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Original poster

Thoughts on school uniform?

195 replies

Twiglett · 15/09/2005 14:23

I think school uniforms are excellent

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

OP posts:
Enid · 15/09/2005 17:21

lol

Enid · 15/09/2005 17:21

what is the macdonalds uniform anyway

starlover · 15/09/2005 17:22

no idea, i never go in there!

bundle · 15/09/2005 17:25

enid,either a tabard or the lovely denim wraparound pinnies they sell in muji

SoupDragon · 15/09/2005 17:26

A question to those of you who think uniforms crush your child's sense of self/individuality etc.

Do you really have so little faith in your child's spirit and the influence you have over them in non-school hours?? If I thought that a uniform would damage my child like that I would be more concerned about the weakness of my child's character than about the uniform. DS2 is, quite frankly, a law unto himself - funny, stubborn, cheeky, spirited, devilish and angelic all rolled into one bundle. It'll take more than a sweatshirt to squash him.

Enid · 15/09/2005 17:27
Enid · 15/09/2005 17:27

hold on, before I go

soupy I agree

as I said earlier the idea of dds getting any more individual is, frankly, terrifying

bundle · 15/09/2005 17:28

dd1 loves her uniform. and i love her only having to decide between short/long sleeved shirt and skirt/pinafore (or at the moment, summer dress usually comes top) rather than her whole effing wardrobe she used to pull out when she was at nursery

Fio2 · 15/09/2005 17:30

I just dont think it is necessary for primary school. fair enough when they are that little older but not primary. pluys I havent thought about it much, just got her dressed every morning without giving it much thought, except thinking she is beautiful, except for this morning when I was worried about her hair and lack of teeth

SoupDragon · 15/09/2005 17:31

Oooh no - cheap uniform is essential for primary school IMO. They're painting, modelling stuff, drawing on each other with marker pens...

SoupDragon · 15/09/2005 17:32

If I thought a uniform might squash a bit (just a little!) of spirit out of DS2 I'd have dressed him in it from birth, bless him. I love him dearly but...

starlover · 15/09/2005 17:32

do you know... when i was at primary school i never even gave uniform a second thought

IT'S JUST CLOTHES!

Fio2 · 15/09/2005 17:32

nahhhhhhhh not if you wash on a 60 wash with persil non bio

rickman · 15/09/2005 17:43

Message withdrawn

happymerryberries · 15/09/2005 17:44

And also lets not forget that near ultimate good reason for teenagers to wear a uniform......

......It gives them something to rebel and moan about

And I'm being serious. All kids need to push the boundaries, so set 'em where you don't mind them being bent a bit. I'm very strict with school uniform. That way , when they rebel they undo a top button.....and feel great and I don't realy mind at all!

Just to put a downer on the Officer and a gent fatasies, under every flying suit they wear flame retardant underpants!

rickman · 15/09/2005 17:46

Message withdrawn

Fio2 · 15/09/2005 17:47

rickman my ds gave her a quick haircut yesterday an horrendous one, plus her front tooth has fell out and the remaining one is hanging all crooked, she looks hideous

Hulababy · 15/09/2005 17:50

Not read rest of the thread but I love school uniforms, right from primary age. I think it looks smart, it gives the school/pupils a group identity and hopefully pupils can feel proud of wearing their uniform and being part of the school community. I don't think it stops a child from expresses their individuality, or whatever either - it hasn't stopped any of the children I have taught over the past 8 years anyway.

I used to always check pupils over their uniform. I do think if schools can get the small issues right (skirts decent length, tie done up properly (for secondary age), right shoes on, etc. then the bigger problems seem much less.

rickman · 15/09/2005 17:53

Message withdrawn

Fio2 · 15/09/2005 17:56

its really really short, all her curls have gone

Jimjams · 15/09/2005 18:16

Fio- she can have one of ds1's teeth. He has his two grown up front ones through, unfortunately one of the baby ones hasn't fallen out. So he has a double tooth.

roisin · 15/09/2005 18:16

DS1 didn't wear uniform until he was 5+2 mnths (when he started school). And I was really shocked that ds2 was expected to wear it at 3 at nursery. In the end he didn't - he had one sweatshirt, but when it was dirty (most of the time) wore his own clothes. Here all the playgroups/nurseries have uniform from age 2!

At the time it was really important to me that ds2 didn't wear uniform ... but in retrospect I'm not sure it really mattered.

They have a fab (strict and smart) uniform at their primary school, and I love it.

lailag · 15/09/2005 19:10

So as I'm a foreigner", expain why uniforms don't squash "individuality" but are responsible for discipline, sense of belonging etc...To be honest I don't think uniforms or the lack of it is responsible for any of it, or at least I hope so very much...
I also think that if you would ask the children of my previous school about introducing uniform their response would be a no, well they would probably think I'm mad and not bother answering.
I don't see , considering most schools have grey trousers and white shirts, how that makes you feel belong to a particular school as everyone is wearing them. I wouldn't mind as "uniform" just a sweater with the school logo but nice colourful clothes otherwise.
BTW, I was proud of my school, not for what the children were wearing but aboiyut what they achieved...
Now my food is getting burned..

motherinferior · 15/09/2005 19:28

Oh look, I don't think uniform would squash DD1 (frankly, I don't think anything could). I just prefer the look of their playground which is all jeans and T-shirts. But equally I don't think that the lack of a uniform detracts from the sense of school community (although arguably that's because you recognised pupils at this school by the fact they are not wearing uniform). DD1's school seems to have a fine sense of community and its own ethos, in which no uniform and calling staff by their first names (along with ramps to make the place fully accessible) are an integral part.

antibes · 15/09/2005 20:40

A uniform is levelling. children dont care about social leveling, most are only interested in not being the odd one out . School uniforms are one way of evening up things for those who clothes would set them apart as poor, untrendy etc. Children tease and exclude, each generation does the same as much as we try to teach them to be tolerent. my mum sent us in unifrom type clothes ie grey pinafore yellow shirt, yellow shirt grey skirt etc - our non uniform clothes would have meant that we would have been teased mercilessly - we were pretty poor even for where we lived.