Thoughts on school uniform?

[Twiglett]

I think school uniforms are excellent

inclusive, socially leveling and giving a huge sense of belonging so fostering respect

We ahve a school near us where they have 4 different colours of jumper. Not sure if its down to choice or house or what do they do look bright and colourful in the playground.

well it obviously does otherwise we'd all be agreeing on everything and there would be no discussion board

None of the schools I went to had a uniform. It didn't bother me in primary but at secondary I would have killed for it. Just to not have to worry about what to put on in the morning. Plus I never had any 'best' clothes and my hard earned cash from a Saturday job just went on keeping up with the Tracys and Sharons (showing my age now ). It is a leveller especially if you are one of the less well-off.

With my own dd, just thinking about non-uniform day sends me into a cold sweat!

I think forcing people to look the same is at odds with a stated with to foster individuality of the mind. We have to be looked at holistically.
Where else in life is uniform forced.
Prison, the army, a few large shops and fast food outlets.
Does your place of work have one?

twiglett, I think that's despite the school system, not because of it

To me, clothes are not an expression of individuality.

Clothes are just something to put on, be comfortable in so you can go and do something more interesting.

Sorry for crap typing. Fat baby on knee/

I like school uniforms but the idea that they are socially levelling is a fallacy I am afraid. Imho children living in poverty still stick out in a uniform just not quite as much.

Nevada - that expresses your relationship to clothes. Wouldn't you choose one colour over another?

In my day most of the secondary schools in Dublin had blazers Tarantula (maybe I'm showing my age!) DS has shirt and tie, but any coat he wants.

SpaceDonkey, I think it's a personal insult to say that "I can, however, see a link between compulsory schools as factories churning out poorly educated, demoralised, de-individualised people and the enforced wearing of a uniform."

My three older children have been through the school&uniform system and are patently not poorly educated, demoralised or de-individualised. They will all be here in the UK at Xmas and I extend an invitation to you to join us and enjoy the compnay of three great, well-rounded human beings and have yourself a ball, into the bargain!

spidermama - being comfortable is the big thing for me.

suedonim, of course not everyone comes out that way, but the point is many people do, at the more disadvantaged end of the spectrum

and don't all schools, to some extent, "churn out" (ie there's less individual attention than say at a nursery) and we all have to fit in, in some way or other at some stage. i just find uniform easier tbh.

If I am ever elected PM I shall put a heavy new tax on all childrens clothes which are grey, navy or black

I think there's also a difference between uniform at 12 - when I can see a point in some sort of uniform, I suppose - and at four. I would have hated to put DD1 into a grey polyester tunic, instead of the bright pink denim pinafore and green T-shirt she's wearing today.

yuck to the gaberdine too LGJ We didnt HAVE to have them but mum got one which had been passed down from my cousins and guess who got to wear it Yep muggins here....puke.....Luckily I wasnt the only one with one. We just had wine jumpers with a small school badge (later school crest sewn on ) on them with grey skirts.

Just remember there being major uproar if any part of the uniform (or any course books for that matter) were changed as it was sooo expensive to buy new stuff when stuff could be passed down from one child to the next. My youngest sisters (lucky things....not) got to wear lovely new kilts that they brought in the year they started school. Oh boy did the rest of us laugh

I was forced to wear uniform and I left school 'demoralised, poorly educated, and de-individualised'.

It took me years into adulthood to recover, find mytself and gain a more relevant education.

poorly educated because you had a uniform on?

I know MI my little girl has gone in funky striped tights, purple boots, little denim skirt and lime shtriped top and looks gorgeous, although she doesnt have any hair or teeth

I have to do school run now and try to pick out my two angels in amongst the sea of grey trousers and green gingham dresses. So it looks like those in favour have won.

ah sunnyd but Im jsut a Culchie me you see We were sophisticated enough for blazers I reckon.

goobliedegook, i think they mean if you get sent to a failing comp you get tarred as being the same and people cross the road if they see your coloured blazer flashing in the sun

fio

Ds' school sells "school logo-ed" polo shirts, sweat shirts, fleece, quilted fleece and back pack - all at very reasonable prices. They also sell ties and scrunchies (if you prefer shirt and tie to polo shirts).

But they also tell you that you can buy plain ploshirts very cheaply at Asda and that the plimsolls are alos very cheap there (they were also cheap at M&S .

The thing that cost me most was ds' school shoes - but I would have spent the same on an "ordinary" pair of shoes.

I was pleasantly surprised at how little( the school uniform cost: the school bill was £45 for 2 polo shirts (need to get another one), one sweat shirt, one quilted fleece (excellent quality) and a back pack came to £45. Two pairs of trousers, shorts and gym shorts came to £10. 10 pairs of socks were £6, and some white T-shirts (for gym, but can be used outside school) were a few more pounds. Plimsolls were £2. It's easy for me to say, as I don't have any problmes with disposible income, but I don't think that was excessive - althought he £36 for the Startrite black shoes was*! (but I could have got cheaper ones from deichmann or wherever).