As for uniforms, I really don’t care either way. I agree in some aspects, but disagree in others. Uniforms do prevent kids from being individuals, but it also helps those who can’t afford the name brand clothing. I have 3 kids myself and the schools have just started uniforms this year. It is really a big pain in the ****. Our city isn’t rich, and the kids generally don’t wear name brand clothes anyways. The uniforms are more expensive than the regular clothes the kids would be wearing. The schools claim they would help by providing a supplier that would give discount prices. I picked up the brochure during registration and the prices were crazy. $25 for pants and $19 for shirts. I am sure to some that is not a big deal, but when you think you can get a pair of jeans for $10 and t-shirts for $8 at Wal-Mart, it becomes a big deal. Then, all kids have to wear a belt. No shorts. It is in the 90’s here and the kids have to wear pants and polos, with no A/C. I think the government is getting a little carried away with their control. I thought this was the land of the free?? The government controls every aspect of our lives now. They say what our kids can wear to school, where we can smoke, how much we pay for gas. It is really getting to be a bit much. I figure we could all go to Mexico. They obviously don’t care about any of that stuff, and there are less Mexicans there because they are all here soaking the government for everything.

I am a high school junior and throughout elementary school and part of middle school I had to wear uniforms! I hated them while I wore them and still do! I think that making students wear uniforms so that lower income children feel out of place is bull! They still get made fun of when they start school with the same faded, dirty, too small uniforms! I think it is a poor effort of making kids feel better. How about just giving the kids a freakin education…a real one that is. ANYWAYS…. now that I am in high school, I hear about the same kids getting made fun of that wore uniforms! They still wear the same clothes that are faded and too small! I don’t think it makes a difference! I don’t think it makes anyone concentrate on academics any more or less. Kids are kids. If they want to learn, they pay attention. If they want to take a nap and ignore the teacher, they will. Uniforms don’t change personality!

I think kids need a break. It gives them the opportunity to spend time with family, take a vacation, and learn from the outside world. And the teachers need a break too! Teachers often spend their breaks preparing for the upcoming year, taking classes towards an advanced degree, or relaxing.

Year-round schooling doesn’t mean the children get less vacation time. The vacation time is divided into two-week segments throughout the year. The shorter time between classes ending and returning to the classroom helps students retain much more of their knowledge.

The greatest complaint I hear about year-round schooling has to do with spending money to air-condition the schools.