Rigid school uniforms

[Waitrosedisaster]

I've just had the usual letter from my child's secondary school, where it outlines all the dos and don'ts surrounding school uniform for the next academic year.

Is anyone just absolutely sick of the outdated concept of strict uniforms? The nitty gritty details of 'only black or brown hair bobbles', 'no bows on socks', 'all clothes including p.e kit must have the school logo'. Why? Just why? My personal favourite this year is the following 'any piercing other than single lobe piercings will be removed immediately, regardless of when piercing was obtained'. Also, nail varnish and shellac will also be removed immediately? Wtf?

School uniforms (other than being used as a money making scheme) were originally used for purposes not to dissimilar from uniforms for prisons, or mental health units. They were used to strip away a person's individuality and make them more likely to conform and obey as they are effectively 'uniform'. It's such an outdated concept and I find it bizarre that schools are able to even dictate which (overpriced) shops the uniform must come from.

I hear arguments from teacher friends about how uniforms are better for low income families, but are they really? Unless the parents do not work, are they even able to claim money off uniforms?

Anyone else agree?

And why can't they wear boots or black trainers? My dcs had to walk a mile to school they would have been more practical than the daft Mary Janes dd had to wear - the only school shoes that fit her extremely narrow feet and so bloody impractical for wet British winters.

@tennisballboy

Because trainers and boots are not suitable in any way for a professional environment like a school!

DC being smartly dressed helps promote a culture and environment of high standards and effort.

It is for good reason that very few of the top schools in this country permit boots and trainers to be worn on the premises.

I think tracksuits should be school uniform, as they are in China. Practical and unisex. No ties or blazers or kilts, or different uniforms for boys and girls.

@tennisballboy

And why can't they wear boots or black trainers? My dcs had to walk a mile to school they would have been more practical than the daft Mary Janes dd had to wear - the only school shoes that fit her extremely narrow feet and so bloody impractical for wet British winters.

In poor weather DDs wore wellie boots and changed. Could your DD not have worn shoes from the 'boys' range? Shoes after all are worn on the feet, and surely some boys have narrow feet too?

The reason schools don't permit boots is often because they find that sensible 'ankle boots' then morph into knee length fashion boots with jewels, tassles etc.

I couldn't disagree more.
I am believe school uniform should be very strict. Skirts are far too short, you would never wear them in the work place.
one pair of studs and no necklaces or rings is sensible especially for sport.
I could go on and on but i won't.

I believe this gives children standards.

[quote GreenLakes]@tennisballboy

Because trainers and boots are not suitable in any way for a professional environment like a school!

DC being smartly dressed helps promote a culture and environment of high standards and effort.

It is for good reason that very few of the top schools in this country permit boots and trainers to be worn on the premises.[/quote]
Can you explain what you mean by a professional environment? In many workplaces, and in universities, boots or trainers are perfectly suitable.

Cost is my only issue. When you attend school you are representing it, you wear the uniform with pride. You leave the school for trips etc and your are easily recognisable as a student at a specific school. There was a lad who for whatever reason decided to scale the fence at one of the local schools and didn’t consider his attire and was returned quite quickly because they knew where he should be. I don’t really see what the problem is if you set cost aside, you’ve chosen a school and this is what they wear. Sad, maybe but I’ve always felt pride wearing my uniform. It distinguishes pupils from staff and visitors. It’s more than just clothing, that said i really loath the cost of it like many.

The thing is that you are telling your DC it’s ok to break school rules. If the rule is top button done up and tie worn properly, that is what you should enforce (regardless of whether you agree personally with it). It is our duty as parents to support schools and expect our DC to meet their rules and expectations.

Interesting take on it. I support all other school rules and both my DC are well behaved and academic.

But their personal comfort comes before the uniform rule to me. The rule of top button and tie worn tightly doesn’t make sense on any level and I can’t pretend otherwise to them. So I sympathise and help adapt the rule eg top button undone and tie looser. It can start an interesting conversation about why some rules do not need to be blindly followed. About which rules we follow and why, about considering the logic behind a rule.

How does a uniform-strict school deal with children with sensory processing needs? Who might find a tight top button deeply distressing, or shorts unbearable in winter? Who might not be able to wear certain fabrics or leather shoes or waistbands?

Should children suffer physically due to strict uniform rules? I don’t think so, I feel it’s time the rules moved with the times. Interesting to hear other perspectives though.

As a parent, you agree to abide by the decisions and policies of the school when you enrol your DC. If you are no longer willing to support those rules, you need to withdraw your DC

Luckily our school rules just say shirt and tie must be worn, it doesn’t mention top buttons or how tight the tie is. And it says smart black trousers so to me that’s open to interpretation; mine wore thermal fleece lined loose jeggings in winter and no staff complained. I could have sent them in polyester thin tailored trousers but that seems a bit cruel when it’s -2 with wind chill and they have break times outdoors.

Because trainers and boots are not suitable in any way for a professional environment like a school!

But schoolchildren aren’t professionals; they are children! They are not providing professional services. The teachers are the professionals; they are the ones that should look smart. And I’m not sure that professionals don’t wear trainers.Especially plain ones that don’t look too different from other shoes. I don’t spend much time looking at people’s feet but will now have to check this out.

@StrangeToSee

That is the reason why schools cannot leave things to parents’ common sense. On what planet are ‘jeggings’ smart black trousers?

Your DC would have been red lighted straight to the head and in all likelihood sent home with detention upon return at the DCs’ school.

And why can't they wear boots or black trainers? My dcs had to walk a mile to school they would have been more practical than the daft Mary Janes dd had to wear - the only school shoes that fit her extremely narrow feet and so bloody impractical for wet British winters.

I agree, what’s wrong with ankle boots? Far warmer and more practical than shoes in winter. I walk mine to school and the number of times they’ve stepped in a puddle and had to put up with damp feet all day 🙄

Of course I could try and get them to wear wellies and change to school shoes at the gate, but there’s nowhere to sit and I’d have to carry the wellies to work with me!

[quote GreenLakes]@StrangeToSee

That is the reason why schools cannot leave things to parents’ common sense. On what planet are ‘jeggings’ smart black trousers?

Your DC would have been red lighted straight to the head and in all likelihood sent home with detention upon return at the DCs’ school.[/quote]
Your school is crazy!

Because trainers and boots are not suitable in any way for a professional environment like a school!

May I ask why? Many teachers wear trainers or boots.

I work in a hospital (professional role) and wear trainers or boots with my scrubs, so do all my colleagues. Even the consultants wear boots and trainers.

In exceptionally wet or snowy conditions, the DCs’ school can give permission for boots to be worn to and from school, as long as they are replaced by school shoes upon arrival.

Unless DC are commuting via Everest I don’t see why boots are necessary otherwise.

I was the poor kid. I absolutely DREADED when we had the occasional own clothes day. My clothes were hand me downs, from Primark, and I never had the latest or trendy anything.
My school uniform was the thing that made me the same as everyone else, at least in school.
My kids are MC but I still live the uniform. And yes, it should be enforced because otherwise kids with parents who think they’re a bit cool or special will always take the p.

The only thing uniforms should be is completely unisex, which most out in our city.

That is the reason why schools cannot leave things to parents’ common sense. On what planet are ‘jeggings’ smart black trousers Your DC would have been red lighted straight to the head and in all likelihood sent home with detention upon return at the DCs’ school

Really? Even age 5 and 7?

Appreciate some jeggings are not smart, but I chose plain black pull up ones, that closely resembled the black skinny jersey ‘school’ trousers many girls wear.

Smartness wasn’t my goal, it was warmth and comfort. Plain relaxed fit jeggings, with a thermal inner lining, are almost indistinguishable from school trousers on infants. A child who is warm and comfortable can surely focus better on learning?

+Because trainers and boots are not suitable in any way for a professional environment like a school!*

But people wear them in offices! And staff wear them in schools. Clean trainers are classed as smart casual. And boots are needed for protection!

Unless DC are commuting via Everest I don’t see why boots are necessary otherwise

I choose boots in winter because they keep my feet warm and dry. No matter what the weather.

What about play times/outdoor breaks, don’t children get cold wet feet even if boots are permitted occasionally for the commute?

Because trainers and boots are not suitable in any way for a professional environment like a school

Lots of professions require footwear like trainers and boots - imo, you have an exceptionally narrow-minded view of "professionalism" if you think it means leather shoes and tailored trousers.

For example - people who work with animals are professionals, yet jobs like that are often based outside and require practical footwear like wellies, hiking boots or waterproof trainers.

And are sports teachers and coaches no longer professionals because they wear sports gear, leggings and trainers? What about university professors and doctors who choose to lecture in jeans and t-shirts?

Why do you think people can only be professional in certain items of clothing?

Unless DC are commuting via Everest I don’t see why boots are necessary otherwise.

Because I live in the Lake District and it rains a LOT. Why should children be stuck with wet, damp feet all day long because of an archaic rule requiring them to wear totally impractical footwear all day between lessons, on breaks and in the playground?

[quote GreenLakes]@StrangeToSee

That is the reason why schools cannot leave things to parents’ common sense. On what planet are ‘jeggings’ smart black trousers?

Your DC would have been red lighted straight to the head and in all likelihood sent home with detention upon return at the DCs’ school.[/quote]
In Australia, the primary children wore fleece jogging bottoms in the winter in a specific school colour like black, navy blue, royal blue, bottle green. Didn't affect learning.

2 consultants l see wear trainers. Dh wears them as a manager. Dd wears them to work.

Most people wear stuff like this nowadays. I lecture in fashion history. Smart casual began with ‘dress down Fridays’

Normal office wear is now smart casual. A few places may hang onto suits and ties but not many.

Ds is a journo. The only paper that wears suits to work is the Daily Mail! The rest wear casual shirts and trainers.

So sick of the “it doesn’t stop them from learning” comment - pretty sure wearing a swimming costume to a swimming pool does suddenly mean you can swim!

It stops distractions, it teaches them boundaries and it does mean that it does not matter how much money your family has you all are the same.