"I don't!" he said quietly.

[justaprogressive]

I don’t have a good solution. I don’t have a good response. I only know I’m deeply saddened right now because one of my favorites, an 8th grader I have known and cared about for 3 years, through his first girlfriend and the death of his baby sister in a car wreck caused by a drunk adult, has joined up, gone to the dark side, signed on to wearing all blue. As of quite recently, he’s a gang member. I saw him in the hallway today as I was greeting my class of sixth graders and I called to him, “Hey, c’mere, how’s it going?” He came over, as always, because he always has time for a high five for me. The other kid with him hesitated, not wanting to be there, but not wanting to walk away. I know him, too, but this business didn’t include him, so I asked him to give me a minute, it was a private conversation.

I lowered my voice. “Hey, what’s with the all blue? You sign up? Did they get to you?”

He looked up and down the hallway filled with students hurrying to class, and then nodded, and shrugged noncommittally. He looked uncomfortable with the admission, because he knew I wouldn’t like it, and I didn’t.

“Aw, man, dude, you’re better than that, smarter than that. You got a better future than that!” I was pleading with him.

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/9/5/2191715/--I-don-t-he-said-quietly

[3Hotdogs]

1. Does he now have a chance to leave?

In our school, everyone had a shirt-uniform. Colors were not a problem.

[Haggis 4 Breakfast]

4. Gangbangers 101

The Bloods wear all red.

The Crips wear all blue.

It's not exactly a school uniform he's talking about here.

[3Hotdogs]

5. I understand. The high school I taught at, all kids were issued school shirts. They are all of one

color and it ain't red or blue.

Kids are required to wear the uniform every day.

[Haggis 4 Breakfast]

6. Children are still wearing uniforms in schools ?

We did that in parochial (Catholic) school back in the 50s/60s, but I didn't know they were still doing that today.
Do you teach at a Catholic (or other religious) school ? Do they wear blazers, too ? We had jumpers (that's sweaters for you Americans) with the school crest emblazoned on the upper left hand corner and ties. Skirts for the girls, slacks for the boys.

Just curious.

[3Hotdogs]

7. Yes. Inner city public schools may require their kids to wear uniforms.

In N.J., school district has to supply them in order to require them to be worn.

It serves several functions. The blue and red issue disappears. Poor kids are not identified by their clothing. Girls, distracting boys with scant clothing is not an issue.

[niyad]

2. Welcome to our DU family.

[mizogan]

3. Fertilizer

I am a former HS and MS teacher in non affluent schools. I felt the angst in my heart as I read your post. The situations they live in are often not ideal let alone safe. You sound like just the right kind of person to influence a kid's life, you took the time to show interest in the kid and show you care. He needed it. I still have contact with a some of my students from 30+ years ago.
Keep acknowledging those kids, a nod of the head or a quick wise crack fertilizes that kid. Getting the the crap spread on them gently by a role model helps growth.
Hang in there! The kids need educators like you to support them.
Actually the strength of our society depends on it.