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Middle schools take a uniform approach: The Fall River (MA) school system requires middle school students to dress in “spiritwearâ€.
“Under the policy, which is formally called 'spiritwear' rather than uniforms, students are required to wear khaki or navy blue pants or shorts, oxford, button down or polo shirts, and color restricted shoes, socks, belts and shoelaces.â€
(The policy, which you can read here, never uses the word "uniform". Ironically, the link to it does.)
“Spiritwear?†You've gotta be kidding me. 
My guess is that they're using that term because “uniform†is sort of a dirty word in our individualistic culture. If I were a student at this school, I think I would prefer that the school just be upfront about what they are and call them “uniforms†(Of course, the fact that I generally considered the whole concept of "school spirit" to be BS when I was at that age probably wouldn't have helped either).
I wonder what people in countries like Japan where school uniforms are much more common would make of this.
I think the language is more inflammatory than if an actual uniform policy were adopted. Such things (instructions, guidelines, surveys) often reveal more about the authors than about the topic of the document. I do a lot of evaluating and correcting of such documents as part of my job: the language indicates the authors are trying to describe airtight rules, but you can march the population of China through the loopholes. Of course, in China, they use ACTUAL uniforms.
I can't wait for the second edition!
Dolores Umbridge would be so proud.
The entire concept of uniforms is interesting. In this case, some members of the school committee claim that "appropriate dress translates to better behavior." But is there any good scientific evidence that uniforms, by themselves, change behavior? I'm thinking that in any institution that requires uniforms, there are many other disciplinary policies complementing them. A policeman and an army captain don't behave "worse" just because they are out of uniform. By the time a school is mandating uniforms, it is also cracking down on behavior, and I'm guessing that the cracking down part would be more responsible for improvements in behavior than the uniforms.
On a related note, the middle school that one of my nieces attended required the kids to wear formal attire to the graduation school dance: suits for boys and suits or dresses for girls. The parents who didn't want to buy suits for their 13-year-old boys had to rent them! This was during a time when the schools were always complaining that they didn't have enough money for supplies and such. I'm telling you: parents sometimes need to rise up and revolt against the nonsensical tyranny of the schools!
This "spiritwear" is another of seemingly millions of obfuscations permeating the language. Yes, it's a uniform! The person who thought up spiritwear should be dealt with accordingly.
There is evidence that school uniforms make for better behavior which should lead to better "educational outcomes" for a variety of reasons, and I believe it. Many can attest to the fact that they make getting the kids out the door a lot easier.
Here's the latest obfuscation to make me gag. Science Friday podcasts are now "supported by Microsoft, delivering people-ready enterprise solutions..." And I always thought they sold software. God help us.
When I first saw the word "spiritware" in this thread about what to wear to school, I thought it was referring to clothes that promote the school itself, such as T-shirts or sweatshirts with silk-screened phrases like "WARRIORS ARE #1" or "GO STATE!"
When I was in high school, it was common to wear such clothes (or at least school colors) on the day of a big game to show our "school spirit" and support for the team. We never called such clothes "spiritware," but that's what came to mind when I first saw the word.
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Grant Barrett
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