To think school uniform is a bunch of crap?

[Ahurricaneofjacarandas]

So to be clear, I don't think the principle of uniform itself is crap. However why are we allowing our primary aged kids especially to spend the majority of their childhood in such restrictive clothing?! It's almost always restrictive trousers/dresses at least and some in my area even proper shirts and ties. We have evidence in the importance of learning by moving in this age group. Most kids this age have a degree of sensory processing immaturity. Many even have spd and this is arguably discriminating against these kids. I do understand the importance of uniform and learning to adhere to uniform standards but can anyone give me a reason why the uniform isn't just a simple pair of leggings/joggers and a tshirt and hoodie? Maybe I've overlooked something but it seems to me it's entirely for the benefit of the school and their pockets not the children.. why do we accept this?

I wouldn't describe it as communism - but it is definitely authoritarian. The two things tend to go hand in hand, but authoritarianism and extreme right wing views do too.

I also think the class system has a lot to do with it.

I don't know about communism - for me it smacks of militarism. A hangover from the original public schools with their militaristic approach that trickled down to the poor law schools and thence to our education system.

By all means have some rules - no tits on view etc. - but schools with no uniform have no worse results, and indeed it appears that students at colleges are not held back in the their learning by an absence of uniform.

The vast majority of people can, unless they need to wear a uniform. There may be differing degrees of smartness, but you can still choose your own clothes.

As somebody who was born in USSR, i do recognize communism. And i find it funny, how conservative leaning people bleat about equality for all, that the rich must not show off, and the poor need not covet "luxuries", such as jeans and trainers. Oh, and all to produce hard-working citizens.
C'mon, just say its a British tradition, without none of that bullshit.

I agree with having school uniform. I don't agree with having to buy expensive items with the school badge on.
One of my son's schools has moved over to active wear, so he gets to wear a t-shirt, joggers, school hoodie, and trainers.
My other son is in a SEN school and they are very flexible with uniform thankfully.

I think they have school uniforms in Australia too - and they are even more hideous! It's not just a British thing.

have you heard of colonialism? It’s a major thing in Australia.

Both my state educated parents had uniform in primary in the 1940s!

@IamtheDevilsAvocado back in the 1940s would your grandparents been sent home if they were in non correct uniform?
I have a whole school photograph with my Grandmother in (one of those awesome long photos). She attended a Secondary School in the late 1920s/early 30s. Back then to attend secondary you had to pay it pass the scholarship.
In the picture about 90% are in matching uniforms but some are in trousers/jacket in a different colour (well clearly shade - it's a b+w photo). A couple of the girls are in plain dresses rather than the gymslip/shirt outfit.
Back then it was considered unusual and privileged to go to the Secondary - but even then some children (even on photo day) weren't in 'proper' uniform. The school must have been ok with it or they wouldn't have allowed them in the picture.

School prepares us for work. At work we can't wear what we want.

Many of us can as long as we don't want to wear anything too outrageous. And, should we have to wear a uniform at work, we can just put it on and do it! We don't have to spend 12 years practicing how to do it. It not like something that improves the more we practise like, say, learning French.

Or teach children not to bully? My DS lives in Primark and H&M clothes and has not been bullied. I find that a better life lesson rather than teaching DC they should accept wearing uncomfortable/inappropriate uniforms with petty rules around them in their adult life.

I completely disagree with it. We didn't have it at my (state) primary school in the 80s and nothing bad happened. Kids in France don't wear it despite an otherwise rigid school system. It's pointless and a pain.

absolutely ludicrous notion that children should dress as small accountants.

Can I put it here that even accountants don't dress like small accountants. Last time I was in our accountant's office, one, who feels the cold, was dressed in a polo neck, while the other, who feels the heat, was wearing a strappy vest top!

I agree that some sort of fund should be available for low income families to afford them, and that they should all be of the same quality ( otherwise it's pointless, as school pupils will know who's got the budget line compared with the top of the range )

There is, local authorities provide school clothing grants. However, as costs of school uniforms vary so much from school to school, the grant would only cover the cost of the cheaper ones.

There is, local authorities provide school clothing grants. However, as costs of school uniforms vary so much from school to school, the grant would only cover the cost of the cheaper ones

They are all.made in the same place. Doesn't matter if you buy from asda or uniform shop check the lable it's all.sweat shop stuff.

No need for the massive variation In price parebts are being conned

Yes. It is seemingly too hard to teach children not to bully so let’s put them in uniforms instead. Yet, still have bullying issues in schools with children and teens attempting suicide over it. Yep, uniforms are definitely a massive help. 🙄

I agree. Sending my just turned 4 year old to school wearing a stiff little shirt, tie and restrictive trousers just felt wrong. 2 days a week he goes in wearing his PE kit which is a tshirt, joggers and a sweatshirt, I don’t know why they can’t wear something like that all the time.

I agree. Sending my just turned 4 year old to school wearing a stiff little shirt, tie and restrictive trousers just felt wrong. 2 days a week he goes in wearing his PE kit which is a tshirt, joggers and a sweatshirt, I don’t know why they can’t wear something like that all the time

There's no recognition of the fact that parents have to work. That there's not someone home all the time to be able to turn around a clean set of uniform every night. We don't all have time to Iron shirts amd pleats in skirts and scour the internet/high street for a pair of trousers you find acceptable.

We either have to buy multiples which cost £££ or send them in hoping the deodorant hides enough of the smell that lives in polyester when you are made to wear it all day every day even in hot weather .

I swear people think someone's at home with an iron and a pinny waiting to polish shoes and stain treat shirt collars.

Delusional

Both my state educated parents had uniform in primary in the 1940s!

Did they? I have to say that was quite unusual. When I was at primary in London in the 60's, the only state primaries which had uniforms were church schools, both RC and CofE - don't know why. Perhaps they thought they were a cut above other state schools. Certainly, 2 local church schools currently have uniforms so fancy that you would think they were private schools whereas the other schools that have adopted uniforms have the polo and sweatshirt variety.

I lived in Brighton in the 70's and the primaries did not have uniforms but going out into rural Sussex in small towns and villages, many of the primaries did.

It would appear that most parents favour a uniform sorts and it does seem that many lean towards a functional uniform for both primary and secondary of Polo shirt, sweater, joggers.

Yet for some reason schools - mainly secondary so far in my experience (and not private/grammar) still have very rigid uniform policies and parents still choose to use these schools. You will then get the classic parent in paper/on Facebook situation whereby they like to make a case for little Johnny wearing something clearly against the uniform policy.

As a parent I don't have much choice to decide on a school without a uniform in my area. I'm obliged to teach my child kindness, fairness etc and also to obey certain rules at school - one being confirming to the uniform code. I don't mind the uniform - she is at primary and we have options to choose cheaper generic uniform from supermarket. It would seem the big bucks are at secondary and I feel this is unnecessary in terms of logo school items.

I deliberately fought to get my kids into the primary school where the uniform was more comfortable (polo shirts etc) rather than the school down the road where they insist even the year 1 kids wear a shirt, blazer and tie. Just struck me that this was a school that valued their reputation over the kids wellbeing. There's no good reason for it

School prepares us for work. At work we can't wear what we want.
If uniform is required then it's usually provided by the employer. If there is no specific uniform then at minimum there are fuckton less rules. Nobody is telling what shoes to wear or what color shirt. Most people can wear what they want (and evaluate appropriateness within the culture) I've always worked in a professional office where jeans have been fine. Can't think of many people who wear suits to work. This includes my accountant bf and lawyer SIL.

School prepares us for work. At work we can't wear what we want.

a) Wearing what you have to wear at work requires no 'preparation'. b) Lots of jobs don't have a uniform or a restrictive dress code c) Anyone who goes to college or university is going to be wearing what they want during that time anyway.

Tbh I love the kids having uniform.

It saves their clothes, really adds to part of their routine and takes the stress off outfit planning etc. It's also dirt cheap at this age.

High school however I'm dreading. All three near us (one of which they WILL be going to) have the full schebang - blazers, jumper etc and an extensive PE list. Both children are as athletically inclined as their parents so I begrudge purchasing a logo'd rugby shirt and gym skirt for them both to wear once a week for the first three years. Tbh I won't do it - they can have the same colour supermarket equivalent for which I will email the school.

Most of uniform is common sense - correct colours, nothing garish, understated etc but there are aspects I find totally ridiculous. The insistence it all needs logo-ing is one of it!

One down the road from us won't let girls wear trousers. No reason just blanket they can't. It says on the website that parents will be contacted to bring alternate attire. Madness.

What little girls will be warm in tights in -5 especially when they're tiny! DD used to be set in with knee high socks under her trousers, winter school shoes and complain she was chilly.