Would you like a dress code with that?
by SAM PAIOR
As a member of my kids’ school governing council, twice each term I get to sit and listen to the principal, staff and parents complain about electricity bills, the doors that need to be replaced, the graffiti on the windows, the private piano teacher using space for free, the war relic canteen pie warmer with its own staph colony, and school uniform.
Mostly, I try to engage and offer something meaningful, and to not drift away as members earnestly discuss whether we should stock the MSG free hot dogs in the canteen, or whether our after school care should set debt collectors on the non-payers.
But talking about school uniforms actually got kinda interesting.
My kids are at a regular local government school. The kind where, when I was a kid, we didn’t have to wear a uniform at all. At about eight years old, I switched into a state school from a relatively exclusive private school, so on my first day of term two, grade three, not knowing any better, my parents sent me to school in a white collared shirt, school pinafore, long socks and a school tie. Yep, my Mum put me in a tie at state primary school. I still bear the scars.
Our local school today doesn’t have actual shirts, let alone ties. We have a school polo t’shirt, zip up fleece jackets and school colour pants and shorts. The girls get those options, as well as a skort (skirt with in-built shorts), pinafore or summer dress.
We don’t have monogrammed school socks, and the kids’ footwear is open slather. I mean that. Kids wear anything from flimsy plastic sandals, to footy boots, to crocs, to knee length vinyl heeled boots. Note to parents: your children cannot actively participate in fitness and sports activities wearing those stupid shoes.
The girls will wear pink socks, purple socks, socks with rainbow stripes. They even wear those heinous three quarter length “leggings” in any colour, with lace trim which ends below their summer dress, and above the lace on their orange striped socks. It’s not – believe me – a good look.
World war three erupted in the staff room on a recent Monday night, as the dominant faction demanded that “school coloured socks” and “school coloured tights – NO leggings” be added to the school uniform code. The other faction roared “But this is a State school! We don’t have money to buy the right colours, and our kids will scream, and why can’t they express their individuality?!”
Sarah, leader of the dominant faction, with a hint of an imperial accent, let it be known that while *her* children didn’t dress like ragamuffins, that when the other kids wore black hoodies with glow-in-dark skeletons, pink socks or knee high rainbow leggings, the class photos were simply horrendous.
Don’t get me wrong. While I like the kids to look smart, and show some pride in their school and uniform, does it really make a difference?
Anecdotal research would suggest so. Actual research? Not so much.
If I’m honest, the research is pretty divided, but this is my opinion, so I choose… Dr David Brunsma, whose decades of study have shown that when a new dress code is implemented at a school, bad behaviours *increase*. In the relatively few schools where behaviour improved, the chances were that there was a raft of other behaviour and curriculum changes made at the same time. According to Dr Brunsma, “uniforms work as a catalyst for change and provide a highly visible window of opportunity. It is this window which allows additional programs to be implemented”
So, instead of watching my fellow councillors bitch about which schools look the most “bogan” and whether pink socks should be banished from the island, I should probably look at the debate with fresh eyes and say “Why don’t we look at updating our behaviour policy at the same time?”
Sam Paior is involved with the website www.ParentsHelpingParents.org.au which she started with a few other parents of kids with special needs.
Did you wear a uniform at school? How strict/hideous was it? Do you think they’re a positive or negative thing for kids?
Comments
123 Comments so far
My primary and high school were catholic/private schools. I liked having a school uniform, I loved it and wanted a tie and blazer added to the girls uniform, but some of the rules were downright stupid.
You couldn’t wear the jumper with the P.E uniform. And you got told off for wearing certain socks with it and would be forced to take them off and go without (even if you had holes in your shoes and it was the middle of winter). You weren’t allowed to wear Converse’s with the P.E uniform either, despite them being known as both Gym Shoes and Basketball Shoes.
I stressed to all the teachers that none of this was specified in the school dress code that was revised and reprinted every year in the school diary and refused to obey spur-of-the-moment rules – and got detention for it. So I took to wearing the winter uniform all year and refused to take part in P.E – suck it school. Plus the school colours were ugly as hell. On one hand we had royal blue, gold and chocolate brown, but then they decided to get creative and added mustard yellow, fawn and baby vomit green.
Years later I’ve dyed it all black and red, now it looks like I went to Durmstrang.
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My public high school uniform was seriously unattractive – brown and yellow for the juniors – but even then it was still much better to have a uniform than to have to try and decide what to wear to school. Especially in the town I went to school; there was a big rich/poor divide so on mufti days it was pretty easy to see who was on which side of the fence.
One of the things I really liked about my high school is that if we were representing the school at a competition or function, they had a blazer pool that anyone could borrow a blazer from to wear for the day. Makes such a difference to the way you perceive yourself when you’re well-presented. I eventually went to a lot of public speaking competitions with students from exclusive Sydney schools and, this might sound silly, but I felt so much better being dressed the same way that they were, like I didn’t stick out as being from a state school as opposed to an expensive private school.
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My primary and high schools (both public) had uniforms but were more of a dress code… We had dresses/skirts we could wear, or a white polo/button down top and pants in the appropriate colour.
I really noticed on mufti days (even as early as kindergarten) the inequality of those with money vs those without. We weren’t particularly poor, but I remember one mufti day (again in kindy) I wore best and less overalls and was picked on by the other girls in their billycart overalls
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I went to a catholic school with nuns so it was white folded socks (not scrunched), skirts must touch the ground when kneeling (and yes this was often checked with girls lined up on their knees with the principal walking along the line checking) and you could not wear your jumper only over your uniform without your blazer when outside the school, it was all or nothing and yes people would report us to the school if they saw us out dressed incorrectly. This was in the 90′s!
I appreciate it so much now. Since leaving school and until this day I am aware of what I wear in every given situation whether it be for a job interview or out with friends. It taught me discipline and self respect as I think “How do present myself apporiately today?”
My son starts high school next year and his school uniform will be quite strict which I am glad about. But it does not have to cost a fortune. SHoes and socks you can get wherever as long as the shoes are black lace ups and the socks are white. There is a blazer but it is optional. As long as you have the school polos (2 – school and sport) jumper and sports polo you can get shorts and pants elsewere as long as they are grey tailored. Oh and you have to have their bag. There is a second hand shop as well with very reasonable prices so I’m quite happy with it all as you have some options cost wise. For my son I believe a firm uniform policy is good for you. Do you really need to “express your individuality” in your uniform? Do it with your work and studies or outside school hours.
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Oh and I have noticed that my old school is no longer as strict with the uniform and the girls look a little less tidy now. I think it was because they moved the nuns out of the classroom. No one can scare you into obedience like a nun!
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My son started Kindy at the local public school this year and I’m 100% happy with their uniform. The uniform shop isn’t over-priced, there’s a great 2nd hand uniform shop & the plain polos
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I went to a state school, that when I entered at year 7 the senior kids were still in polo tees and trackies but the junior levels had started with a new uniform that was slowly being introduced. We had blazers and kilts and ties and shirts. It was a bit expensive but I liked having a uniform, we still had some wiggle room, with the packbacks we could bring. Now, a few years after graduating the school has bought in mandatory school backpacks, business shirts with logos, socks and scarves, leaving parents no margin for budget shopping. if it was a private school I could understand, but for a local school where the other choice of highschool is the poorly regarded, ‘kids barely make it to VCE’ school across town I feel very sorry for parents.
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I went to a Catholic school. I must admit, I’m glad I had a uniform. If I had to wear a different outfit each day my parents would’ve been broke, and I would’ve been up at 6am deciding.
When it came to enforcing the uniform rules, there were a few Nazi teachers. I actually got singled out one day by a teacher. I have never forgotten what she said to me after the sheer embarrassment that ensued. Here’s what was wrong:
- My shoes were to scuffed. I needed to shine them that night.
- My socks were dirty. I needed to bleach them or buy new ones.
- My skirt was to short, even though it sat below my knees.
- My shirt wasn’t tucked in neatly enough. Can you believe that?
- My watch looked to much like a bracelet. I had to take it off immediately and was never to wear it to school again (even though I did).
- I had writing on the palm of my hand, which apparently resembled a tattoo. I was sent to wash it off.
- My necklace’s pendant was to big, even though it was a cross. It was off straight away.
- My stud earrings were too big.
- My hair was not respectable; it was messy. I also had a ribbon in my hair that was not school colours, but house colours. It was out straight away.
Now I’d also like to point out that this happened in last period on a Friday. Needless to say, that teacher was crazy.
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I went to a private school so we had reasonably hard lines on uniforms, in theory anyway. But girl’s skirts could still get pretty short, boys’ hair pretty long and everything a bit ragged by the end of the year. One of our more hard-nosed teachers used to tell us off for wearing those pink, plastic bracelets for Breast Cancer, saying that the good thing about charity was that “nobody was supposed to know about it.” Which completely defeats the purpose of the bracelets anyway, in my opinion. But there you go.
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When I went to school the biggest thing for me was that in our very strict public school uniform policy girls could not wear shorts or trousers. It was skirts all the way, with trackpants on the really cold days but if you where wearing trAckpants you had to wear a jumper. If it got too hot for the jumper you had to change into a skirt! I’ve noticed that these days both the formal and sports uniforms have options for girls to wear pants now, thank goodness.
I love my prep girl’s uniform. Blue pants/skirt/collotes (she wears ‘boy’ shorts because they are so comfy) with a uniform top. Any shoes, socks and a blue jumper in winter. Easy peasy! And as a bomus, easy to pass onto her little brother when the time comes.
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I approve of school uniforms, particularly the track pant and polo type. Great for kids to run about and play in, as well as being cheap and easy to source.
I was recently at a meeting where leggings, undershirts and hoods were to be banned. This is what the Muslim girls wear, in school colours, under their standard uniform. I pointed this out, the motion failed.
I have a far bigger problem with girls having to wear skirts all year (too cold! And why can’t they wear pants?) and set dates for summer and winter uniforms (that is not how weather works).
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Ive never had a job where I didnt have a uniform..
I guess uni was as close as it came-
I quite like it – but then I think I am the type that even if I didnt have an official uniform I would create one by having specific work clothing
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It already takes my daughter 45 minutes each morning to do her hair…imagine how long it would take to find an “outfit” as well. I love school uniforms.
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I went to a public primary (in the 80s) which had a uniform. It wasn’t that strict but it was definitely a set uniform.
I went to a private girls high school (in the 90s) and it was incredibly strict. I got in trouble for wearing the wrong shade blue scrunchie once. Like others below, outside school you had to wear your blazer (even in summer), no PE uniforms in summer (mind you when I started in year 7 we wore bottle green bloomers, no one was being see in those in public) and theoretically you weren’t meant to be seen eating in public in your uniform. There were heaps of others, hair had to be tied up, only one gold or silver stud in each ear, no makeup, etc.
I’ve noticed that the school has relaxed the rules a lot now. They have changed the shirts so that they are meant to be worn untucked. My sister and I were shocked and then were shocked at ourselves for being such old foggies.
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Oh and can I add, I loved the uniform. As a rapidly growing, relatively poor student at that school, non-uniform days were a nightmare. I barely had any muffti clothes and those I had were most definitely not fashionable or brand names. I always felt horribly awkward on those days.
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Uniforms are part of the ‘hidden curriculum’; the knowledge, values and beliefs passed over to your children in school that are not explicity taught.
Uniforms promote equality, obediance to authority, pride in one’s appearance (and the school) and impart a code of conduct amongst students.
Google ‘hidden curriculum’ and you will understand that uniforms only play a small part in teaching children how to behave in society. Isn’t that what parents want; that their children grow up to be responsible, productive citizens. And yeah, I’m all for uniforms. I wore one and so do my kids.
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Watching my 10 yo daughter pack for school camp earlier this week, I am SO glad she has a uniform. She was so unable to decide exactly which clothes to wear that she took them all- and I can see that being played out every morning.
Maybe I’m old school (pun intended), but uniforms are great. As a parent they save angst and money, and I do genuinely think that the students look far better presented. That probably counts for nothing as far as what they actually learn goes, but it makes me happy
That said, maybe that’s because my kids’ uniform is quite nice. Mine was a tartan tunic (predominantly dark brown), fawn jumper, fawn wool tights, and a chocolate brown blazer. I still cannot wear brown without looking around to check for a prefect.
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OMG- brown still makes me shudder! Mine was brown and fawn too with the occasional splash of YELLOW!!! The scary PE teacher even checked our knickers to see if they were the regulatory beige and our uniforms were measured- no more that 10cm above the knee while kneeling down.
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Went to a state school. Years 7-10 had to wear full uniform (although navy pants could be from anywhere- although all of us girls started to wear mytikos (anyone heard of them?) which were legging type pants except they flared out. The school tried to stop it but gave up, similarly they tried to ban navy blue trackpants.
It used to be in years 11/12 you just had to wear the VCE polo top and could wear any sort of bottoms and shoes you wanted. When I was in the lower school we used to be hanging out to reach year 11 so we could have some freedom. Annoyingly, towards the end of year 11 they changed the rules again, to polo top + (dark blue) jeans or navy blue bottoms. How we uproared! After years of seeing VCE’s having so much choice we were so annoyed! They started sending people home if they came to school not following these rules, although there was a lot of variants in what they classified ‘dark blue’ jeans. Also a lot of girls got sent home for wearing too short shorts, but again weren’t consistent in their rulings.
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I love the fact that I don’t have to add another battle to the list for my 5 yr old every morning. Uniform, easy. She goes to a local catholic primary school, where Preps have a different shirt, but when older they have a sports, dress or blouse/cullotes. My daughter can’t wait til next yeare when she can where a dress LOL. It’s ‘strict’ without being over the top with blazers etc.
I just wish it wasn’t brown……. you can’t buy generic brown cullottes at Big W/Kmart etc. Seems a non existent colour.
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I remember the tears, anxiety and time spent choosing a ‘cool enough’ outfit for the few ‘Free Dress’ days we had during the year at school – I can’t imagine having had to go through that every day!
Thank goodness for uniforms!
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i went to a strict catholic school where the uniforms were measured accurately, and absolutely no self expression beyond the uniform was even considered – we weren’t allowed to braid our hair for that was considered too ‘exotic’. but i recall speaking to the school counsellor who informed me that the reason we don’t have mufti days (days where we could wear whatever we want for a gold coin donation to whatever charity) was because she would have numerous girls crying over what they would wear, for fear of judgement from others. i don’t think i knew how to dress until i left that school!
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I went to a public high school but we had a ver strict dress code: white collared button up shirt, grey pants or skirt, black shoes and a tie. On my first day there (I started there in year 11) I got screamed at for not having my tie done up properly. When I told the teacher I’d never worn a tie before she didn’t believe me. Hated that uniform.
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I quite like school uniforms
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Attended a private co-ed catholic primary school with a VERY strict uniform code. Prefects on the bus checked to make sure hats and blazers were worn at all times to and from school. We also had to wear regulation school undies… yes, skirts/dresses would be lifted up. Non compliance on my part one day earned me a smack across the bum with my skirt up, leaning over my desk. Never felt so humiliated in my life…
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How long ago was this?!
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in 1977.
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Holey moley! I’ve heard some much older rellies talking about this kind of thing from back in the 50s and 60s… I can’t believe it still went on in the 70s!!
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Yes I remember lining up in the gym and lifting my skirt as thy checked for regulation undies. It does make you wonder nowadays….
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I can’t decide about uniforms or not. When my youngest went to high school, HUGE emphasis was placed on uniform but that just seemed to give the kids more options for rebelling – different shoes/socks/hair/piercings/jackets/jumpers/slacks. As for disguising wealth… well one of the girls used a LV bag to cart her books in.
Grade 11 was a non-uniform school. The kids seemed to be a lot more relaxed. I guess they just found different ways to rebel.
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I quite like a uniform, but within reason. My girls go to a local catholic primary, and there is a set uniform, but without being so strict that I can’t substitute skorts from Best n Less for the overpriced uniform shop ones (seriously, $15 instead of $40).
Also, I have heard of schools where the white ankle socks are embroidered with school logos – to me that is just money grabbing and doesn’t add anything to the look of the uniform.
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When I was in primary school they changed the school uniform colours.. Whilst many parents were overjoyed to get rid of the horrendous original colours, I know a few kids who’s parents had a lot of trouble getting the new, more expensive, school uniform because you couldn’t get anything second hand anymore.
In year 5 I changed to another public school and was quite amused at the uniform code, my new school was in a higher socio economic area to my last and my parents used to joke it was a primary school pretending to be a private school. The uniform was quite out dated (like from the 1940s out dated haha)
I like school uniforms I never had qualms wearing it. In high school we were permitted to alter it a bit (by that I mean the teachers turned a blind eye), so where we were supposed to wear the itchy school jumper many girls opted for black cardigans and we wore navy blue dress pants from Ice rather than the trackies sold at the school uniform shop.
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I always thought uniforms promoted unity and equality, as well as better learning.
Equality because, for e.g., Sally doesn’t flaunt the expensive jacket and jewellery mummy and daddy bought her, making her less-well-off peers feel bad about what they have/don’t have and letting her think she’s better than them because she has something they don’t.
Encourages learning is more debatable I suppose. At my school, I know productivity dropped a huge amount on free dress days and apparently research indicates the same. But that was in a school that usually had a uniform so perhaps the novelty of free dress affected that.
At any rate, I went from a job with a uniform into a funky office and I miss not having to plan what to wear to work.
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planning what i have to wear to work is the bane of my existence!
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Big fan of school uniforms even though mine was a gross buttercup yellow blouse (flattering to no one) and a below the knee tartan skirt. We all looked equally hideous so there was no competition or bitchiness.
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or as the local public school boys used to call us ‘lemon tarts”. noice.
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Ella89 I think we went to the same school, those rules sound very familiar!
At school my view was that uniforms were so uncool.
But thinking back to it, the positives are that it equalizes everyone and as everyone else says makes it easier in the mornings as there is no choice to be made as to what you will wear.
I’m now a parent and am planning to send my daughter to local catholic school which thankfully has a smart uniform without the intensity of a blazer. I couldn’t bare the option of rainbow socks, colored leggings etc described in this article.
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There were super strict rules at my private Catholic girls school. The nuns used to stand at the end of the corridor every afternoon to make sure we all had the proper uniform & beret combo on. And I once got in massive trouble for having the wrong shade of tights! (thanks Sister Christopher). I loved it though & remember it fondly. It instilled discipline and I am thankful for that, it translates to lots of different areas of life when you grow up and start working etc.
I look at high school girls today and I cringe at the ones that have altered their skirts to be so short and so tight. They look terrible and I feel bad that they would be allowed to dress like this. Uniform rules are there for a reason, keeping everyone UNIFORM. There are (and will be in future) plenty of avenues to explore and demonstrate your own personality/fashion choices. Going to school to get an education is not the time to do this.
I LOVE fashion and am into it in a big way, so it’s not like I don’t appreciate beautiful clothes, I just think school is hard enough these days, lets not make it all about who wears the latest, most expensive trainers etc. Everyone wearing the same thing = level playing field.
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I went to a no uniform primary as many did in the 70s. My kids have had uniforms at every state primary they’ve gone to in 2 states, since the 90s.
I went to a fancy schmancy private girls school in secondary with a very strict uniform policy. The lowlights were a flannelette shirt that had to be buttoned right up outside the school and a beret with a stupid badge to be worn at the front of the head as part of the winter uniform. We also had complicated blazer/jumper rules. Gah!
My kids, also privately educated in secondary school don’t have such strict rules for their uniforms.
I agree with uniforms. As some have said, it’s a great leveler, there’s no need to think about what to wear of a morning and it gets people used to dress standards in the workplace.
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I adored having a uniform at school – my parents were broke and it saved me years of horrendous shame at not having cool clothes.
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Primary school yes we had a uniform. Highschool was up and down… I went to a public school and nearly every year they would change the rules. One year it was wear what you want, the next was no everyone has to wear the same uniform, then the next year was ok wear what you want but only in these 2 colours!
It was a freaking pain! I think now that particular school does have a set uniform.
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I went to a high school that was known as one of the worst in NSW at the time. In year 9 we got a new principal. She was a hardass and made us all wear our uniforms. Wrong socks? You got sent home and got to have your picture on the front page of the local paper looking sullen. I had to have a uniform pass because I had bought a pastel shirt instead of a yellow one by accident.
That said, the school cleaned up. Both inside – the students seemed to smarten up and outside – the image of the school improved.
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I thought my school uniform was fairly ugly (way too much grey) but Didn’t mind wearing it- like everyone else has said it makes everything easier in the morning and I always attended private schools with strict uniform policy so I didnt really know anything else…
We had stupid rules like
- no p.e uniform was to be worn to or from school
- hideous ‘summer hat’ had to be worn to and from school (even in the rain!!)
- school emblem had to be showing outside school so in summer you would wear your summer dress with blazer (unless it was 35 degrees or something) and in winter you had to wear shirt, skirt and blazer. Jumper was optional but you always had to have your blazer over the top
- knee high socks were compulsory in summer but banned in winter when tights had to be worn
- school emblemed scarfs, umbrellas, school bags and headbands were all available too
- also no jewellery other than plain studs, no nail polish, no make up, no unnatural colored hair etc etc
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Sounds like the standard for Private schools in Sydney!
we had to change into our PE uniforms (embrodered shorts and shirts) at school, summer dress had to tough the ground when we were kneeling straight, blazers always over jumpers, winter kilts a certain lenght, and tights for winter a cetain shade.
no jewellery other than plain studs/sleepers, no nail polish, no make up, no unnatural hair colours.
that being said the uniform looked quite smart and you never had to worry about what you were wearing (just for being told off every morning for that extra top earring you weren’t meant to have!)
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haha I think the principals must have gotten together in order to make the rules as pedantic as possible!
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went to government school all the way through
primary school was never strict, but high school – goodness me!
you were basically forced to by everything from the uniform shop – luckily mum was able to sew me and my sister more flattering versions of the hideous skirts
most unusual was when they banned us from wearing navy stockings under our navy shorts – I mean, what’s that even about?
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I went to a private girls school, where uniform was very strict. Along with those rules we weren’t allowed to have make up, nail polish or jewellery, even studs in our ears. The school sold sterling silver studs with the emblem on them- those we COULD wear but they looked so bad!
I’ve been to school in Paris where there was no uniform, and I have to say, I prefer uniform! It’s so much easier to get changed in the morning, no fuss, and it all looks really smart. In Paris though- it was “omg what am i going to wear today??!!!” It was extra hard because Parisians dress really well- i’d never wear my normal converse shoes to school- it was always like a black skirt with a nice jumper/top, tights, boots/ballet flats, make up and my Longchamp bag!
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my school was so strict on uniform (catholic, private, all girls) that we would have to lift our kilts up (yes, kilts) to show our home room teacher that we weren’t wearing knee high’s instead of full length pantyhose. don’t see why knee lengths would have been a problem seeing as our kilts went almost to our ankles anyway…
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I reckon we went to the same school rosie….
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Yep I went to that school too.
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ha! I also went to this school!
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knew someone would recognise it from the ridiculous stockings rule! also loved the summer dress length – “skimming the ground when kneeling”
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We had a very strict uniform and i loved it. It meant i didnt have to turn up to school in the kmart clothes i owned, and that noone knew i didnt know how to do anything fancy with my hair
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I too went to a primary school with no uniform. Then I went a fancy schmansy girls school in secondary school.
Our summer uniform:dress, knee length, grey ankle socks, black shoes, blazer optional, jumper that could not be worn outside of school without blazer over the top.
Winter uniform: tunic to year 8, then skirt, grey stockings and black shoes, flanneletter shirt that had to be buttoned right up outside of school (top button could be unbuttoned in school), jumper, again could not be worn outside of school without the blazer which had to be worn outside of school anyway, (stupid)beret that had to be worn outside of school with (stupid) school badge at front of head.
I’ve been scarred.
My older kids secondary school wasn’t quite that strict, no beret at least, or silly shirt button or blazer rules, although sports shoes had to be white.
My grade 7er is going to a school with less strict again rules:no blazer til year 10 and sports shoes don’t have to be white.
I like uniforms and will push my kids to comply, they look neater, make choosing clothes of a morning easier and get you used to dress codes you may encounter in the workforce as an adult, but the reason for the beret at school still mystifies me.
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My primary school had a dress code of white or green on top and green on the bottom. That was good – it wasn’t too strict, but you could still easily identify students. At a primary school level it’s important to know who’s part of the school and who’s just wandered in, so uniform is great.
However, once I got to high school, I didn’t have to worry about uniform anymore. We still had rules like no singlets (sun smart) and we couldn’t wear super short shorts. I am so glad we had no uniform. In year seven I got the occasional snide comment on my dress sense, but no more so than I get from the general public outside of school. However, these comments were outnumbered 100 to one by the compliments I received.
I loved being able to wear my tutus, knee-high doc martens, and masses of jewellery. The majority of kids just wore t-shirt and shorts or jeans – no one got teased for that, and no one was ever left out of anything because of their dress sense.
I buy the majority of my clothes at op-shops, so cost isn’t a worry (also, I’ve found some wonderful things there!).
I’m in college now (ACT school system, high school = 7-10, college = 11-12) and we’ve also got no uniform. I love it, and my friends who were previously at schools with uniforms say they love the freedom.
My biggest issue with uniforms on older students is that after puberty we all have different body shapes. Some of us with larger breasts or hips have to get uniforms sizes too big, so we look ridiculous. I tend to look four sizes too big in these ‘one shape fits all’ styles, so I’m very glad I’ve been able to wear whatever flatters me best.
Uniforms are great for fostering a sense of belonging in the little ones. Once we hit 12/13, we’re headed into teenage/young adult territory where it doesn’t make sense to have our appearances dictated by others.
Also I’ve never found that monogrammed socks make me a better student than knee-highs.
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I loved having a uniform at school! My husband is always catching me staring despondently into my wardrobe *with-nothing-to-wear*! At least when I was at primary/high school/ check out chicking I knew exactly what to wear! haha
And for the record, even schools without a uniform have a dress code. My dad is deputy principal at a state non-uniform school and their uniform policy is soooo specific with strap width and midriff allowance etc.
Uniforms make this easier and fit OH&S requirements, my dad says its a big hassle to decide what is appropriate and what is detention! haha
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Love uniforms but not when they get complicated. My kids go to the local public school, and I was at the meeting prior to it opening where it was decided that the uniform would be navy bottoms, blue shirt and red jumper. This basic uniform has morphed into a monster: girl/boy, winter, summer and sport uniforms, and there is a different uniform for every two year levels. Nightmare for parents, kids – and the retailers.
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I am all for uniform at school. Worn Properly! I think it’s part and parcel of learning respect for the school rules. Could be borne out of the fact that it was drummed into me during my own school days or the fact that we don’t have to make any decisions at our house in the morning
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Lana I completely agree on uniforms at school for that reason – not having to spend time in the morning deciding what to wear which is the problem I had. The funny thing was that my sister was in the year above me and we would share a lot of our clothes, I think 95% of the time when I would want to wear something the next day she wanted to wear the same thing! So we always had these arguments about who would wear what! Drove me crazy.
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I have spent $830 on school uniform in the first 18 months of my daughter attending a public girls high school. I am on a disability pension for a chronic illness, have a concession card and there has been absolutely no discounts. So I disagree with those who say uniforms are not expensive. There is a very strict standard of uniform at the school. I never thought I’d be one to say this, but I love it. The girls look so smart and it has instilled such a wonderful sense of self-esteem and respect in my daughter. There are no variations allowed in the uniform, so all the girls look exactly the same. They are from all walks of life but nobody can tell the difference. We are moving away and changing schools in three months and I will miss the school dearly (also, bye bye investment
). I’m also worried about my girl dealing with teenaged boys for the first time!
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Oh I love a uniform & a monogrammed sock! The kids all look great and look like a mini community in their uniforms – rich or poor or somewhere in between. It’s easy – same outfit five days a week.
Amongst the sea of blue & yellow I can always spot my kids a mile away because I recognise their funny little legs
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uniforms are good! ALL mine were fugly, but you all look the same. It’s the great equaliser
I shudder to think what would have happened if I had been sent to a school with casual clothes, I never had the ‘right’ stuff. Mufti days were bad enough! As for the individuality thing – kids pick on individuality! I wore this gorgeous circle skirt to school in year 8 on a mufti day, and was teased mercilessly because I wasn’t wearing roxy denim shorts and a supre singlet. those bitches…
keep the uniform I say!
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This is nothing. I went to a state school in Brisbane and they had nazi-esque uniform policies – we weren’t even allowed to roll up our sleeves! The year I left they changed the relatively simple uniform to a private school style one with knee length skirts, logo socks, blazers, logo shirts the works!
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Oh and matching teal hair ribbons – I’m lucky I got out when I did!
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If it’s Mansfield High you are talking about, I still bear the scars….
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It is indeed
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In a public school – school uniforms are NOT expensive. Maybe the initial outlay, but I literally wore the same $30 jumper for my entire high schooling. Parents complain that uniforms are expensive, but then send their kids to school in brand name clothing.
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I find the uniforms to be expensive for what you get. A summer dress, which is polyester and sewn in the most basic cut costs $55 for us. I have never spent that much money on a normal dress for my daughter. And that is just one item from the Summer uniform. Like I say below, there is also a Winter uniform with multiple pieces as well as Winter and Summer sports uniforms, and they all get so dirty that you can’t go by with just one of each. This is at a public primary school. I have bought some items second hand, and that saves huge amounts of money, but it’s not always an option.
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I agree. When you consider the kids wear these every day, they are very economical. We had a family who whined about the cost of the school uniform yet they drove a Mercedes Benz 4wd & are planning to send their kids to private school for high school!
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Not in all cases, at my local high school jumpers are $72 and “raincoats” are $90. The coats aren’t waterproof at all, even a light drizzle will leave you just as wet as if you weren’t wearing one. Umbrellas are prohibited on school grounds (???). Shirts are $50 each and they’re made out of the exact same material as football shirts. Also, the shirts are white and very, very see-through. Skirts are $75 each, and girls have to wear them 3 times a week at least (what is this, Mean Girls?) and other days we can wear a pair of $45 shorts or $56 pants.
I am lucky that my parents can afford to pay for my brother and I’s uniforms, but the vast majority of my classmates come from low socioeconomic backgrounds and they really, really struggle to scrap together money each year.
Not every parent buys their children brand name clothes, some do, but many, many can’t afford it. Especially after dropping about $500 per child on a uniform.
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Price per wear the uniforms are cheap, but the initial outlay is pretty steep. I spent close to $700 on my daughter’s uniform when she started in kindy at a public school.
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The other thing is that in public schools, you can ask the school to cover your child’s uniform cost if you can’t afford it. Most people are far too proud to ask, but the funding is there. A lot of people don’t know because schools are very discrete about it.
But I agree that a uniform worn for a whole year is cheaper than the clothes kids would wear to school if they had no uniform. At least if there’s a uniform no one cares if you wear the same thing every day.
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My son went from the local public high school to a Catholic high school earlier this year.
The difference is amazing – before he would wear his PE uniform every day – with no consequences. Now he wears a shirt, tie, blazer and leather shoes and I think he looks fantastic. He also actually likes wearing the uniform and so do his friends.
I don’t buy the argument about uniforms being too expensive. My son’s former public school had uniform vouchers for people with Centrelink cards – so your uniform was free – and a clothing pool as well. Many schools favour coloured polo shirts which are $6 in K-Mart and I’ve never heard of a school penalising a student wearing one of these despite them not having logos.
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Love uniforms, free dress days are a nightmare, and my kids haven’t hit high school yet
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