Quality, Affordability – the Key to School Uniforms

Monday 14th of September 2009 04:15:40 AM

As more schools institute school uniform policies the debate over whether or not these policies should be allowed has lessened. Most school districts are reporting parent and student acceptance of the new school uniforms but do still hear complaints about price. Many public school parents find the thought of buying school uniforms very expensive. Thankfully, the reality shows they are not.

When parents are first notified of a school uniform policy the first thing they think of is cost. This is understandable, says Jay Goode of Saratoga, New York. “Fortunately, our school uniform is very cost effective for our parents. We have a shirt, pants or a skirt, a belt, and shoes. Other items can be added but the student is only required to have these basics,” says Goode.

Goode and his staff sent home a letter suggesting that parents buy 2, and at the most 3, school uniforms for the upcoming fall semester. Once parents saw how inexpensive it was to buy three new outfits compared to the five or ten fashion outfits needed in previous years they were convinced.

Another selling point for school uniforms is durability. Parents spend outrageous amounts of money on clothing only to have it disintegrate after one wash and wear. Polo shirts and cotton tee shirts, the school uniform staple, are extremely durable and can withstand repeated washings.

Goode says that he and his staff worked with a committee of parents, educators, students, and a clothing executive to come up with their current uniform. The top factors they all agreed on were comfort, durability, price point, and look. As much as some educators hate to admit it, stated Goode, students are still going to care about the way they look. A fashion forward uniform will be an easy sell to high school and middle students.