A recipe for bullying for the kids too poor to afford fashionable clothes. I used to be bullied relentlessly on non-uniform days. I used to dread them.
While that's true I don't know why they have to wear a blazer and tie, surely trousers and a polo shirt of specific colours should suffice. Blazers are expensive.
I agree though I've never known a school do that unless it was a pretentious private school. When I went to school it was just a jumper and tie, same at my kids' school now.
In the mid 90s - mid 2000s there was a trend for exactly this. My own secondary school uniform was white polo shirt and dark smart trousers. And a burgundy jumper if you wanted one.
But trend seems to have moved back to blazers even at my former school.
Primary school - no uniforms, nobody got bullied.
Secondary school - uniforms, you'd either get bullied for complying with the dress code or a detention for not complying.
Fuck uniforms.
To the "uniforms prevent bullying" crowd; no they don't. Kids also wear shoes and glasses, carry backpacks, use pencil cases, have lunch arrangements, all of which still broadcast family wealth (a thing uniforms are supposed to help mask) which bullies do pick up on and do use against them.
I don’t think anyone is saying they ‘prevent’ bullying but rather reduce it by having one less thing to differentiate the have and have nots. A lot of state schools also require kids to have school branded backpacks and have strict rules on footwear, further reducing bullying.
And I'm saying uniforms make little to no impact in that arena because bullies move on to something else. You actually need to address the bullies, not try in vain to create a scenario bullies can't exploit.
Uniforms do have an impact. Sure, kids will find something to bully someone about. "Wear what you like" days have a notably higher absent rate because of this.
I agree bullying needs to be dealt with at source, but staff are limited to what they can do. Parents of bullies are generally even worse.
I recognise it's a difficult issue, and previously I have been more in favour of uniforms. These days I just think it LOOKS like something is in place to address bullying problems but the impact is deflective at best, while the requirement also puts additional costs and/pressures on poorer families.
I find it hard to believe. Bullies will bully. If one "reason" isn't there, they'll find another. Put everyone in the same shirt, they'll pick on the shoes. Put everyone in the same shoes and they'll pick on hair colour or skin condition or...
I have, since my time in school, been convinced of the point of uniforms. I'm still yet to be convinced of the point of a tie being part of it, or indeed, any other outfit.
Disagree, they are usually pretty cheap for the most part (supermarket bought) & don’t discriminate between the rich and poor kids and reduce worry about fitting in by wearing the ‘right or wrong’ outfit
As long as you don’t go to one of the increasing in number schools that insist you get it from a preferred supplier with the school logo on the uniform.
Thats a worryingly creeping trend that should be resisted at every turn.
And the school shootings. Because the jocks pick on the nerds. Or the posh kids pick on the goths. Or the cheerleaders pick on the hipsters. Or the glee club pick on the... well nobody because it's the glee club...
The reason they exist is to enable all the kids to be equal.
If they wore their own clothes, there would be a hierarchy and bullying based on who’s on trend and who’s richer.
In Australia, uniforms have to meet a minimum sun protection factor (SPF, just like sunscreen). So it’s less of a uniform, and more like personal protective equipment.
As a teacher, I feel uniforms are essential, but I'm not sure why the student's uniforms haven't changed since the 1950s, whilst us teachers are now comfy. Definitely need modernising.
But not as bad as being disciplined because your parents are too poor to afford the correct uniform items, or bullied because they're too poor/stoned to make sure it gets washed and ironed.
The ‘academy’ down the street from me in a working class neighbourhood requires a shirt, jacket and tie bought directly from the school at an exorbitant price. What kind of twattery is that?
When I was a student while it was still a state school, you only had to wear generic black bottoms, generic white tops, sensible shoes and a £12 school jumper. When they introduced a mandatory school t-shirt, they were £2 each.
I always the disliked formal uniform I wore like a shirt, skirt,blazer and tie but a school branded tracksuit and polo shirt made sense as I could pass the items on as the kids grew. They were comfortable, unisex and easily laundered
Specifically there to avoid the inevitable bullying that would come from wearing the "wrong" clothing, as well as provide a handy identifier when out & about in public
Find a kid who’s nervous about starting secondary school; add in a blazer and tie and you have made their nerves 10 times worse. Polo shirt is fine if you want the kids to look similar.
Problem with uniforms is why do we make kids wear collared shirt, tie and blazer? Polo and a hoodie will give the uniformity, lower affordability and bring into 21st century
Hard pass on this. I hated own clothes days because I never got anything branded and was relentlessly bullied for it. Had a stepmother that never let me wear anything remotely fashionable (I’m sure out of resentment for having to take me on). School uniform was a blessing.
Maybe we should start by educating kids about something other than inbred German families in silly hats. No school uniforms here in Finland—doesn’t seem to make much difference to me. Also me…
Kids will find other ways to display wealth and status, clothes is just one mole in a whack-a-mole game. It's up to schools and parents to foster a culture where kids don't perceive clothes that way.
Disagree. Whilst I agree it is whack-a-mole, that particular mole is a huge behemoth and dwarfs the other minor displays of wealth and triggers for one-up-man-ship imo. Agree we do need to foster a culture where clothes aren’t perceived that way but I think sadly for the moment that is unrealistic.
On a practical note school uniform can be worn a couple of days at a time if parents can’t get a wash done, but in your own clothes you need something new everyday. In adult life, I hate having to choose what to wear for work and I loved having a uniform because it took the thought that away.
Generally agree with having a uniform but also don’t get why my kids have to wear shirts, ties and branded trousers and blazers (all expensive)when a branded polo shirt and plain trousers would do the same job
I’m a bit old fashioned on this and I know even my wife who is a few years younger than me doesn’t agree. Personally I think it should be part of your education to dress formally regularly. I still wear a tie for work when seeing a customer and I think it’s just part of life’s preparation.
Preparation for what though? 99% of the working population today doesn't wear a shirt and tie to work. I prefer the sweatshirt and polo my kids wear because it's less stifling, more comfortable but still provides a uniform. Can tell the original poster was never bullied for being the poor kid.
I reckon occasional own-clothes days put a spotlight on what people are wearing. If you wore ordinary clothes every day, most people would settle on basic outfits and hardly anyone would pay attention. Like every office I've worked in.
All this handwringing in the comments over uniforms preventing bullying and gangs like bullying and gangs are so much less of a problem in UK schools than basically all of mainland Europe.
school uniforms make everybody equal..you can't tell whose family has money, and who hasn't..and kids are brutal over these things. School is hard enough as it is without getting picked on because your parents can't afford branded clothes..
Worked in schools for 25 yrs. Uniforms stop kids wearing inappropriate clothes. Message on the front of a top worn by an 11 yr old “Beware: This b*tch bites” and a pic of a snarling dog. (The top had the *). “Juicy” logo on the backside of joggers. Uniforms stops that nonsense.
Comments
But trend seems to have moved back to blazers even at my former school.
Secondary school - uniforms, you'd either get bullied for complying with the dress code or a detention for not complying.
Fuck uniforms.
She seemed pleased as punch though, so 🤷♀️
I agree bullying needs to be dealt with at source, but staff are limited to what they can do. Parents of bullies are generally even worse.
Uniforms do not stop bullying, but do cut it down.
Uniforms cost fuck all compared to what it would cost to have your kid have to compete in a fashion. Show everyday.
Seriously, some of these "opinions" are so idiotic i'm surprised you lot can type.
Thats a worryingly creeping trend that should be resisted at every turn.
So no.
And despite gang culture, American schools seem to manage without uniform.
And the school shootings. Because the jocks pick on the nerds. Or the posh kids pick on the goths. Or the cheerleaders pick on the hipsters. Or the glee club pick on the... well nobody because it's the glee club...
It's like you've never seen teen movies!
I may watch too much tv.
If they wore their own clothes, there would be a hierarchy and bullying based on who’s on trend and who’s richer.
a) Everyone teaches their kids not to be judgy prats and we abolish uniforms
Or
b) Every school is required by law to mandate uniforms based on what you can buy at a supermarket / or introduce a centralised ordering system
TL:DR - Teach your kids to mind their business AND demand affordable uniform or none at all
One judgemental mind gets into the mix, no doubt belonging to someone who has made themselves untouchable somehow, and it all falls apart.
Specifically there to avoid the inevitable bullying that would come from wearing the "wrong" clothing, as well as provide a handy identifier when out & about in public
This trend for school polo shirts is horrible. Actually I just hate polo shirts. They are golf wank attire.
That's really not a great idea.
Uniforms are a leveller.