Why did schools change and wear sweatshirts and cheap blazers?

[Neweternal]

I'm curious when I was at school you had wool blazer (expensive yes in the 1980s they were £50) tie shirt etc. Now I see kids going to school in those hideous cheap polyester ones, are the days of school exchanges gone? Also I've seen sweatshirts and polo shirts in primary and secondary and it doesn't look smart at all and after the first term their sweatshirt and polo shirts are bobbled and discoloured. White cotton shirts can be bleached out in the sun. Surely no one thinks that looks better than a shirt and tie? Also children learning to buttons shirts up, tie you ties, they're life skills. What are the pros of sweatshirts, non wool blazers? Yes more ironing is involved with a clean shirt everyday, but my child takes pride in being smart. Poor kids in the 1960s managed school uniform, so I'm not convinced this is purely a financial argument. Should state schools not be competing with private on uniforms? Wearing polo shirts and sweatshirts to secondary if like an acceptance they're going into the trades and not going to need to tie a tie for work, (nothing wrong with trades I have one) but its about aspirations and dressing raises aspirations too. I know private schools still have the school exchange. What's the thinking behind all this?

It definitely marks state school students out from private.

And...? That only matters if you think private education is necessarily better than state.

Not ironing a shirt every day doesn’t suddenly render you incapable of doing it when the occasion demands - it’s hardly rocket science is it?

^exactly and even then I can imagine there's not many children of any age ironing their own uniform, it's their parents.

It definitely marks state school students out from private

No it doesn't, how can you tell? Unless it's one of the many private schools opting to disregard school uniform.
The state school uniforms round here are quite expensive, parents are always complaining.
When my dd private school had a uniform, my friend with a dd in state school paid more for her PE kit than I did for a whole uniform.

The odd thing where we live is that the kids at the local junior school (which DS recently left) wear shirt and tie most of the year (polo shirts in the summer). Then they go to the local secondary school and it's polo shirts all the way! It was the other way round with me (mind you we didn't have a uniform in junior school).

As for the tying a tie - DH and I taught DS. The school just insisted he wore one. One of his friends had one on elastic which he wore right up until year 6 so he's not learned to tie a tie at all.

And clothing and aspirations? Well DH works in an office. No one from the CEO down wears a suit and tie. Most wear jeans. DS always wears smart trousers and shirt as it feels wrong coming from an environment where a tie was needed.

I agree op re polo shirts horrible scruffy things. My dc primary is shirt and tie with wool cardigan /jumper. They look much smarter than other primaries.

^😂 ok

Op I was a court reporter in 2004 and generally accused for the first time came in a suit but those who were regularly attended would rock up in joggers or football shirts.

I do get what your saying although I'm always disappointed people make little effort to dress up for the theatre.

When I went to secondary school in the 90's our boys uniform was trousers, shirt, tie and v neck jumper. Girls was skirt/trousers, open neck shirt and v neck jumper.

Not forcing girls to wear ties which they don't generally do in any job I know of and not having blazers we still managed to be the best school in the area and beat the 2 local private schools in ratings.

The same school now has a ridiculous strict uniform and focussed heavily on it. It's slid down the mechs tables and is now the 2nd lowest performing school.

Wearing a tie for 11 years at school has made no difference to my life.

We had boaters and wool blazers too you’d have been in heaven OP.

I’m a professional in the City as is DH and on a day to day basis we don’t wear suits; I never do. DH rarely wears a tie either. Times have changed OP.

My son has just started reception; he was 4 in August so still teeny.

He has to wear a shirt, and v neck jumper.

I bloody hate it, a 4yr old in a tie is ridiculous to me. My DH works in central London in an office job and isn't required to wear a tie. Wish his school had polo shirts, so much easier than all the fiddly buttons!! I don't envy his teacher on PE day trying to get 30 4yr olds changed out of shirts

My DGM passed the 'scholarship' in the late 1920s, her family were poor, her parents couldn't afford a) uniforms b)to get to the school...she had to leave at 14 and work f/t in a factory. This rankled for the rest of her life! She had been the brightest in her village school.
Roll on to the 1970s when I was at school. (brought up by her) Aged 9-11 I had uniform but even then it was only a tie that was school specific. Otherwise it was school colours but not strict uniform.

When I went to comp they tried to implement a stricter uniform...but
by then DGM was full of rage over being deprived of her education and I still remember her indignation at having to find a scarlet shirt for DB...afterall we didn't even have to pass a test to go there..we went in clothes in the school colours. In those days the school wouldn't have dared forcing it.

The school scrapped uniform a couple of years after I left. They reintroduced it a couple of years ago when it became an academy.

Let's face it, schools are full of people who have only ever studied or worked at a school so probably have no idea that the world of work is now sans tie.

I do like a uniform, but nothing silly. Schools around here don't do blazers, thankfully. DS has house tie and a v neck jumper. That's the only school specific item apart from the PE kit.

Two popular independents I know of have no uniform and I think that’s great. They look ready to work and play comfortably and can dress for the weather and their individual reactions to it!

I hate blazers. I couldn’t be comfortable doing my non desk based but professional job in one (teacher).

At the hospital I work at doctors don't wear ties. They're rarely washed and are considered hygeine risks.
Don't know if it's been mentioned already, or if it's really relevant to the discussion. Just thought I'd mention it.

No independent school near me have no school uniform except Steiners, which doesn't even have an entry exam. I'm accepting I'm old fashioned. I am pretty disappointed too when men don't turn up for dates dressed appropriately. I can't help how I feel, I suppose I'm behind the times.

Wearing polo shirts and sweatshirts to secondary if like an acceptance they're going into the trades and not going to need to tie a tie for work, (nothing wrong with trades I have one) but its about aspirations and dressing raises aspirations too. I know private schools still have the school exchange

Virtually nobody wears a tie for work anymore. Even some of the banks in the City have gone completely casual. DH wears jeans and converse and is very senior. My kids school wears polos and it’s one of the top state schools in the country where it’s unlikely any of the kids will go into the trades. They’ll almost all go into professional jobs

Depends on the date! Where you are going and what activity you intend doing.

Clothing design factic etc has come along way and kids should be comfy.

Recently back from Spain and the kids wore long shorts and logo printed tshirt

All looked comfy for the weather and activities of being a school child - could walk run and climb as they should.

Do you think other countries lack ambition due to lack of 'work wear' for kids?

I am pretty disappointed too when men don't turn up for dates dressed appropriately.

But to be honest this is irrelevant to school uniform.

My D.C. are still
Primary school age but despite not wearing a uniform, or attending a private school they know how to dress appropriately for a wide range of social and formal occasions.

I assume, given the views you have expressed on this thread that you are vetting your prospective dates by education, social class and profession? If they are still turning up “inappropriately dressed” then you have to consider whether you are in fact rather behind the times.

I feel the need (for some reason), to specify that my D.C. attend state school because we actively made that choice for them. We are ideologically opposed to private education. The children are bright enough and we could afford it easily.

Thing is I don't need my child to look nice at school, I. Need him to be comfortable enough to work hard.

If we go to a wedding or a funeral, he needs to dress smart and I'm capable of telling him how to do that. If we're going to the park to jump in puddles I don't care if he's scruffy as long as he's dry and comfy. If he's sat Inn a classroom memorising the 14 times table I want him not too hot, not too cold, able to run around comfortably at break time and his uniform to last the year

I am pretty disappointed too when men don't turn up for dates dressed appropriately well it depends on which men you are dating and where they are taking you (I'm sensing you're not going Dutch).
If I met a guy for coffee on a first date and he was in short and tie I'd assume he'd come straight from work. It isn't usual attire for coffee. Same for going to the movies, a walk in the park etc.
If he's taking you to a fancy restaurant for dinner then yes, he should be smart

I went to a state school with a wool blazer in the 80s in the uk . We were too hot in them in the summer, too cold in the winter ( and they were too bulky to fit under most coats unless you bought one several sizes too big) . They also smelt horrible when wet.

Today I'm reasonably senior in a corporate role. I'm wearing a dress, denim jacket and my Stan Smith trainers. I'm probably one of the smarter people in the office- not a tie in sight.

Our local senior school uniform is a polo shirt, shorts or skirt, uniform jersey and socks and a uniform waterproof jacket. No ties or blazers either ( we are not in uk ) . They look very smart but are also practically dressed for comfort and able to be active. I can't stand school uniforms which deter kids from running around etc at breaks either because they need to keep expensive uniforms "nice" or because they get too hot ( blazers/kilts).

You’d have kittens OP if you came to DS’s school. (State Primary, village, rural France.)
No uniform, our kids are dressed according to the weather, shorts & tshirt, jeans, jogging bottoms on sport days. ( if you want).

And then there’s the flexible seating

The kids take their shoes off and sit where they like; the floor included. It has worked so well, they’re going to start rolling it out to the secondary school in town.

My child's state school has a uniform with a wool blazer.
Her primary school have a wool skirt plus shirt and tie.
Pain in the backside for low income parents to pay for dry cleaning every time their child spills something on it.

Mine does love a tie though and was the only child at primary school with a proper tie and not elastic .

I am pretty disappointed too when men don't turn up for dates dressed appropriately

Dating men is an activity which tends to be chock full of disappointments end to end. It has zero to do with school uniform.

I suggest you get into the vintage/lindy hop scene op, those men are always dapper.

Only one of my children has been to a school where they wear the old fashioned wool blazer...the kids absolutely hate it and only wear it in assembly/chapel, the rest of the time it's hung up somewhere. In winter they go round in double jumpers as they hate it so much!

Other kids have worn a mix of polyester blazers (all private schools) with shirt and tie and polo shirt/school jumper. I think the latter looked cute when they were little, but tie/blazer is more practical as they get older with so many little planners, notes, tissues, pencils they seem to stuff in the there :)

I don't think it should matter that much really, like others' said, I would be happy with no uniform.

I'd be disappointed too if a man turned up for a date without being appropriately dressed. Imagine if you opened the door and he was wearing a suit for a night down the pub!