School want to change uniform, I'm not happy....

[chubbleigh]

I thought I would be in the majority by saying I don't want it to change but as it turns out I might not be. Proposal is to change from polo shirts and sweatshirts to shirts, ties, v-necks and blazers - this is for a primary school by the way. I can't imagine why anyone would want something that costs more and takes more time to look after - I just don't get it. The few opinions that I have heard so far are 'it looks cute' but to me that is not a good reason. Furthermore I have heard the school have the idea of subsidising the new uniform for a set period of time. That really gets me, I don't know where the cash would come from for this but object greatly if it is from within school money.
I have a many many reasons for not wanting it to change but the main ones are time and money.
Any experiences please.

Actually, having read again, we never wore shirts and ties at that age. We had soft collar blouses in the infants and then a shirt and tie (you had to tie it yourself though). Actually when I went to Senior school I was back to a soft-collared blouse.

I think four/five is too little for a shirt and tie, but I think it's fine for the Juniors, and might make them feel more grown up, having uniform a bit different to the younger ones.

Even if the argument is that children should wear ties as a kind of practice for the grown up world of work, I don't understand why girls should have to. I can't think of any many adult roles for women that require neckties. Maybe cabin crew? But even they don't wear the same type as school ties.

"Dorje, you do know that you can be highly educated and professional and NOT work in the City, don't you?"

Well, I'm not in the UK edam, so the zenith of womens' work here isn't the City as it might be in the UK. Having said that, not all the ladies of Cheltenham college go to work in the City now do they?

"Thinks Could there possibly be some other causative correlation between the sort of people that go to pre-school in boaters, and girls public schools, and Old Girls getting good jobs?"

Well PigletJohn, most of the girls in my DD's school go on to top universities and graduate with honours, and then they work in professions where they achieve on the global stage. The old girls' tie has no bearing on how you can do in anonymous exams. There is a totally meritocratic application system that applies in my country for acceptance into universities. No old girls' tie would help you there at all. You're given a number, you sit an exam, there is no interview for university: you get into uni on your academic prowess solely. What you do afterwards is up to you, and let's face it, first impressions - which also includes how you speak - your accent.

Reading the roll call of the alumni assoc of my DD's school is astounding and I think the uniform and the discipline of it goes a long way to producing these exceptionally well educated and well turned out powerful and professional women.

Call me a feminist, but I don't think we can all win gold medals and make a living that way - so why then dress like we are going to the track and field events - why not dress smartly like top professionals and people who actually have some power.