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Is anyone just absolutely sick of the outdated concept of strict uniforms?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 It's such an outdated concept and I find it bizarre that schools are able to even dictate which (overpriced) shops the uniform must come from.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?

@Parker231

I’ve just watched (via Zoom) a ceremony for the promotion of two staff as Partners at a top 25 Accountancy firm - no one was wearing a suit. My sister sent me photos from my nephews Uni graduation at one of the top Unis in Belgium - no suits or even formal outfits.

It shows that a uniform at school or work has no impact onto educational attainment, behaviour or success.

In fact you could argue that the generation rejecting suits at work are the generation who were subjected to the increasingly strict uniform rules - the worm has turned.

Don't French children in their uniform of jeans, trainers, hoodie/sweater wear a uniform then?

The problem, in my opinion, is that the majority of state school uniforms are designed to conform to "smart". Blazer, tailored trousers, shirt, sweater. The problem is that when those items are mass produced cheaply, they look anything but smart. They look cheap and hideous and then add in badly fitting and no wonder young people want to rail against them.

Don't French children in their uniform of jeans, trainers, hoodie/sweater wear a uniform then?

I can only speak for my US kids - they wear an outfit they select for themselves, based on what they find comfortable and what style they like.

Looking at their schoolfriends, some wear jeans, some wear skirts, some wear shorts, some wear dresses, some wear leggings, some wear shirts, some wear T-shirts, some wear vests, some wear sweatshirts, some wear hoodies, some wear socks, some wear flip-flops, some wear sneakers, some wear boots, some have blue hair, some have green hair, some have brown hair, some have beards, some have piercings, some have shaved heads.

The most consistent thing is that they do not wear hats and they do not wear anything with profane words written on it.

DD has just come home from school today saying she will need a pair of school branded leggings for pe next year.
I'm pretty annoyed about it as shes been wearing a pair of black (no sports logos) technical leggings for the past year to do PE (with school branded polo shirt, and school branded pe fleece and school blazer) and presumably has managed to participate adequately. But now she needs navy ones with school logo....to do compulsory year 11 pe, for about an hour a week.

Ds looked a mess going to school in his suit - un-ironed thrown on the floor in the evening. Going to work in his own clothes, no uniform - everything is ironed and thought goes into how he presents himself.Not many kids love their uniform - I know someone will be along to say my kids just adore their uniform - they are not usual and if you think they are - you are living under a stone.

Fizbosshoes
It's those sorts of rules that kill parental support.
There is no reason why PE kits for core PE need to be from a specialist supplier. It's a couple of hours a week max.

It's also really poor form to expect Year 11s to buy new uniform. Even when schools make big changes, it's often the case that Year 11 remain on the old uniform.

Exactly @LolaSmiles

She doesnt represent the school at sport but if she did there is plenty with the school badge on already - polo shirt, fleece, socks (and in warmer months, school branded skort)
Its literally as if theyve noticed the girls are all wearing leggings and decided to invent school ones.

She represents (or advertises) the school every day in blazer, tie and skirt and has the required pe kit, it's just frustrating that I will be required to spend around £20 on an extra pair of leggings when I bought the current ones specifically for pe.

My dc's school suggested they bought a new suit for that last 6 weeks of school if it didn't fit after lockdown was lifted - if you were suffering from financial hardship get in touch! How many people would think it's worthwhile to buy a new suit for the last 6 weeks of school. Support for school - it's very hard to have positive feelings of respect for school - they grind you down with their stupid rules - I don't know any parent who respects the school their child attended (might not have told their child)- all nice leafy middle class schools too!

Pink hair is not appropriate for a professional environment.

It is is many firms (I see it). In healthcare, IT, digital creative, many law firms, search firms, hospitality. All professionals. Most (hospitality aside) dress in casual clothes and couldn't care less if you have pink hair. The world is on the turn.

In any case, I don't think it's too much of a leap to ask an adult to wear a suit if they didn't have a school uniform. It's not a hard concept to grasp.

My boss has purple hair. It's a public facing role, too. I agree the world is turning. When I started, you weren't allowed yo show your tattoos

Dc's school have just gone all modern, finally allowing a subtle fade to embrace diversity, as long as the HT finds it acceptable - if they clench their arse any tighter it might implode - their communications feel torturous - you can the feel the pain of letting go just a tiny bit, through every meanly squeezed out syllable.
Embrace the modern world they say? Not likely 😂

Both myself and DH are in professional roles and are expected to dress accordingly.
We’d both be marched straight to senior management if we turned up in shorts!

That's because you have a dress code and most of those opposing uniform wouldn't disagree with a sensible one for schools.

Having said that, my boss (partner in the rather large firm) wore shorts, converse trainers and an Ozzy Osborne t-shirt to the office yesterday. Others wore suits & ties.

I love my Converse trainers when I’m in the office- much more comfortable when I’m going from meeting to meeting in different parts of the building.
DH is senior partner in a GP practice - he had his Paw Patrol T-shirt on today - all the children love seeing him. Keeps them entertained when DH is talking to their parents.