Uniforms: Good Or Bad?

My son heads back to school on Tuesday. When that morning rolls around, there will be no discussion of what to wear and no fights about appropriate attire because his school requires a uniform and he'll be wearing the summer uniform, as per the handbook: a white logo polo shirt, navy shorts, navy socks and a brown belt. It's easy and requires almost no thought for either of us.

But while uniforms work for us, I also know how limiting they can be. Having grown up with Catholic school uniforms, there are few ways to express your individuality. And when you do, you run the risk of being too different. It's a fine and blurred line.

As parents, what do you think? Are uniforms a great benefit to kids and their education? Or are they much ado about nothing ... just an added expense? Or something entirely else?

You might want to check out the New York Times, which has an interesting article about school uniforms today. Also we're chatting about it in the EdWorld Community Forums too.