City sees increased need for school uniforms, community help sought
With the school year right around the corner hundreds of Baltimore city students are still in need of school uniforms, city school officials say, and the list is still growing. This time last year, city school officials said they had around 50 and 75 students on its uniform voucher list, but since August 1st the system received more than 575 requests.
Johns Hopkins University helped the school system provide school uniforms to about 170 city students, but many more won't be able to don their school colors on the first day. All of the students come from families who are experiencing some sort of financial hardship due to loss of job or other situation that has strained the family financially, the school system said.
To help, you can follow this link the Baltimore Community Foundation, where you can help a student dress for success this school year.
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Comments
It is at about this point that the distinction between having a "uniform" policy vs dress code (even a strict dress code) should be getting made.
Posted by: MrRational | August 29, 2011 6:42 PM
As schools pushed from a strict dress code to uniforms the cost of outfitting a child increase. The point of uniforms may be lost in that some of the items are just as expensive as some of the trendy items they replaced. It is also odd that the two largest providers of uniforms to BCPSS schools are not in Baltimore city.
Posted by: OverTheTop | August 29, 2011 8:51 PM
I do not think "OverTheTop"'s statement is true. The price of the "uniform" shirts that I bought were about the same as middle of the road shirts. They have lasted into the 4th year of high school, so they are very well made (if ugly). In the past, "cheap" shirts barely last through one school year. It has worked out fine for us to have exactly 6 shirts and one sweatshirt - no one notices that you have a very small school wardrobe as they would if you were wearing a small set of "normal" clothes. School uniforms have been a great cost savings.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 30, 2011 12:11 PM
Most of the parents I have dealt with prefer the school uniforms as there is no question of what the student will wear to school. Unfortunately, many parents do not buy enough of the uniforms to go through a week without laundering. One shirt is NOT going to be enough for the year. If a sufficient supply is purchased, a student can make the same shirts last for more than one year. It is much easier to enforce a uniform policy than a "dress code." Dress codes are subjective by nature; what is too short, too tight, too cut-up, etc. With uniforms, you are either in compliance or not.
Posted by: vetern teacher | August 30, 2011 7:38 PM
@ Anon - You did not mention bottoms? Is your child walking around arse-out? Many public schools have gone full uniform where the pants/skirts are part of the code. Also having that set of school cost does not preclude having the normal clothes so you are still double dipping in the clothing pool.
Posted by: OverTheTop | August 31, 2011 6:07 AM
what I don't understand is why we have a different uniform for every single school? Making it more complicated, single school will have different uniforms for different grades. Why not a policy for the city, and schools can personalize with different badges. This way, transferring from school to school doesn't mean buying a whole new uniform, moving up a grade only means getting shirts to replace those that are worn out, school-age kids can be recognized no matter where they are, (i.e. the bus) and gang colors don't interfere with school. North Ave. could even provide a subsidized uniform center where high-needs students could obtain uniforms.
Posted by: why not a Baltimore City uniform? | September 10, 2011 12:54 PM