an interesting twist on the school uniform debate

[Blandmum]

I work in a local comp. Nothing post about it, but we have always had quite a formal uniform, blazer and shirt and tie, skirt or trousers. All available from BHS etc. Nothing post, but formal.

For the first time ever we have relaxed the uniform. They kids have been allowed to wear their sports polo shirts and their sports sweat shirts if they wish.

I would estimate that 75%-60% of the kids are still in the formal outfit. The 'new' outfir is already owned by the kids for sports so there are few finiacial constraints on families.

Last night there was a parents consultation evening, overwhelmigly they have asked for a return to 'formal only' uniform

MI, would that I could brainwash the little buggers....then they would know what to do when I say, 'Don't talk'

I bet that's what they're chanting, Twig, in a strange united monotone.

I think I've been watching too much Dr Who.

MI, after that episode several teachers said to me that they quite fancied working in that school, the dicipline was just so good. True, you stood a chance of being eaten, and some of the other members of staff where fleash eating bat creatures, but TBH would that be so very different......

I have to say I quite enjoyed creative borderlining with my school uniform. Not wearing a bra was particularly effective.

(I do actually see the point of uniform for secondary schools. Especially as everyone takes sadistic pleasure in pointing out the prospect of two luscious hormone-fuelled Inferiorettes .)

I had the shortest skirt ever in existence in my school uniform .. i thought I was it .. it was of course due to my waistband rolled over so I'm sure I looked as though I had a spare tyre

Oh how fondly I remember the being kept back after school assemblies for uniform checks .. being told to kneel down to check skirt touched the floor .. and told off for wearing over the knee socks

how can we resist sharing these memories with our children?

visions of MI not wearing a bra

I was young, Twiggy, and at an age of uplift.

And bounce

God, if I did that now it would pull all the wrinkles out of my face.........

I reckon it's nature's way of ensuring monogamy. Imagine removing the underwiring for a new suitor...and bellowing 'switch the lights off on your way out'.

I think smart uniform is part of setting the expectation of good manners, respect for teachers etc. DS1's school has fairly formal uniform which I totally support. His last school which I removed him from had polo shirts, sweatshirts etc. and a band of ruffians (teachers and pupils alike!).

so what happens in schools where there is no uniform, if relaxed uniform = discipline problems??

We had very strict, formal uniform, even headbans etc had to be in school colours, knee length socks only (not over, not ankle) and tbh I loved wearing my uniform.

it will always depend on the management of the school, the support that the parents give (other way round in importance actualy) and the kids that go to the school.

But if a school is having problems then having a school uniform and sticking to it, always seems to help dicipline.

To a degree you can see this sort of thing with your kids. If you set clear boundaries they will push at them, but stay (generaly) within the boundaies. If you don't set a child boundaries they will push until they find them somewhere.

So in a school with problems if you have a uniform the kids can rebel by leaving their shirt untucked!

Weird as it sounds, keeping the kids on track for the small stuff helps to keep them on track about the big stuff. Kids like you to keep a reasonably tight reign on them....even if they would eat broken glass before they would admit it

I have worked in many schools.

I have always been happy in those that had formal uniform.

I have always been unhappy in those that wore polo shirts and sweatshirts.

Insisting on formal dress for pupils and staff (we all have to wear suits to work) does raise standards of behaviour.