Should school uniforms be abolished ?

KittyeeTrix

Jess16 wrote: »

It is a false economy to think regular fashion items can withstand the daily wear and tear that comes with being worn to school 5 days a week. Of course uniforms are an expensive outgoing at the start of the year but you're paying for much more durable clothing that is far more cost effective in the long run.

Also, I'm all for expression but children need to be given the message that there are other, less shallow ways to express themselves outside of the clothes they put on their back. Also, there are plenty of hours outside of school time where they can go down that route if they want to.

However to avoid the serious problems that comes from a child being negatively judged by their peers, schools need to be kept as a level playing field as much as possible and school uniforms are one way of achieving that.

Jess, I'm not trying to be funny or smart with you or anything but have you actually read my posts???

My kids wear Penneys/dunnes/no brand cheap trainers so they are hardly shallow......quite the opposite I would imagine!

I AGREE WITH HAVING A SCHOOL UNIFORM but in a way that is more economically feasible than the current practice of crested jumpers often enforced by some schools

Logical Fallacy

Lefticus Loonaticus wrote: »

If they are to stay, it should just be black/grey pants with some plain shirt or whatever. Teachers should be forced to wear the same thing aswell, to ensure equality :cool:.

Teachers and students are not equal and should not be considered so.

thesimpsons

have no problems with uniforms - teens find them great not having to decide what to wear every day, just pick up uniform (off the floor/back of the chair usually ) and throw it on. eldest only needed 3 skirts through whole of 6 yrs and these are now passed down to younger sister, school jacket lasted 6 full years too and is now on its second life with daugher no. 2. Can't really argue at the cost of a skirt thats stands up to 10 hours wear, 5 days a week x 186 days a year for 70e. It would cost me far more to cloth my kids for the whole year in clothes which are still servicable for passing on for another 6 yrs.

My objection is to the crested this, that and the other for no real reason. Crested polo shirts anould tracksuits and expensive crap quality uniforms should be abolished though.

FoxT

I disagree with uniforms because I think that part of growing up is learning how to make sensible choices. Mandatory uniforms are just one rule too many. I am in favour of a sensible school dress code, which would be just as easy to implement.

Realtine

I moan about the cost of uniforms like most but I'm happy herself has to wear one to school. If she had to choose her own stuff each morning she'd never get out in time & the laundry basket would never be empty.
(she's 15 so I wouldn't be picking out her clothes each day)
Then again I only have the one in school so not a problem really for me, however if I had loads of kids it might be a different story but then again child allowance would probably cover it saved up during the summer,maybe.

I'm more pissed of about how often school books changes - now that's something that upsets me.

whydoibother?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwNQf08Kxsw

EGAR

Seanbeag1 wrote: »

No they should be mandatory. Cheaper to buy a uniform once every two years than try and keep your kid in fashion.

You obviously have no kids in school or else they don't grow?

I have no problem with uniforms but they should be available in Dunne's etc and not, like the one for my son, in only two shops in County Galway, both of which are grossly overpriced. He is 7 years old and his crested green jumper was 58 Euros, the green trousers 24 and the CREAM polo shirt 12...

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

In two minds.

On the one hand, most ontinental schools have no uniforms, and there is no competition amongst kids. Is this just something people think will happen or is their any actual eveidence? I mean, do kids compete whne they hace days off or in the evenings? If so, how come it never happens in non-uniform schools?

On the other hand, **** it - the education system just turns them into programmed robots anyway, might as well go whole hog.

karaokeman

Maybe not, it is a problem with the recession now that parents won't be able to afford clothes to allow their kids to stay with fashion trends.

Perhaps a uniform that is made of similar material to what the average teenager wears. Generally school uniforms are very uncomfortable and take a lot of getting used to.

Micky Dolenz

stovelid wrote: »

No but kids should be able to wear generic uniforms and not ones with crests and the like. Or the school provides the crest and you can sew it on yourself.

There was a mother on the radio a few days ago and she bought one school jumper with crest, then every year after she cut it out and stitched it on a cheaper jumper. I thought that was very clever.

TheDriver

FoxT wrote: »

sensible school dress code, which would be just as easy to implement.

Unfortunately there are so many differing views on that and you would be shocked how parents will allow their children so unfortunately uniform allows responsible adults to govern dress exactly. Some parents have no problem with unsuitable clothing for school.

TheDriver

P.S. Jumpers with a crest don't have to be expensive and can last ages, our kids can get 2-3 years out of ours and costs €50, we put a lot of effort into making sure it had a very high quality to give value for money. Our school pants is a special one but again isn't too expensive and can last a long time. School authorities can give great value with quality if they try. We also found having more than one shop stocking it ensured neither one took the mick. If there is a will, there is a way.
Any my school has people with money in it as well as those with none but that doesn't mean we can't give value for money, making life easier and kids actually prefer having a uniform as it makes things so much easier each and every day

DermotOH

5th Year Student here, When I was younger I hated having a uniform but now I see the point in it..

Most importantly it saves families allot of money as they don't have to go out regularly and purchase new clothes for their kids

Neyite

If I could implement a uniform it would be one that would be practical cheap and hard wearing:

White polo shirt
Black/Blue denim jeans
Pullover in whatever the school colour is, say wine/navy.
Stitch on crest.

Ban visible designer logos/branded items - eg GAP on everything else

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Neyite wrote: »

If I could implement a uniform it would be one that would be practical cheap and hard wearing:

White polo shirt
Black/Blue denim jeans
Pullover in whatever the school colour is, say wine/navy.
Stitch on crest.

Ban visible designer logos/branded items - eg GAP on everything else

I'd add football shirts to that list if I may.

Sir Niggalot

Abolish school uniforms -make them go naked!

Captain_Generic

Sir Niggalot wrote: »

Abolish school uniforms -make them go naked!

Err...

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Sir Niggalot wrote: »

Abolish school uniforms -make them go naked!

Much as you'd all like to see your streets awash with naked kids, I think it may be little bit unfair when the cold weather hits!

I have a vague recollection of seeing this actually happen in a progessive boarding school in the UK. will try and find soem evidence. (No pics or gtfo, though, you pervs)

Edit - here you go...

mars411

No way!!! €110 may seem expensive at the time but they would be wanting new clothes every couple of weeks to keep up with the latest trends.

And there would be endless washing and ironing to do!

Although in my secondary school the only coat you were allowed to wear was the navy school coat (€40) with the crest on it. One line of colour on your own coat and it would result in it being confiscated and you were lucky to get it back at the end of the week never mind the end of the day!! Colourful scarfs and hats were forbidden, they had to again be navy scarfs (€10) and hats (€8) with the crest on it.
Some boys and girls would come in with their local football clubs rain jacket which would be navy/black and have their clubs crest and a few coloured stripes and they would be sent to the office straight away to put it in the box there.
Yes the shirt,jumper,tie and trousers should be all the same colour, but the coat, scarfs and all the rest is total unecessary and expensive!!! You should be allowed to wear your own coat, etc.

Snowie

TheDriver wrote: »

imagine the burden on parents when Johnny comes home looking for expensive gear because everyone has a tommy shirt on. Fair enough you say no but then he is isolated and suddenly we are like USA.

School is for learning, growing up and being equal as much as possible. Weekends is for the fashion parades

You no your a frown up when you agree with this post...

hatrickpatrick

I'm not against uniforms per se, it's more that they have to be so formal. They're quite uncomfortable, especially when it's hot. By all means require a uniform, but why couldn't that be a t shirt and a pair of jeans or light linen trousers or something? The jumper's cool for when it's cold, it's having to wear a long sleeved shirt all the time which used to drive me nuts, and the heavy trousers.

charlemont

Iomib wrote: »

School uniforms are very expensive, Most secondary schools these days require crested jumpers that are €60 each, Skirts that are €50 each, This is huge burden on parents. Ireland must only have school uniforms because the uk have them, No country in mainland europe has school uniforms.

The kids wouldn't half be cold with no uniforms, It would be fair embarrassing for a teacher to be looking at a class full of naked children all day.

Twee.

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

I'm not against uniforms per se, it's more that they have to be so formal. They're quite uncomfortable, especially when it's hot. By all means require a uniform, but why couldn't that be a t shirt and a pair of jeans or light linen trousers or something? The jumper's cool for when it's cold, it's having to wear a long sleeved shirt all the time which used to drive me nuts, and the heavy trousers.

We had a charity thing at school once where a few teachers were sponsored to wear the uniform for the day. Every single one of them said how warm and uncomfortable it was! The same teachers that would frown at only wearing the skirt and blouse on a hot day as it "wasn't full uniform" :rolleyes:

In terms of cost though, I had the same school skirt for the six years, and only got a new jumper when I switched from Junior to Senior (TY and up) and it was required to wear the Senior colour. The zip on the skirt broke, but sure we just sewed new one. Skirt and jumper were also "dry clean only". Not once did my uniform see the inside of a dry cleaners!

Azureus

I would have been the same as Twee. The one skirt did me, although with many a stitch put in when the zip went to crap. Still worked tho! Two jumpers-one junior, one senior. Sorted!
The only problem we had was that our school tried to specify a particular ''katie collar'' on our shirts-rounded that was hard to buy in chain shops. White blouse in pennys €4, official school 'katie collar' blouse €15. Feck. Right. Off. Was pulled up on it a few times but never bothered to mention it at home because I stright up told the teachers that it was pointless and we couldnt afford it. My mam got a phone call from the head saying I had to have the correct shirt on next weekor Id be suspended until I did. RIDICULOUS!

An appointment with the principal and my mother later the whole issue was dropped, but was still embarassing being contantly pulled up on it and the effort of threatening suspension etc for the sake of a flipping collar!!
Im all for uniforms, but 'school specific' stuff needs to be abolished. If you want a crest, give them out for generic jumpers and scrap all the pointless stuff.

analucija

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

In two minds.

On the one hand, most ontinental schools have no uniforms, and there is no competition amongst kids. Is this just something people think will happen or is their any actual eveidence? I mean, do kids compete whne they hace days off or in the evenings? If so, how come it never happens in non-uniform schools?

On the other hand, **** it - the education system just turns them into programmed robots anyway, might as well go whole hog.

I don't think it ever mattered. I was not the worst dressed so I wouldn't notice it anyway. There was a bit of sneering towards kids that wore the same gear 5 days but it was mostly regarding hygiene and it would be the same if somebody wore the same uniform for 5 days. And while it was totally acceptable to wear Sepultura T Shirts, you wouldn't show up wearing Take That or whatever boy band was popular at the time T-shirt. In general there was little discrimination, maybe girls in torn fishnets, mini skirts and and Dr. Martins boots seemed a bit cooler but it didn't really matter. Guys just had to have cool hair and play in a band or some sport. Maybe jumpers that mum made were not the best idea.

foxyboxer

No, it would mean the end of certain genre of pornography. :eek:

lawhec

From my own memories of going to school here up north, you lot down south must have some sort of cartel going on. I remember at primary school in my first year there was no uniform rule but one was introduced when I went into P2, it was simple enough just navy trousers, navy jumper, sky blue shirt and black/white tie. In my last year in P7, they introduced the now very common sweatshirts with the school crest on them, and a sky blue polo shirt as an optional extra, but those like myself could wear our old uniform for one more year if we wanted to which sometimes came in useful.

On to secondary school again it was pretty plain, navy trousers, navy jumper with the school crest stitched on (the school didn't have jumpers with the crest already on them), white shirt and funnily enough the same type of tie I wore at primary school! A few years later they brought in a plain navy blazer which again had to have the crest stitched on, and eventually a different tie. But nothing flashy.

Eventually I went to the Omagh Tech (now South West College Omagh) with just plain civvies, not really an issue but maybe I was just lucky that other students I was with there were not fashionistas. And that we were perhaps at an age where we weren't so bothered about it all.

Of the schools in Omagh, Loreto Convent have a special fleece type blazer but its not compulsory. Omagh Academy do though and I don't think you can just stitch on a crest to a blazer. Other than that, all the post primaries have pretty plain uniform requirements. Schools do offer some of their own branded sports gear, but no one is mandated to buy it or wear it for PE etc. At secondary school a t-shirt and shorts or jogging bottoms were fine.

I don't know about down south, but up here parents who have low incomes can apply for a grant towards purchasing uniforms for their children. Oh, and I didn't realise southern students had to pay towards their school books until recently! Up here you were only charged if you failed to return it at the end of the year in one piece!

But as to the actual question, I would say no. Uniforms help in (a) helping students concentrate more on their academic work in the classroom rather than trying to eye up what others are wearing, (b) a developing sense of taking pride in your personal appearance and (c) instilling a sense of school community spirit and a sense of belonging among the pupils at large. The notion of uniforms suppressing ones individuality and creativity is nonsense I think, the student should be able to express themselves though their work and achievements in academic and vocational study areas not to mention sporting outlets and extra-curricular activities. To me that's a much more healthier outlet for children rather than trying to "impress" others by turning up for lessons dressed as Dappy from N-Dubz.

FinnLizzy

A lot (mot all) of the criticism of the 'no uniform' philosophy seems to be coming from people who went through the system entirely in uniform.

The idea of not wearing a uniform is a bit foreign and the complaints seem to be along the lines of: 'how will they choose what to wear in the morning?', 'what if the other kids make fun of the clothes?' and 'it's so much cheaper to have uniforms rather than buy a sh1t tonne of clothes?'.

My answer so such complaints would be, how do they function during all of the other non-school days? Do the parents dress them to go out with their friends?

Also, the fashion issue is not as important as people seem to think, and there's a school of thought that if you're aloud to wear what you like in school, then there will be more distractions. It's the same argument with co-ed schools. If boys and girls are aloud to integrate, will they be riding left right and center?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

FinnLizzy wrote: »

A lot (mot all) of the criticism of the 'no uniform' philosophy seems to be coming from people who went through the system entirely in uniform.

The idea of not wearing a uniform is a bit foreign and the complaints seem to be along the lines of: 'how will they choose what to wear in the morning?', 'what if the other kids make fun of the clothes?' and 'it's so much cheaper to have uniforms rather than buy a sh1t tonne of clothes?'.

My answer so such complaints would be, how do they function during all of the other non-school days? Do the parents dress them to go out with their friends?

Also, the fashion issue is not as important as people seem to think, and there's a school of thought that if you're aloud to wear what you like in school, then there will be more distractions. It's the same argument with co-ed schools. If boys and girls are aloud to integrate, will they be riding left right and center?

Seems to be down to a fear of what might happen rather than what actually goes on.

Is anyone here in favour of uniforms but for more verifyable reasons?

cobear

After 14 years of wearing a uniform at school, I have to say that they are the only way to go. Yes they are dear to buy initially and I agree with other posters that cheaper versions should be made available and schools should provide much more leeway in terms of crests etc. They are also often too hot in summer and too cold in winter but it's unbelievable the amount of stress they save you - not having to decided what to wear every morning. We had a few non uniform days in my school and there was definitely competitions and judging looks over what people wore, I couldn't see that going away because people were their everyday clothes to school!