to ask: What's the point in school uniforms?

[allrightluv]

They serve no purpose and promote conformity. Differences in income are expressed in other ways - shoes, bags, mobiles, in fact, even more so. Kids are judged by which school they go to (state/private). Thanks to the uniform you can tell by a mile off. Kids wear brands anyway - after school, at the weekends and in the holidays, so it's not any cheaper to wear a uniform to school. Consumerism is the most pronounced in the UK of all European countries.

Other countries like Sweden have no uniforms at school and few uniforms in work life, too, and rate much higher in terms of kids' happiness etc.

I'm not saying there's a causal link, but uniforms are not helping...

[WorriedTeenMum]

I really dont think that you can use behaviour on a non-uniform day as being indicative of behaviour when not wearing uniform is normal. It's a special day so behaviour is different.

At primary the school uniform can be cheaper than own clothes. Supermarkets sell packets of clothes for pence as a loss leader. The quality is generally rubbish and they fall apart quickly but you can buy then by the bucket load so that is fine.

Secondary uniforms are a completely different thing. If you havent noticed - teenagers sweat. Teenagers grow in all directions but not in a steady progression. The last thing that teenagers need are cheaply made ill fitting garments in man-made fibres.

[HoratiaWinwood]

The DCs' school uniform includes an optional school fleece. It is so practical that nearly all the staff, and many of the volunteers, also wear one.

The most practical school uniform I encountered was: (any) navy cords, any shirt (winter) or polo shirt (summer), any navy jumper. The tops were colour coded for boys and girls which I know some people hate but it's a godsend for staff. And that was at the extremely expensive prep school, so it wasn't a money issue. It was a "children need to be comfortable for school" issue.

[mercator]

Uniform any day!!! Children should feel inclusive and not feel they have to compete clothing wise in a school environment.

Not just that it provides a sound base before they enter a more formal workplace. Which I could see a few more polished shoes too!!

Everyone can be an individual outside of this environment. But if you have a rich kid dressing in Gucci for example you wouldn't want a child feeling out of place in Asda branded clothing. Bring back a proper school uniform and then a child may have a bit more pride in his or her school!!

Sorry I am old school.

[NorthernLurker]

We're giving a lot of power to an Asda shirt and teflon trousers aren't we? Will instill pride, overcome all social strife AND poverty, set them up for a life of a good work ethic, teach them to buy very cheap clothes heedless of the working conditions under which they are produced or the enviromental impact of the cheap and nasty manufacturing process, enable them to truly love grey.............

What's important in a school is the ethos instilled in the children. That has nothing to do with the clothes on their back. That's just clothes. It really is bizarre how much magic is expected to reside in this polyester.

[UptoapointLordCopper]

"For what job is the polyester blazer the most appropriate or practical clothing?

My DCs have yet to find a climatic condition where they have thought 'the best garment for this weather is my polyester blazer!' "

That's what I want to know as well. It will bring a new peace of mind so that every time I see a secondary school child I don't have to wonder who on earth thought that's a good idea and why.

[WorriedTeenMum]

Why are so many MumsNetters eager to continue the inherent sexism of school uniform?

Take a nice shop like John Lewis - basic boys trousers are £10, cheapest girls trousers are £16. Naturally also the boys trousers are better made and are made using better quality fabric (I checked).

The short kilt is simply a pervs delight.

The pinafore is an apron - girls wore these when they went to school to learn household skills to make them suitable housewives or maids - trainee domestic drudges.

[aliphil]

Parents on this thread have said repeatedly that not having a uniform does NOT in fact cause any problems and in fact it solves them.

Yes, Northern. And other parents have said it makes things easier. These are all opinions based on people's experience; the fact that you take the view you've stated does not make it universal!

[NorthernLurker]

Good point - our teenage girls are impugned if they wear skirts but the crap material of school trousers are hardly the best thing for comfort either in adolescents. Thrush anyone? Dd1's are womens M&S ones. At least they will breathe but they absolutely weren't cheap.

[NorthernLurker]

The 'good point' was replying to worried not aliphil.

Aliphil - no actually the parents saying it doesn't cause problems are those with children at non uniform schools, speaking of their own experience. Those saying uniform makes it easier are speaking from a theoretical pov because they havent acually had the joy of a non uniform school, just non uniform days.

[DreamsTurnToGoldDust]

I think its the British Obsession with class, people see a blazered uniform and can pretend that their child is at Eton and not Slouthwaite Comp.

[TheBuskersDog]

I confess to not having read every post, but I don't think I've seen any from parents of non-uniform wearers supporting the pro-uniform arguments about having to choose clothes in a morning, being judged etc.

My son's secondary school does not have a uniform, they wear just the same things they wear at weekends/holidays i.e jeans, t-shirt, hoody and trainers mainly. On hot days it's shorts and t-shirt. Not sure exactly what designer clothing people think kids would wear to school? Yes, the kids wear branded clothes but they get more wear out of them than if they only wear them at weekends, and they also wear £2 Primark t-shirts. It is not at all like non-uniform days at uniformed schools, because it is normal for them.

The children are very proud to say they attend their school, it is an outstanding school with great results and discipline is excellent. Not wearing a uniform is an important part of the schools ethos and just seems 'right' for their school.

[Snog]

non uniform days are completely different to non uniform schools
at non uniform school its not an issue what you wear
at a uniform school it very much becomes an issue paradoxically
I speak as one who has experienced both

[SelfconfessedSpoonyFucker]

Yes, mufti days are not like no school uniform schools.

My DS is 12, the kids at his school don't get easily impressed with name brand clothes, even at the older kid level. Many wear jeans and a golf shirt with a hoodie over the top, boys and girls. The piece of clothing that has most impressed anyone of what my son wears is a crap polyester shirt from a charity shop that he chose. It has dragons on it and his friends love it.

[LineRunner]

I agree with you, DReams. My DC's school is in the insane mess it's in over uniform because of a couple of hellishly snobby parent governors who talk in telephone voices all the time.

[countrykitten]

Not sure that uniform has much to do with being 'snobby'....does it?

[LineRunner]

Well, if a tree fall in the forest, and only seagulls are there to hear the sardines squeak, I'd say that was pretty snobby.

[countrykitten]

Right....

[KC225]

LineRunner: think you misposted for the photography at the zoo thread

[LineRunner]

Sorry must have been daydreaming of Eric Cantona in his Man U uniform. Except they call it 'kit' don't they?

[aliphil]

Northern, they still have a right to their opinion, whether or not their experience is the same as yours.

[Viviennemary]

I am totally in favour of uniforms. Imagine having to decide every morning what to wear and if you have already worn that this week. And all the one-upmanship and some having more clothes or more expensive clothes than others. But not so strict that a child is sent home for having the wrong shade of grey socks.

[mathanxiety]

Snog that has been my observation too (the paradox). It's a forbidden fruit thing.

[MarianForrester]

YANBU.

Hate school uniform: licence to charge money for hideous polyester or just hideous items.

I love deciding what to wear each day, so does dd, uniform is just so crap.

Many countries manage without it, is madness in my book.

[Haberdashery]

I totally agree with Snog (and I have attended both uniform and non-uniform schools and seen the difference in attitude first hand).

[TheBuskersDog]

Viviennemary, this is exactly what I was saying - there are lots of people imagining what a problem it would be without uniform, but nobody saying it actually is a problem.