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| Ieuan in his school uniform |
She couldn't, she said, see the point in making them wear something they didn't want to.
I think that if a school requests that a uniform be worn, it is actually in the interest of pupils, parents and teachers that it be worn.
Why? Uniform is a great leveller. It removes status symbols and creates an equality, at least in appearance.
It is valuable in teaching kids that fitting in and adhering to rules and regulations will be a part of their life from now on.
Grating as it is to have to buy clothing which looks like it was made for some utilitarian army with precious little interest in colour, fit or durability, in general kids look smarter and, as psychologists tell us, that should help performance.
Nobody can deny that buying school uniform can add up to a significant outlay, but these days you can buy supermarket basics which do the job and a reasonable cost.
I had to wear a uniform from junior school (the 1970's) till the end of comprehensive schooling in 1982.
I had a uniform for Brownies (which Club, I'm afraid I hated) and a uniform for ballet (hair HAD to be in a netted bun).
Then for most of my working life so far, I've arguably had a 'corporate uniform' - suit, blouse, heels, lipstick, bag. I still struggle with my 'mummy' uniform - but that subject probably requires a separate post!
When you think about it, there aren't that many areas of life where there isn't some dress code or other, either prescribed or implied.
And anyway, if you don't have some degree of conformity, you've not got much to rebel against when you hit your teens, have you?
Are you for, or against school uniform?
