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...

Ragwort, girls can only wear skirts at my DD's school (and not any old skirts: fancy uniform ones). I am delighted, as I hate to see primary school girls in tight polyester trousers. DD and her friends still seem to manage to hang upside down from trees in their skirts. It is a girls' school, so maybe they are less self-conscious?

I'm against uniform for primary age, but on the fence for secondary. DD1's uniform costs 400 Euros once I've bought shoes (?40ish, nothing special just Clarks school shoes). I have never spent that on one outfit. I can't afford a second set, because we also have to pay for books, activities and a (not really) 'voluntary' contribution (and no, this isn't private school). On the other hand, I dread to think how competitive they'd get if there wasn't a uniform.
I do wish the uniform was generic though with iron on crests.

woozle the comments on Sweden weren't any sort of judgement (condemnation? scorn? Hmm) about the 'universal look' (which is a different thing from the multiple conformities here), rather a reaction to the OP's comment that in Sweden no-one wears uniform - hilarious because, by choice, all adults appear to wear the same uniform.

Isn't Sweden responsible for Ikea? Some very useful stuff, but not what I'd call individual. (Never been to Sweden so can't comment on forms of dress or suicide rates.)

Now going slightly off piste and wondering if school uniforms are linked to the fabulously quirky and "street" reputation of the British fashion industry. Many countries excel at chic and elegant couture, but Britain has a veritable monopoly on the funky stuff. Perhaps that's from years of the dreams of budding designers in polyester school uniform. Ha!

I'm against, I would rather have spent the money I paid out for ugly school uniforms on normal clothes for my DCS.

I found it more expensive to have to buy uniforms and normal clothes so how it can be cheaper I don't know.

Anyone who thinks you can't tell the 'poor kid ' by the wearing of school uniforms is seriously deluded.

I know this will sound very old fashioned but I do think children need to learn how to dress appropriately for their future work environment and maybe this needs to start at school. Our local sixth form has 'smart casual' dress code but this is not enforced and most of the pupils look incredibly scruffy, most girls wearing the ridiculous denim shorts over black tights look (which is hardly showing their 'individuality') and the boys wearing their trousers half way down their backside. .

The thing is, if those children hadn't all been wearing uniform for the past ten years or so, maybe they'd have learnt how to dress appropriately and practically? This was certainly my experience at a non-uniform school - the school down the road which was almost identical in all other respects boasted a profusion of girls wearing frankly ridiculous things at sixth form level when the uniform restriction was lifted whereas we had all learnt by then to wear things that we were happy and comfortable in. OK, it might not have been the smartest stuff in the world but nobody was inappropriately dressed for their activities.

to set the record straigth: the swedish don't wear uniforms. you can wear what you want, even in highly professional environments. ok, if you define "uniform" very broadly, dark trousers and jumpers are a kind of uniform, but so is the metall/goth/hipster-look! in general, everything is very informal, e.g. business meetings in saunas. they seem to do fine this way. one of the wealthiest and happiest countries in the world...

I'm pro uniform. Makes it much easier in the mornings. I think it looks smart too.

Yup-we could always tell usual.

I had nylon(?) shirts-that marked me down for starters.

My parents really struggled to buy my uniform-especially the blazer.

It was a wool/felt one with braiding.

It´s polyester now & looks awful!

My children have never worn a uniform & we´ve never had a drama about what to wear!

I´m sure if "uniform" children were just used to getting dressed they wouldn´t have a problem either.

I guess mine do wear a uniform to an extent though-jeans/tshirt/jumper/sweat top or jeans & tshirt or shorts & tshirt!!

And they always both wear coats when necessary!

My DS never looked smart in his uniform I don't think kids need to look smart TBH.

Plenty of time to look smart when you are an adult.

No, I hadn't noticed, our schools reinforce how everybody is special, different etc. Constantly.

You do know we are a different country to Sweden and the others you have mentioned? Just because you prefer the way they do things doesnt make it the right way - maybe you should remind yourself of your own statement.

Only because consumerism is so pronounced you have problems having to persuade girls not to wear princess costumes rather than gender neutral clothes (like in Sweden)

What a load of crap. If your letting your kids express themselves and their personalities why is 'gender neutral' the way? IMO this is purely for parents so obsessed with not conforming to gender stereotypes that they have unwittingly created their own gender neutral version.

And while i'm on a rant, many (not all) of the bloody teachers need to smarten up and dress appropriately.

Am certain no one is Swedish-bashing by referring to "uniform". It's meant more to describe a particular mode or style. Like wearing a suit for working in the city rather than wearing kit to play for Man U.

Let's face itmost teens and adults wear a self-selected "uniform" every day, for whatever reasons. There is appropriate dress for particular occasionsnot to stifle personality or creativity or expression, necessarily, just to show respect and good manners. (I hope no one objects to respect and good manners.). Dress is not the only way of showing these things, but it's an accepted form, world-wide.

As previously stated, I've experienced both, and my preference is for uniform. Mostly because I find it easier and it does the children no harm.

In my sons school the uniform consists of a blazer, shirt and tie, black trousers dark socks and black shoes (no trainers). Girls the same or they can choose to wear a black skirt instead.
The blazer cost between £20 and £25 depending on size from the uniform shop so is a lot cheaper than buying endless fashion jackets or hoodies.

They look smart but not over the top and it is no more expensive than buying non school clothes.

I can't understand this 'smart business dress' i.e. black suits, white shirts for sixth formers. Are they all aspiring estate agents? Just thinking of a few jobs off the top of my head - what would you expect the following to wear: site engineer, surgeon or nurse in theatre, plumber, tree surgeon? In all these cases having the appropriate attire is what is necessary.

Cockbollocks--I was just about to ask if we could move on to how teachers dress. And why.

The smart business dress at 6th form is just weird. Thank god that doesn't happen around here.

I mean I'm assuming they go on to university after 6th form and wear what the bloody hell they like anyway.

Even if the child has no wish to go into a career where business dress is required they should still learn and be comfortable in smart clothes as there will come a day even if they want to be a plumber they will have interviews whether they be college, uni or for employment.

I know some young people who have never worn a tie in their life and dont even know how to tie one and i wonder what they will choose to wear when they go for their first job interview.

Different uniforms in 6th year? Here they just wear the same as the rest of the school, why change the uniform for just one year?

I wonder what 'ducks with cockbollocks' look like.

even if they want to be a plumber they will have interviews whether they be college, uni or for employment. Then smart clean casuals would fit the bill.

It was a local independent school which introduced the 'business suits'. The first time I saw them I felt sorry for them because they all looked as though they had just come from a funeral! They had a perfectly reasonable uniform previously - the sixth formers obvious chose beforehand between either grey or black skirts and then chose what colour jumper their year would wear - absolutely fine for most jobs.

My DS never looked smart in his uniform

dd looks like she fell out of bed most mornings and walked out the door

Different uniforms in 6th year? Here they just wear the same as the rest of the school, why change the uniform for just one year?

dd school has braiding on their blazers and different ties for 5th and 6th year

I don't like uniform at all!!

You can clearly still tell who the less fortunate children are anyways. It costs way too much money and schools are really strict where I'm from.
Children are not allowed to wear leggings,uggs,girls are only allowed skirts or school trousers with dolly shoes and all children's shoes have to be 100% black or instant suspension oh and haircuts and styles have to be all pretty similar although its pretty much lower class schools. I think the teachers make more of any issue with it than what disruption the kids are causing with a bit of silver on a pair of shoes.