do you think uniforms belong at a Montessori school? - Page 3

[Lillianna]

I vote no.
I agree with pp who said Montessori is about choice and independence.
She also wrote extensively about children expressing their individuality and expressing different interests. I believe that families should be able to express different cultures through dress as well.
To address the point about clothing distracting the children from work...
I would say that when a child is truly engaged very little will distract his attention, this is one of the "secrets to childhood" Montessori discovered. The environment is peaceful because the materials are engaging and because the children learn how to respect others at work.
I haven't come across anything in my training or in her writings that would support mandating uniforms or any type of dress code for that matter.
At our school, we have the no violent superheroes rule for clothing and lunch boxes. I think this actually weeds out a few families who don't practice similar (non violent) philosophy but it's not needed for the majority of the families who practice this anyway.
fwiw, I wore a uniform through elementary school. I didn't mind but would have probably been more comfortable in my own clothes (we wore the old plaid jumpers and skirts - stiff fabric and never fit right). To agree again with pp about economic status/class affiliation, people find other ways to show off their wealth or lack thereof.
The children in early Montessori schools put on cloth smocks or aprons when engaged in certain practical life activities, this is why they appear to be dressed alike in the photos. They still put on aprons for these activities but now (because of expanded fabric availability no doubt) we color code the apron to match the activity.

[RubyWild]

What if the child hates the uniform? Is it mandated? Do they have to wear it? That doesn't sound very Montessori.

I generally like uniforms. I wish I could wear them to my work, seriously, but what if the uniform was ugly to me and made me feel stupid and awkward? I'd hate it if I had to wear a white shirt. I look simply dreadful in white. I look wonderful in orange and green, so those are the colors I'd want, but I suppose another would look awful in those colors.

Well, it just doesn't sound Montessori.

[RubyWild]

Originally Posted by UUMom

ETA more blue and pink kids in Italian M schools. lol

http://www.lastampa.it/redazione/cms...tellesi01g.jpg

I would be outraged if my school had the boys and girls wear different types of uniforms. I honestly couldn't send my Dd to that school. I know Italy still has pretty strong gender stereotypes, but that's not what I want for my child.

[OnTheBrink]

Originally Posted by RubyWild

What if the child hates the uniform? Is it mandated? Do they have to wear it? That doesn't sound very Montessori.

I generally like uniforms. I wish I could wear them to my work, seriously, but what if the uniform was ugly to me and made me feel stupid and awkward? I'd hate it if I had to wear a white shirt. I look simply dreadful in white. I look wonderful in orange and green, so those are the colors I'd want, but I suppose another would look awful in those colors.

Well, it just doesn't sound Montessori.

Yep - the rule is that they do have to wear the uniform. I don't know what would happen there were religious objections or something. The director is very accomodating, though.

The kids can pick ANY solid color polo shirt (long or short sleeve) with the logo. They wear khaki bottoms - pants, shorts, skorts,skirts, or jumpers (boys and girls can both pick any of those). My daughter has pale pink, hot pink, orange, red, navy, light blue, white, yellow, and green shirts.

[RubyWild]

Originally Posted by OnTheBrink

Yep - the rule is that they do have to wear the uniform. I don't know what would happen there were religious objections or something. The director is very accomodating, though.

The kids can pick ANY solid color polo shirt (long or short sleeve) with the logo. They wear khaki bottoms - pants, shorts, skorts,skirts, or jumpers (boys and girls can both pick any of those). My daughter has pale pink, hot pink, orange, red, navy, light blue, white, yellow, and green shirts.

I would never choose to wear a polo shirt. To me, they kind of buy in to that prep school look, which I don't like. And I was thinking about it today, some of our Indian students wear Punjabis and one boy wears a Seik head wrap and wrap around pants. I think a uniform would take away from the international look that our school embraces.

[CharlieBrown]

personally, i believe uniforms are always good, whether public or private.

[ochoco]

Interesting to see the debate this question engenders! And a really good discussion, too. I was a Montessori (AMI) guide before deciding to stay home with my DB, and I can really see both sides of this.

I think, overall, that uniforms aren't necessary. I get why parents would want them, and honestly don't have a huge problem with it, if the uniforms are truly comfortable, easy to put on and take off, and inexpensive. The Primary age group are in the M. class for a relatively short period of time each day, and I don't think it would negatively affect their creativity or sense of self. But in my experience with the 3-6 age group, clothing really didn't come up as an issue. I mostly noticed problems with footwear for girls (high-heeled boots, ugh!!) and difficult-to-open fasteners on pants. So, functionality was more of an issue than fashion.

With older children...IMO, I think it'd be best to ask the children themselves if they wanted to wear uniforms, and get them in on the decision-making process. They are the ones who'd be affected the most, right?

As far as MM, well, we know that she liked to look good! That was a woman with some individual style! I wonder what she'd think, if asked to choose between organic cotton and wool uniforms that were comfortable and practical, and the clothing that the average millennial youngster wears...hmm...

[fuller2]

I said Maybe, because...how can I put this. I think a lot of girls' clothes encourage them to think of themselves as being frivolous (yes, even at age 3), and that some sort of uniform or dress code might help them to consider otherwise, even if it's subconsciously.

Like, the girl who wants to be a princess/pinky/fluffy all the time (or whose parents think she should look like this) will have the opportunity to live for a few hours NOT as a princess/pinky/fluffy. I don't think this is a bad thing. Even if she doesn't like it at the time, I feel like it would still be a worthy experience for her to see that someone in her life does not think of her as pinky/fluffy and in fact won't allow her to be pinky/fluffy in that context.

Course, she could still be wearing princess underpants...

[sapientia]

I'm not a big fan of the uniform policy and in the montessori school where my kids go I'm getting a bit of a reputation as a troublemaker because I (very politely) state my opinion that we can't all afford the expensive uniform tops and bottoms from the 2 vendors that are approved for the school. I also have my little 11 year old brilliant rebel who wears unmatched crazy socks and used to be a hat and bandanna fiend until the headwear was ruled out because it caused too much 'distraction' in the class-which I still think is sorta ridiculous-so now she wears a cape every now again because she is a freethinker and can't stand to look the same as everyone. 'I'm my own person' she tells me. I can relate! I told her to watch out, they'll outlaw her cape and silly unmatched socks, too......but I think she'd cause an in-school revolution over that one!
That being said, i do understand the socio-economic issues with no uniforms-some kids wearing gap clothes and others wearing thrift store could perhaps cause some remarks or bad feelings...but I still HATE the uniforms.
And some people tell me I have authority issues...lol!

[dancebaraka]

Voting "Other" because I can see both sides of this issue, and I could go either way... I don't think it is really that important. What is definitely M is for clothing to be natural, comfortable, simple, and for children to be encouraged to dress themselves (ie no snaps etc). I also feel it is important for somatic development to be able to move freely, so no skirts or dresses for very young girls. Having specific work wear for practical life activities makes sense as well. And of course advertising and character gear sucks IMO.

[mimiharshe]

Originally Posted by alegna

Instead of what brand jeans it was shoes or purses or socks or or or

-Angela

Really good point!

[mimiharshe]

Originally Posted by alegna

Well I never wore one and it allowed me to learn early on that some stupid people waste a lot of time worrying about brands but it doesn't really matter.

Never inhibited my learning at all thanks!

-Angela

Angela, hav eyou ever been inhibited?

[*bejeweled*]

[QUOTE=RubyWild;8923943]I wish I could wear them to my work, seriously,

-------------
A little ot, but I just started wearing a "uniform" to work and oh my! It makes such a huge difference in the mornings.

I only wear oxford blouses (in different colors) and black pants or black skirts (with and without embroidery). I vary the jewelry.

Pair this w/DD wearing uniforms at her Montessori school----and mornings are a breeze.

I highly recommend uniforms. (And I'm so the Birkenstock chick on weekends).

[alegna]

Originally Posted by mimiharshe

Angela, hav eyou ever been inhibited?

Nope! I was raised by old hippies!

-Angela

[Raven67]

Well, uniforms belong in OUR Montessori school, that's for sure....It's a unique setting, Montessori embedded in a private/Catholic school. They have Montessori classrooms for preschool/Kindy (3s to 5s) and then Junior Montessori from first to third grade. At fourth grade, the school reverts to a traditional curriculum. Uniforms are worn from first grade up.....For the preschoolers, they are not required, but many of the kids buy the "school gym uniform" of tees and sweats, and wear that sometimes. I went to private schools, always wore a uniform and I LOVED it! I can't wait to see my girls in school uniforms......I wish the were mandatory for the preschool, maybe not skirts, but the polos and sweats, it would be so much easier and fun to dress. I also wear my own style "uniform" for work.....black slacks and several of the same top, in a couple of different colors. I hate shopping and choosing clothes, it's so much simpler.

[OnTheBrink]

Originally Posted by Raven67

They have Montessori classrooms for preschool/Kindy (3s to 5s) and then Junior Montessori from first to third grade. At fourth grade, the school reverts to a traditional curriculum.

How interesting! Why did they choose to do it that way? How does it work for the kids making the switch? Why not just stick with Montessori for 4th grade and beyond?

[Raven67]

You know, I don't know why they do it that way.......but, according to the people I've spoken to (families and school personel) it works fine.....There is, of course, a period of transition during the first half of fourth grade, but the teachers are all on board with it, and try to help the kids to adjust....I haven't spoken to anyone who didn't think it worked, the only complaints I've heard is that the kids sometimes have a hard time adjusting to homework every night. I think this will work fine for us, because I wanted my kids at the same school until grade 8, and then on to a high school. The only other Montessori school close by goes up to grade 6/7, age 12, as is traditional for M programs....so, what would they do for grade 7 and 8?? Public school? Another private school, and then yet another school for high school?? I don't like Junior high or middle school programs, I prefer to have them transition once into high school. I think Montessori (in my view) is most important for the early years, as it provides a foundation for independent, highly motivated learning.....what I've heard from people who are familiar with this school is that the lessons learned in M really carry over into the later years, the kids are great at working independently, taking responsibility for their work, completing projects. I think it will work fine.

[nkm1968]

I choose to wear a uniform to work: khaki pants and a polo in the warmer months, turtleneck when it is colder. As a child and adolescent psychiatrist, I frequently have to play on the floor, chase kids down the corridor, or restrain really aggresive kids, so I need practical, non-suggestive clothes.

My dd2 attends a Montessori preschool with a dress code, not a uniform, but when I saw the darling uniforms on the cover of the centennial issue of Montessori Life (a sweet little sailor type dress) I wished we had that uniform!!

But the dress code works just fine for us too. (Sigh) if only I was a 1962 Montessori mama!