School Uniforms - What's Their Point?

Spendless

The best state school in my town does NOT have a school uniform. I don't agree that they stop bullying either. Bullies are nasty horrible people, they bully because they can. Mine was in uniform from 3-16 always correct, never stopped her being bullied (to the point she started with suicidal ideation). Bullies will always find something for them to pick on another for. 

Colleges and Unis don't enforce the same dress code across the board and don't seem to have the issues school do. Many other countries don't have school uniform either and we are frequently told that a lot of places have a better education system than we do here. 

maman

I'm assuming the discussion was initiated by a parent rather than a school student. I'm not sure young people feel the same.

Locally, uniform is worn at schools but not in the 6th Form colleges. Instead, the students choose their own 'uniform'. A few years back it was wall to wall Jack Wills. I saw a group of 4 girls shopping together during half term last week. All were wearing almost identical black puffa jackets and blue jeans. 🤣

TBagpuss

I think having a uniform can be beneficial where the uniform is not too complex (e.g. where it mandates a specific colour of skirt/trousers  / short and perhaps a coloured sweatshirt is it can help to reduce the contrast between the richer and poorer students and can make it easier for children from more deprived families to fit in (it's typically much less obvious that a child may be wearing second hand clothes, for instance, and it can also take the pressure of the children themselves too.

I do agree that bullies will find a target but I think that uniforms can reduce some of the more visually obvious differences and so can help limit the targets for bullying. 

When I was at school we had uniformed until the 6th form - as a child who was shy , bullied and self-conscious about my appearance (and with a fairly limited budget for clothes) it was easier to have a uniform than to try to have to work out what to wear, and how soon I could re-wear the same thing. I was bullied at school but even though it was common for a lot of the girls to stretch the uniform rules to breaking point, I wasn't ever bullied about what I wore (for instance, my skirt, per the uniform rules, was an A line skirt of the correct length. A-line skirts were not fashionable at the time and a lot of the girls would wear skirts which the the correct colour ,more of less, but not the correct style. But that was never one of the thigs the bullies picked on. 

I do think that where the uniforms are too complex or the schools enforce them too strictly they become counter-productive, an that it does disadvantage poorer families- I know a school local to me stirred up a lot of anger a few years ago when they started enforcing heir policy very strictly - a lot of kids fell foul of the rules about shoes, as they weren't supposed to wear trainers or trainer style shoes, or anything with any kind of logo - A lot of kids shoes seem to be borderline and where the school determined the shoes were not appropriate that would be a big expense for some parents to have to buy new shoes  (quite apart from the fact that some people, including some children, have limited options for shoes which are both robust and comfortable, it's not always eay, or even possible, to find suitable ones which also meet a very strict uniform code). 

 

anotheruser

Ms_Chocaholic said:

it stops children being bullied.

Does it?

I can only go from first hand experience in that kids half looked down on others that wern't wearing the latest labels but these days, there are so many labels and clothing choices, I'm not sure it would be a problem as kids strive to be individual.

More so, I'd still reckon kids that wear hand me down uniforms, or not brand new, will still be bullied much in the same way, so it sort of makes this part of the discussion neutral (IE, can't be used as a for or against).



I also wonder if the comments from people who are for uniforms are from parents that wore uniforms themselves?

Bonniepurple

I’m much more in favour of practical clothes than a strict uniform.  I hated my school uniform as the skirt was far too itchy.  30 years on, my eldest started at secondary.  The mandated skirt (grey, with school logo embroidered on) was a pencil skirt.  Looked smart - but totally impractical for someone with a 30 minute walk each way.  Not only that, but the style meant that if it fitted over the thighs it gaped at the waist.  DD1 is skinny.  I had an eating disorder as a teen and that style of skirt would have made it worse.

The school can’t seem to realise that we are all different body shapes and that a pair of trousers will look slim fit on a leggy nymph but tight on a more larger individual.  

Oh, and those who say it stops bullying- it doesn’t.  Bullies pick on people for anything- be it hair colour, gender, being left handed, being a nerd…It also still shows financial inequalities- a child whose parents can buy brand new uniform each September v a child whose parents only replace once outgrown v a child who only wears handmedowns v a child who’s bursting out of their ragged uniform as there is no money to buy replacement.  

pollypenny

Ok, uniforms help prevent bullying, then. 

Emmia

I wore a uniform (strict standards) and got bullied...

I think uniform is more about school identity, than preventing bullying.

briskbeats

I don't see the purpose of schools/academies forcing parents to buy shirts/blouses from their supplier. A pack of 3 shirts for £9 for a supermarket is fine.

What I don't get now is PE uniform needs to have the school/academy badge on it? Why? When I was at high school, we told to have a white or red t-shirt with no or minimum pictures/branding on it and black shorts. Only time pupils wore anything with the school's badge was if they were playing in the school's football, hockey or netball team playing against other schools.

I thought academies are strict with their uniform rules. So why are some girls I see walking to/from the town's academy wearing skirts that are 3 inches above the knee, fishnet tights or leggings? Some look like they are going to a red light district, let alone school.

My primary school only introduced uniform - it wasn't compulsory during my final year of primary school. Most of my year didn't bother as had to get blue sweatshirts and grey trousers/skirt for one year. As high school was both black.

Non uniform days at school which we paid £1, there was no bullying if anyone didn't wear branded stuff.

JJC1956

FindMyWayBack said:

Garments are inanimate objects, they can't make a point.

Don’t tell fashionistas that, they might fall of their Catwalks.
Anyway when i was growing up, Mods, Rockers, Teddy Boys, New Age Romantics, etc etc all made a point with their Uniforms.

There are 4 secondary Schools near where i live and personally I think they all look very smart.
If some kids were allowed to wear Canadian Goose Coats and others wear Primark it is a recipe for jealousy and trouble, so I vote for uniforms for everyone. 

*max*

I went to school in France where there are no uniforms (bar in some few private schools), and I doubt bullying is any more or less of a problem than in UK schools, so (to me anyway) that argument is moot. Bullies will always find something to pick on, uniform or not uniform. Besides, kids see each other outside of school too, where they wear their regular clothes.