for our parish, I never even said it was just us who see this treatment. I’m just telling what we’ve experienced. We’re friendly with one family who isn’t Catholic, sends their kids there on vouchers, doesn’t go to Mass, doesn’t volunteer, etc. Their experience has been much worse than ours to the point that one situation with their child wasn’t resolved until another parent talked to the principal. It’s not a constant, overbearing situation but you always know that when something special comes up which kids are going to be picked, or when there’s a dispute between two students, which one the administration is going to side with.

For the record, I’m not trying to single out Catholic schools. A lot of the people we know with kids in public schools have had similar experiences, and teachers we know, while denying it goes on at their schools, have told us about multiple occasions where they’ve given preferential treatment to the “right” families, generally at the expense of the black sheep. I think it’s wrong no matter where it goes on.

It is wrong- but not all Catholic schools are like this.We have positive expereinces with our children at school, and have for the last 18 years when our eldest entered to present. The trick is not to focus on other kids and families and wonder about it.

Your children attend school for education, not perceived parental social status.You could drive yourself nuts if you focus on this.

 

[Lost_Sheep]

Mr. Sims, I don’t know you but there is no need to turn this thread into an argument. Thank you for sharing your experiences with school uniforms but there is no need to play the victim card here.

 

[Gordon_Sims]

Mr. Sims, I don’t know you but there is no need to turn this thread into an argument. Thank you for sharing your experiences with school uniforms but there is no need to play the victim card here.

I’m not sure where you’re getting that. You asked for opinions. I shared mine along with relevant experiences that I and others I know have dealt with. One user, as is her typical habit, accused me of statements I didn’t make. I elaborated. I didn’t play the victim card or claim that we were being singled out. I simply relayed the facts of what I and others I know have experienced. If you or others have had more positive experiences at a school or parish, that’s wonderful; however, that hasn’t been my experience. If you only wanted positive opinions about school uniforms you should have requested that in your original post.

 

[Allegra]

One of the 4th grade classes at the school where I teach just wrote papers on the subject of school uniforms. Probably 3/4 of the students decided to write in favor of uniforms. I don’t know if they actually felt that way or if they thought they were kissing up to the teacher and they’d get a better grade.

 

[mommy_k]

Now a lot of schools also have uniform exchanges for gently worn unifoms to help offset the cost. This is available for the elementary and high school.

If the cost of uniforms is a deterrant this could be a good program to introduce.

 

[pensmama87]

Now a lot of schools also have uniform exchanges for gently worn unifoms to help offset the cost. This is available for the elementary and high school.

If the cost of uniforms is a deterrant this could be a good program to introduce.

Around here, if you buy new, many uniform pieces can be bought inexpensively at Kohl’s, Target, and even Costco. It’s only at the “official” places that it costs so much.

I’d love it if my kids could buy 3-5 same color polos and khakis, etc. So much easier, and I’m not spending any more than I would on their regular clothes anyway.

 

[Gordon_Sims]

Now a lot of schools also have uniform exchanges for gently worn unifoms to help offset the cost. This is available for the elementary and high school.

If the cost of uniforms is a deterrant this could be a good program to introduce.

Our grade school has it and there’s usually a large supply of uniforms. Some years they’re free, others you have to pay a small amount. The high school has an exchange but they get very few uniforms, if any, and the cost is not much less than new (5-10% under when our son was there and some of the clothes were damaged). I’m eager to see if they’ve made any improvements.

 

[Burt_Macklin]

Around here, if you buy new, many uniform pieces can be bought inexpensively at Kohl’s, Target, and even Costco. It’s only at the “official” places that it costs so much.

I’d love it if my kids could buy 3-5 same color polos and khakis, etc. So much easier, and I’m not spending any more than I would on their regular clothes anyway.

That would keep costs way lower for the parents. The way I’ve seen many schools do it is require the uniform to carry the school’s insignia and then license that insignia to retailers who pay a fee to the school. It earns the school some extra money but also results in much, much higher uniform costs. TANSTAAFIL principle at work.

 

[anilorak13ska]

I know this is an older thread but I didn’t think I needed to reinvent the wheel by starting a new thread to ask/comment on this.

I’ve noticed many times that the Catholic school uniforms in the US include skirts that under normal circumstances would be considered quite immodest by virtue of how short they are. I wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing them, much less allow my daughter to wear them. It’s one thing if they’re layered over tights in cooler months, but it is hot and humid in my area for much of the year, and I don’t see a proper way of wearing them.

Anyone have any insight on this? To be honest, I’m set on homeschooling regardless, but this is just another of a multitutde of reasons why public NOR private school seems like a valid option for my family.

 

[AClaire11]

The same way we knew when I was a kid: The kids with the nicest clothes whose parents drove the most expensive cars, or whose mothers were always at the school and involved in every single way were always the ones receiving preferential treatment. When I was a kid we had a small number of families who made up about 80% of the parish. If you weren’t a Smith, a Jones or a Brown, or a cousin of a Smith, Jones or Brown, you typically didn’t count; unless, of course, your parents put big checks in the basket every Sunday, or your mom had been homeroom mother, troop leader and volleyball coach for the last 15 years via six different kids. We didn’t need our mom to tell us that being a Sims didn’t matter when we missed out on something to the benefit of the preferred families. And, no, it wasn’t just our family. Most of my friends weren’t Smiths, Joneses or Browns so I got to see lots of examples.

Our older girls have been at the school long enough to see the pattern. They know that if it’s a situation where the teachers are picking kids to be involved with something, it’s always going to be the same group of kids. They know that if a situation comes down to their word against another student’s, if it’s from Group A, they’re always going to lose; Group B, they have a fair chance; Group C, they know it will go their way every time. As I said before, these aren’t the sort of lessons they should be learning in a Catholic school but I’ve yet to find a school where this isn’t the norm.

It was similar at the independent Catholic school I attended. The big donors’ kids got lots of perks. Kids who had been there since pre-k also had a leg up compared to newcomers. Of course, it’s the same everywhere. Money and influence will get you special treatment.

As for uniforms, I hated them because the rich kids would wear designer polos and somehow never get in trouble for violating the no logo rule, while I was stuck wearing the regular frumpy polos that came from the uniform store. And since I was developing a bit early, I constantly felt fat and self conscious. Being able to choose outfits I felt comfortable in and that didn’t look awful on me would have been a big confidence booster.

 

[AClaire11]

I know this is an older thread but I didn’t think I needed to reinvent the wheel by starting a new thread to ask/comment on this.

I’ve noticed many times that the Catholic school uniforms in the US include skirts that under normal circumstances would be considered quite immodest by virtue of how short they are. I wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing them, much less allow my daughter to wear them. It’s one thing if they’re layered over tights in cooler months, but it is hot and humid in my area for much of the year, and I don’t see a proper way of wearing them.

Anyone have any insight on this? To be honest, I’m set on homeschooling regardless, but this is just another of a multitutde of reasons why public NOR private school seems like a valid option for my family.

It depends on what you call immodest. My school required no more than two inches above the knee. I don’t see that as immodest. Of course, many girls would roll the waistbands or keep wearing skirts they had outgrown. So the policy is usually pretty modest, even if some do not follow it. And my experience was similar to Gordon Sims’.

 

[Convert_in_99]

In my city uniforms are worn in public schools. Both because of our high crime rate and also much poverty.

 

[mommy_k]

I know this is an older thread but I didn’t think I needed to reinvent the wheel by starting a new thread to ask/comment on this.

I’ve noticed many times that the Catholic school uniforms in the US include skirts that under normal circumstances would be considered quite immodest by virtue of how short they are. I wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing them, much less allow my daughter to wear them. It’s one thing if they’re layered over tights in cooler months, but it is hot and humid in my area for much of the year, and I don’t see a proper way of wearing them.

Anyone have any insight on this? To be honest, I’m set on homeschooling regardless, but this is just another of a multitutde of reasons why public NOR private school seems like a valid option for my family.

Our girls have the option of skorts or pants.
The schools hands out uniform infractions for very short skorts.

 

[1990Domer]

I liked my uniforms. I liked and will like my son’s uniforms. Very classy, neat and mature. My poor husband got teased in school because his mom had no fashion sense and dressed him and his brothers funny.

Remember geranimals? You get the idea.

 

[Lost_Sheep]

I’ve noticed many times that the Catholic school uniforms in the US include skirts that under normal circumstances would be considered quite immodest by virtue of how short they are.

The word “short” is somewhat subjective and a matter of option. When I was in Catholic high school in the 1970s the girls (I’m a male, BTW) wore their skirts as much as 3-inches above the knee but this was mitigated somewhat by the mandatory requirement that they wear knee socks too. They wouldn’t dare wear pantyhose.

Also, at the time, micro-short skirts were not really fashionable and I do not recall any incidents of girls being sent home because their skirts were too short.

 

[fin]

Regarding the short skirts with Catholic school uniforms, wear shorts underneath them.

I wear shorts under skirts all the time, whether I’m wearing above the knee skirts, knee length, or midi skirts.

Our uniforms at my Catholic school, since I’m not from the US, are long sleeve white button downs with long skirts, around 2 to 3 inches below the knee. Still, I wore shorts.

I know this is an older thread but I didn’t think I needed to reinvent the wheel by starting a new thread to ask/comment on this.

I’ve noticed many times that the Catholic school uniforms in the US include skirts that under normal circumstances would be considered quite immodest by virtue of how short they are. I wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing them, much less allow my daughter to wear them. It’s one thing if they’re layered over tights in cooler months, but it is hot and humid in my area for much of the year, and I don’t see a proper way of wearing them.

Anyone have any insight on this? To be honest, I’m set on homeschooling regardless, but this is just another of a multitutde of reasons why public NOR private school seems like a valid option for my family.

 

[Book_Worm]

This post brought back memories. I don’t remember my DD’s skirts in her all-girls Jr./Sr. HS being very short, but the height of fashion was to wear men’s boxer shorts underneath, rather than a slip. I’ll have to remind her of this; I’m sure it will make her laugh.

One problem she’s encountering is with her DS’s uniform is the fabric of the khakis. I’m sure it’s very durable, but it aggravates his eczema very badly. Fortunately, the principal has casually mentioned that, as long as the uniform pieces aren’t noticeably different, they turn a blind eye to infractions like that.

 

[Rosebud77]

In the UK pretty much every school has a uniform and it is manditory.

The same here in Ireland

A wide variety across the county. Some go for plaid kilts, Many trousers, even some masculine looking tailored ( on the girls) and near me a lovely feminine royal blue skirt. Elegant.