It saves money because there is less pressure on the kids, particularly boys to wear high-end clothes. However kids still need non-school clothes, and they don't get worn as much as if there was no uniforms. It all depends on the family situation. High-income families will save money, but low-income folks probably would not unless they buy used uniforms.

Uniforms teach kids to dress neatly, and parents and administrators don't have to fight  peer pressure to make the kids look good.

Uniform vendors are not the same. If you buy uniforms from a reputable vendor, they will easily last for a yearor even more letting you pass the clothes to other children

I wore a uniform as a soldier so my children & grandchildren wouldn't have to unless they chose too..

It depends-my grandson attends a Catholic school and has to get his uniforms from a specific vendor and they're not cheap.  On the other hand, he always looks nice, the school is great, and he is getting a good education.  He can probably pass some of them down to his little brother also as they are good quality.

JR

That has to be the dumbest comment ever! So if your kid wanted to run around naked you would let him just because he chose to? Choice is great, but what kind of clothes you wear in school does have an impact on the social life at school.

Kids get picked on all the time for wearing the "wrong" clothes. At least this way, there's one less nonacademic detail for them to focus on. I really don't see uniforms as infringing on choice. I could choose to show up to work in shorts and flip flops, but I would also be choosing to get fired. Kids need to learn that we don't always get to do what we want when we want. That sometimes you have to wear a uniform to get somewhere in life.

It's probably not just A uniform, but a few.  At least two so that you have a spare to cover in case of rips, stains, or god forbid laundry day.  And since the kids'll just need street clothes anyway (ask even adults if they leave work uniforms on when they get home), I don't see much beyond more clothes to buy, and more laundry to do.

I wore uniforms all through high school and they were definitely NOT cheap.  Also, kids will focus on non-uniform items, such your sunglasses, earrings, bookbag, shoes, etc.  My parents scrimped and saved to send me to private school and I worked to pay for my uniforms, but the prep school female is an amazingly attentive species.

I was picked on for having a Jansport (clean, good quality backpack) instead of the Louis Vuitton dujour.  I wore Walmart specials for gym sneakers, sunglasses, etc and that became the focus.  

You can't change the mean streak in some kids by making everyone wear the same clothes, because uniforms are not an equalizer.  They did show me how to dress more appropriately and I understood at a very young age that clothing and material possessions are the least of my concerns.  I got an amazing education and am thankful for it everyday.

I have sent my three children through Catholic schools their entire education so far.  Currently in 6th, 9th and 12th grades.  Would definitely say the uniform is a cheap alternative.  Have only had to purchase one jumper and three shirts at full price at the uniform store (in 13 years!).  The rest are/were handed down between school families, found at thrift stores, uniform exchange, etc.   For this school year, I purchased three pairs of navy pants, two white polos and one pair of school tennis shoes.  Total back to school shopping - $90 for all three kids.  My senior has worn the same two skirts ($10 each) for four years.  We were handed down another skirt for my freshman and the two will share the three between the two of them.  We do laundry at night (in case anyone was wondering).

For the rest of their clothing, my two oldest get $25 per month as a clothing allowance.  They have discovered (and love) the thrift stores and will not look at a piece of clothing at a store unless it's on sale.   I purchase their winter coats, uniforms and first pair of tennis shoes.  

They always look respectable, just not fashionable in some people's eyes.  

Uniforms should be worn in all American schools to eliminate peer pressure from wealthy kids, and make all students equal so they can focus on one thing, learning. they are all the same in appearance.  No doubt about it, It works in Asia and can work here. Get rid of the Logo business and all the other crap.

My children attend Catholic school and also wear a uniform.  I think uniforms are a needed in the public schools as well, to make each child equal from that view.  Our school holds a used uniform sale each year, as well as I pass down the girls' jumpers to younger kids, as well as get bigger sizes as others pass them down to me.  Only need two jumpers, two yellow polos or two white shirts, and a gym uniform.  Gym is on Wednesday so they were uniform Monday, Tuesday and then gym uniform on Wednesday.  This gives me Tuesday night or Wednesday night to have their regular uniform clean for Thursday, Friday.  My children haven't minded the uniform at all, even though they ride the public school bus with all the non-uniform children.  They are seen as more equal to everyone else, regardless of income.

I have multiple experiences with this issue to form my opinion...

I personally went thru my whole education in public schools without EVER wearing uniforms and I abhor them. I wore my own clothing to school, yes, at times it was difficult to decide what to wear or I was made fun of, but fortunately, I am secure in myself enough to make a joke out of it and go on. My first car was a 1980 Chevy Chevette and it was the running gag of my friends... It was GIVEN to me and I was darn proud of it... I drove it for 6 years. :)

I have recently started wearing uniforms at my part time job and I hate it, being concerned whether or not I have clean khaki pants. :p IT bugs me!

My husband, however, wore uniforms for his whole education and he was better for it. He tucks his shirt in and wears a belt.

And I have worked in the public school system for several years. Doing uniform checks is the biggest waste of time and distraction to me. Kids will wear anything they can to alter the dress code or, as mentioned before, they will focus on other aspect of fashion... handbags, jewelry, shoes. And keeping track of the fact of whether or not they have their pants tucked in, belt on, etc should not be part of my job as a teacher. True, they should not look like thugs or trash when they walk into my classroom,or be falling out of any side of their clothes, but must we all look uniform?

I dread the thought of having to purchase them for my kids... the notion dampens creativity... [I am an art teacher] and it doubles expenses for school, because you need regular clothing and school clothing.

I don't like the notion.

Nope, nope, I don't.