OFF TOPIC I'm passing this law at my house

Ah, the wedgie. We're not tooo juvenile, are we. That's what'll cause the damage....

ellice

I warned DS about 2 years ago when he INSISTED on wearing boxes and pants slung around the hips that if I see elastic waist bands, that I will give wedgies. I figured the pain might help.

THe argument for school uniform at my school (a long, long time ago!) was that it avoided discrimination. If you couldn't afford the latest fashion it didn't matter because everyone wore the same thing; for boys it was a grey shirt, school tie, blazer (with school badge on breas pocket), grey slacks (shorts up to 13) and black lace-up shoes. Oh, and the obligatory school cap which had to be raised whenever the headmaster passed in his car as we were walking to school.

That's pretty much the rational with the DC public schools. The uniforms aren't very pricey, pretty basic for most of the schools, as I recall - simple khaki slacks/shorts or navy, with little skirts, jumpers for the girls and polo shirts. I'm sure the girls also get pants for winter, but I could be wrong.

Some of the suburban public schools have gone that route as well, some not. I know the goddaguhter at the sci-tech school wears very low jeans, and spaghetti strap shirts when it's warm. So, I'm thinking their dress code is not a big deal, OTOH, it's a brainiac type school. No valedictorian, saluditorian because "there would be too many suicides" per the goddaughter.

ellice

The girls may wear skirts ,jumpers in elementary school only,shorts or pants. We have to buy the uniforms at say Wal-Mart,Kmart or target. It does help with the discrimination because we don't have girls or guys wearing fancy dancy designer stuff.

Makes those Jordache jeans look downright frumpy, hiked all the way up to the waist.

And people say 80s fashion was bad. Pffffttt.

(Okay, I admit it. I liked 80s fashion. All of it.)

You too? I thought I was imagining things, but no--let's tart up our little bitty babies and let the child molesters have some EYE CANDY, dammit! (Okay, I'm a bit touchy because there were two attempted kidnappings of very young girls [7, 8, 9] in my school district this week--nearly unheard of here, and I'm freaked.)

I buy a size up for mine. Seems to solve the problem--for now, anyway. The problem is her g'ma (not my mother) sees nothing wrong with the "cute" clothes; I thank her, have DD thank her, and then quietly put them in the Goodwill box.

Yeah, that's what art class is for. Somebody upthread said something about the pink, green, and blue hair being creative and harmless and I must agree. On some people, it even looks GOOD.

No, you're not imagining things. I also have to tell you a funny story about eighties' fashion. I was in high school in the late eighties, when leggings and very big sweaters were in, worn with slouchy socks and tennis shoes ( Tretorn or Keds) or loafers. My dad hated the look. He said it was sloppy and untidy and ridiculous for me to wear clothes that obviously didn't fit. Two or three years ago, we were out Christmas shopping together and saw a young girl about fourteen or fifteen, wearing very low jeans, spaghetti strap top, etc. My dad said he couldn't understand why any parent would let their daughter out looking like that, and that I wouldn't have been allowed out of the house in such a get-up. That's when I pointed out that he got off easy in my high school years. I may have looked sloppy, but I was decently covered! To which he said nothing, and changed the subject.

Louisa

We used to live in Yorkshire and not far from Whitby, the place made famous by Bram Stoker's Dracula. The regular "Goth" festivals drew youngsters (and not-so-youngsters) from all over the country and Maureen often commented on how smart they looked in their all-black outfits. Hair, clothing and even the make-up was black - eyeshadow, lipstick, nails etc. But the bracing weather of Whitby discouraged the wearing of any skimpy items of clothing.

I don't blame you in the least. There is a reason I go down to the bus with my DD or make sure one of the other parents is hanging around

A size up doesn't always do it for DD. Most tops are now the 14-16 (she's only 8, a tall 8 but). Pants are harder as finding jeans (her favorite and I'm never attempting another pair of those) that aren't low riders is very hard.

Colored hair is now OK at all grade levels - be it blonde streaks on a first grader or pink.

Sorry parents, I really don't want my son distracted by your daughter dressed like a street walker.

Snicker! I was the age of the Annie Hall look and midi skirts!

Cheryl Isaak ,in rec.crafts.textiles.needleworkwrote: and entertained us with

Though I don't agree with slut clothing, it's really up to your son not to look if you don't wish him to ! It's rather like the 'she was asking for it, dressed like that' - though it may have an element of truth, it's wrong.

And Dianne Keaton still dresses much like Annie Hall and as far as I'm concerned looks fabulous.

It's one of those things, she's dressed to draw attention and even if he only looks once at her, there are still 10 more to draw his eye.

I was talking to the custodian at DD's elementary school. He knows DS from the middle school. There is a running gag among the school custodians that only females last at the HS. All the males succumb to whiplash within months.

Modesty is the real issue here. Looking like a tramp does invite being treated like a tramp. And even if my son behaves correctly, there are boys that won't.

Thank goodness the HS trainer has her own dress code. No tank tops - either sex, no "skins" (ie removing shirt), no constrictive clothing - loose shorts and full cut t-shirts.

Cheryl Isaak ,in rec.crafts.textiles.needleworkwrote: and entertained us with

It's the schools that could make a change, put them all in uniforms. In the end, the kids don't dislike it. It's a great leveller and very kind to kids who have parents who cannot afford to buy them designer labels.

They wear uniforms in the UK and I always think how nice it is to see school kids in their uniforms. Did I like wearing one ? No, hated it, but I got over it - it wasn't a major problem lol

Mine won't be riding a bus, as we're too close to the school. I think that walking to school and back is like the quintessence of childhood and I'd hate to think my kids won't get to enjoy that because of predators.

So anyway, not to offend anyone, but I HATE dogs. I mean, I really don't like dogs. BUT I've been thinking about the acquisition and training of a herding/guard dog that could be trained to take the children to school and pick them up again (not saying I couldn't use the exercise), and also to guard the house at night. So far, my top dog pick is a komondor and far next runner up is a collie. I haven't decided if this is something I want to do, but if I do, the dog's going to earn its keep.

I wish I could point you to the site where I downloaded an interesting discussion on BBC Radio4 on children and predators. They stressed again that rarely is the danger a stranger, it's more often someone known to the parents and child.

In addition, they had figures of the likelihood of it happening to your child, far further out than said child being hit by lightning. Now as they said, obviously one would be too many but they offered it as a reason to allow children to test the waters.

One of those interviewed said they packed a picnic lunch for their three kids when they were on holiday in Ireland, ages about 8-11, and dropped them off on the village green, telling them they would return for them at such and such a time, they were to stay together etc.

Two showed up at the appointed time, the littlest had been lost somewhere along the way. However he was quickly found and all three had enormous fun with the day and were eager to discuss all they had done.

A bit extreme maybe, but one gets the point. I didn't always like not knowing where my kids were exactly, but felt they had to gradually take responsibility for themselves. No harm befell them although once in Spain I found them diving off cliffs in a ravine (just like Acapulco) while yelling Geronimo ! My father, who had been very strict with me, had said it was okay for them to do it lol

A collie would not be my choice for herding kids, a nice Sheltie would be far less work and mess and I have frequently seen them herding their young charges. Nice dogs.