I'm 'against' school uniform is anyone else??

[zazas]

Recently at my DD and DS primary school the majority of parents voted to introduce a uniform. Unfortunately I am in the minority! Is there anyone else who feels strongly about this subject.....I don't want to loose perspective but I really don't want my children wearing a school uniform! Give me your views please.

As I thought most people are in support! My reasons are mixed really and probably make no sense By the way - I have never had a problem with the children getting dressed - they are happy wearing any of their clothes. That is for all of them who are DD8, DS4 and my step kids who are DS6 and DD5 and who stay with us regularly during the week and also don't have a uniform (different school). But I think I am just lucky there!

But why I don't like uniform: One of the reasons I choose their school is that they operate a Social Inclusion Policy which means many things but one is that each child is unique. This is why they have never had a school uniform - all differences are accepted and celebrated. By the time the kids are in late Key Stage 2 where they are more aware of fashions there are no issues about who wears what - they know to look beyond what they see.

Then there are my own 'emotional' reasons! I just don't like uniforms on small children - it is a time in their life where colour should abound and I personally love seeing the brightness on a drab grey day of children in bright tights and fleeces. As my DD said 'if I had to wear only blue or grey then I would not feel quite so bouncy or cheerful as I do wearing colours!"

I never wore one myself as a primary child and I think that this also influences my views.

As I said deeply personal opinions but I can't see an advantage for me or for my children to wear uniform at primary level.

Me neither and I'd be upset too zazas

Mmmmm, but are private school uniforms better than state school uniforms..?
And, if money was no object...
and if someone else was paying...

no wonder the country has gone to the dogs

But will it be compulsory zazas?

I just don't like uniforms much at all. I hate grey polyester. I hate seeing gorgeous little children looking all the same. I don't like shirts, ties, pleats, white socks, shiny shoes, any of it.

If each child is truly considered unique, surely they still will be even if wearing uniform - 'they know to look beyond what they see'.

With you on the emotional response to dull colours though - was deeply envious of the primary school down the road who got to wear a really cool shade of purple (and pretty lilac check in summer) when we were stuck in grey and navy.

I love school uniform

its easy, practical, bonding, sense of belonging, cheap .. blah blah blah blah

Cheaper, quicker, easier, much more levelling - what's not to like?

I agree with MI. Love pretty/charming clothes in natural fabrics. Loathe uniform. And remember loathing wearing it.

Why cheaper?

I honestly don't think the kids at DD1's school are lacking in moral fibre or sense of community because they go to school in jeans and trainers. They're nice kids. They are just as nice as other people's uniformed kids. They just aren't wearing uniforms.

I am glad that there are a few of us!! So the school now has to put together a working committee to decide on the uniform and they asked for parents to join - and ironically the only 2 are myself and another Mother also deeply committed to NO uniform - now this will be an interesting meeting!!! By the way the Head and teachers are also not in favour.....

I cannot say that DD1's clothes are particularly expensive, either .

Our kids uniforms are great, bright red sweatshirts, white poloshirts, dark grey trousers or skirts. In the summer most of the younger girls wear lovely red gingham dresses.

Simple and cheap, I got a few extra red sweatshirts reduced in Asda for £1.50.

Don't think it's necessarily cheaper!

I hate it because it adds to my laundry workload. I have to make sure those grey trousers are ready on Monday, rather than any other type, and it's expensive. It means I have to buy clothes I otherwise wouldn't. All the primary schools around here have them though.

dd is 5.5 and at her little country school already the clothes competition is hotting up. She was laughed at the other day because she had a hole in her trousers and most of her trousers are just too small for her. A lot of the kids there are just oozing designer labels and at the school where I work, everything is designer. The kids are trained in how to spot a fake and they then avoid that person.

Initially I was against uniforms as I hated wearing them and I hate it when girls roll up their skirts to belt length and wear those pop sock thingies. But after living in a country that does no uniforms, and witnessing the catalogue children, I think I would prefer uniforms.

'cos, apart from the blazer (which lasts for years) all the stuff can be bought at Asda or John Lewis or Tesco. A couple of pairs of trousers and 3 shirts lasts a year. If they wore their normal "fashion" clothes/trainers to school every day (apart from deciding what to put on!) we would be spending more. Maybe I'm just a mean mum!

all the school round here wear an uniform. I prefer it, personally, as I went to a school that didn't wear a uniform and the other kids took the mickey and bullied me and my sisters because our parents couldn't afford new designer clothes. I also think the kids look so smart in their uniforms

Message withdrawn

Perhaps our school is cheap but i don't mind paying £16 for the school logo fleece which is lined and much cosier than a blazer, Jumpers range from £9 to £14. The polos start a £5 but are a bit crappy and pook to easily found better ones elsewhere. Some of the supermarket trousers are great, go for non iron teflon and they last for ages, sunday night anything grey and red gets chucked in the machine ready for the week.

god just imagine the morning arguments

put your jumper on ... I want to wear that one .. you wore that yesterday, put this one on .. nooooooo I want that one .. this one .. that one .. this one .. waaaah (that's me btw)

no I prefer the total simplicity of the uniform argument

put your jumper on
put your jumper on
PUT YOUR JUMPER ON
JUST DO IT .. NOW
Waaaaah (again, me)

Heehee, dd1 has chosen (and been accepted by) a state secondary school with a truly startling uniform featuring purple kilts, purple blazers and pale lilac shirts. Enforcement (apparently) is v. strict. Dd1 is thinks it's all great, and is particularly thrilled by the notion of a blazer, for some reason.

Going for interview at another (private) school where the notional uniform was being happily customise by the girls in the form of hipster bootleg trousers approximating vaguely to the uniform colour, dd1 maintained that she wouldn't want to go there because she didn't want to make the effort of having to look trendy. But she's managed to avoid another, even fiercer state school where the girls have to wear mid-calf length green tartan kilts (what is it with Catholic schools and kilts?) and white knee socks. And these are 14 and 15-year olds we're talking about here. PMSL.

I know where the 'antis' are coming from, tho'. I used to like seeing dd1 skipping into the school nursery in her stripy tights and bright coloured skirts. But my kids are happy wearing uniform, it doesn't show the dirt and requires no thought at all, so what's not to like?

Dd's cardigans cos £12 a throw.

We have 3 of them.

I would never buy a top for DD that cost £12. Far too much money on one thing!!

I'm afraid I shop for most of DD's clothes in the sales, or in Asda / Matalan, with the occasional thing from NEXT.

We're buying tights like there's no tomorrow as she keeps making holes in the knees, and her school shoes are wrecked and she's only had them a month. Her school shoes cost over £20, where as her 'cheap' trainers from Asda cost a fiver and have lasted since September!!

So don't think it's cheaper.

I still like them wearing uniform though!!