What is the point of a school uniform?

Question

It costs us a fortune (i used to have to fork out for at least 3 pairs of trousers, three jumpers and 2 pairs of shoes a year). I dont seem to see the point (although I am a teacher). Whats your view on it??

Yes, but they can make rules that state you cant wear designer clothes to school. That might work...

Answer 1

If you are a teacher you should know better really,its hard to believe you are a teacher or you would see the point!
Because It teaches discipline by making the kids wear a uniform & it can create proudness for the school etc & it will stop a lot of kids from being picked on & bullied because they can't afford the expensive fashions

Answer 2

To reduce problems. When they adapt the uniform policy it makes it easier for the parents and beleive it or not the students. For the parents, there are no worries about constantly buying clothes for your kids for school. For the kids it reduces peer pressure. Some kids might see other kids that dress better, or have more clothes and feel that they need to be that way too which is not the case. When they have uniforms, they are all the same and there are no worries. Also, have you heard about kids getting into fights over clothes. I dont know if you have heard but last year when the Jordan Dub Zeroes came out, their were couple fights at my school over them and also several cases where a pair have been stolen. If they were wearing regular dress shoes, im pretty sure that would not have happened. If they have uniforms, the only competition is probably who can keep it the cleanest or something.. So it reduces a lot of problems whether you want to see it that way or not.

Answer 3

When we were living in England, my son had to wear school uniform. At the time I thought wow this costs a lot!
However, I was glad that there was not an issue with what everyone was wearing as everyone kind of looked the same, ( some put something on them to make themselves individual.

Now we are living in the US and there isn't school uniform in the schools where we live.
Guess what..there is bullying, you are classed (because the way you look etc) the Brand brigades, and a lot more!
The other issue, we have to fork out a lot more on clothes now then we ever used to because they need a larger selection of clothes. The clothes wear out more, and have to keep up with the trend so to speak. I don't believe in Brands and all that but if they don't have a upto date kind of trend etc they are picked on.
My son took it for as long as he could, ignoring the remarks etc, but in the end we got him t-shirts jeans etc from certain stores, instead of Walmart and alike.
No uniforms means, opportunity to bully, and kids feeling different. (in a horrible way).
What would you prefer? Your child to look the same, and be happy, or to have to wear different clothes everyday whether it will be a non brand and be unhappy.
I know what I would prefer and know what my son would prefer now he has had the experience on both ends.

In the main city near to wear I live they brought in uniforms this year. Even though kids and parents were anti it, now they are bragging how much better it is.
Kids have said over and over that it is so much better as they no longer feel that they have to look trendy and don't feel ashamed because they don't have the Brand or latest fashion accessory anymore.

Oh and I want to add...with school uniform the kids look smarter.
They currently wear clothes not ironed, scruffy, too long, too short etc. Basically they look a real mess!

Answer 4

I agree with you totally that uniform is way too expensive, all my 3 are at secondary school and the uniform is white and burgundy. The blazers alone are between £50 and £60...so you can imagine how much it costs.. However at least when there is a uniform, all pupils dress the same. Kids can be very cruel, as being a teacher you will know !, and pupils less fortunate could get bullied because they are wearing the latest 'von dutch/ ted baker/ animal, etc, labels. All my 3 are very much into 'labels' and although my children are lucky, some families are not, so with a uniform, there are no 'better dressed' pupils.

Answer 5

I'm in a school that requires us to have school uniform, and when I ask about it they say the same thing; "It's to help you focus on your work, to reduce distractions from what you or everyone else is wearing." Personally, I don't think everyone is really 'obsessed' with what they might be wearing that day. And whoever is should be subject to whatever disciplinary actions the school could come up with for that. Another thing is to promote a safe school enviroment (Ie; prevent another Columbine type situation). But if thats the case, couldn't they just prohibit some of the things that students wear? I would perfer jeans and a tee shirt (which is a lot cheaper) over standard attire (which sells for radical prices, depending where you shop) anyday.

Answer 6

The point is so they all look the same. So they do not get teased for having the wrong kind of trainers etc. Plus when they are walking home from school it is easy to identify want school they are from if they are being little terrors. I think it is a good idea and you can pick some really cheap uniform up nowadays. Alot cheaper than there everyday wear.

Answer 7

Well, if you live on the West Coast (like I), you'd welcome them for the following reason: It seems that everyone here from about eight or nine up to and including 20 year-old boys wear this trashy pair of pants cut off half-way (which they wear with great machismo in the winter!) that proceed to hang down low enough so if it had occured back in the day they'd have been arrested for indecent exposure. All this "fashion" foments the dare to see which kid's got the nerve to be the most outrageous without engendering a reaction from the adults (who have not guts as they have been stripped of power by your Union and the lefties that say it's their "right" to dress that way). In my book unless you are 21 or older YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO SUCH NONSENSE.

BTW, it used to be that girls had more sense, but here in Mexican Mafialand they are almost worse than the guys.

Time to regain control of this land that will be a war zone if we adults don't do something to re-esablish the natural pecking order of us, not them, in control. Children are to be lead, not to be the leaders.

P.S.: sorry about your expense and you should be paid more - I know - two of my sisters teach.

Answer 8

I think it's so that all students are on a level playing field. Alot of kids don't know what "appropriate" school wear is (have you seen some of them). Also, it's very competitive in that environment and it might keep some of the kids from being embarrassed because they don't have the money to dress as trendily as some of the other kids.

I agree with it. Kids argue that with uniforms, they won't be allowed to fully express themselves....but I think that learning to express yourself should come from your personality, opinions and values rather than what brand of jeans you're wearing. I also think that they learn to look past appearances because everyone looks the same...they are forced to actually get to know the person before making snap judgements.

Answer 9

From a parent's point of view, it might be expensive but I think it would probably end up being cheaper in the long run. There would only be one type of clothing to choose from, and less stress in the am. getting ready for school, worrying about the "right" type of jeans and so on. Everyone would be dressed the same--less competition, less distraction.

Answer 10

i think uniform should be optional, personally...but every1 is entitled to their opinion

the benefits of uniform are
:
Making Students Safer
No more "gang colors". No reason to rob a kid to get his or her expensive clothes. Plus people who don't belong are easy to spot on school grounds. Do uniforms make kids safer? 75% of schools with uniforms say "Yes"

Influencing Classroom Discipline
Almost 80% of schools with uniforms say classroom discipline has improved Uniforms promote good behavior and provide an improved environment for learning

Curtailing Peer Pressure
Uniforms usually reduce the competition among students to wear certain (and nearly always expensive) brands of clothing. Over 75% of schools in uniform noted a reduction in peer pressure among their students after adopting a uniform policy

Increasing Parental Participation
The added responsibility of the parents making sure that their children wear their uniforms to school could lead to a stronger working relationship between school and home

Improving the Learning Environment
Teachers surveyed say that uniforms promote a "down to business" approach Kid's view uniforms as work clothes and take school more seriously 52% of principals surveyed said that uniforms had a positive effect on student achievement

Bolstering Self Confidence
Many studies have shown that kid's with high self-esteem perform better in school By eliminating a reason to feel self-conscious, uniforms can help improve children's self-confidence and may lead to greater class participation

Looking smarter


although i do agreee with you that it is very expensive...