Poll: "Uniforms" in public school

[prototyper]

I live in NZ. And, as we were once a British colony, are all about uniforms.

As such, I get to wear a blazer, knee high white socks, navy blue shorts, blue and black tie and a white shirt that must be constantly tucked in at all time, or detention.

This is the norm for any school that isn't rubbish.

Buddy, if you think you have it bad, the come here, and try a real uniform.

(Incidentally, my school is a public school)

 

[karloss01]

Uniforms are standard in the UK so i'm use to it. depending on the school the dress code varied, one school may just want a shirt and tie and another may want the full blazer, bassball cap etc.

yours sound like our "posh schools" one which usally have "Grammer school" instead of "High school" and is the one to demand blazers and almost everything the student wears with a school logo on.

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

I don't understand how this is such a big issue. It's a uniform. Now go learn something.

Whilst a very small-time supporter of uniforms, I have to say that self-expression is directly linked to cultural development and attaining ever higher levels of civility and social mobility. In essence, you learn by setting yourself apart in self-expression.

It's a fundamental skill to indulge in means to deliver extrospective expression in artistic and aesthetic pursuits at a young age as it is a key stone skill in developing a healthier level of social expression later in life.

There's nothing quintessentially wrong with uniforms, but they should allow a greater degree of autonomy. Not saying go crazy with it, but there should be a balance between the need for social cohesion and artistic expression.

I can understand where you're coming from, but I've just never considered clothing as that sort of medium. I guess it's no wonder I have no interest in fashion.

I just find clothing trivial.

Heathen! D:< I wanted to be a dressmaker as a kid <.<

That and an astronaut and a motorcycle stunt rider #.# ... of course I have more skill at the sewing machine than I do the mathematic mindset or nerves of steel needed of the latter two.

Although in all seriousness, whilst I can understand (or possibly accomodate) people thinking fashion is a trivial delight, frankly I believe it to be an artform. All forms of artistic expression civilizes us.

Provides us a means to enjoy in pure extrospection the wonders of beauty ^_^

 

[Dimensional Vortex]

thats the same as my school, it costs 100 dollars for a basic jumper....100 dollars. We then have to buy more clothes for sport and this all costs loads of money, money that my family cannot afford.

Although i can see this from both sides. for example if a child is being discriminated against because he has bad clothes and what not, a uniform would eliminate that.

 

[Ashsaver]

Trust me,if you aren't living in Asia or the middle east,you haven't seen the strictest of all dress code.

From my point of view,I'm kinda okay with the dress codes because I think it's the easiest way to teach the kids....what do you call it? disciplines?

 

[Ziggy]

do the teachers follow the same rules

 

[Dragunai]

Holy Shizen dude.
I live in the UK where all the schools have strictly enforced uniforms because while the schools teach you your individual and special they want you to look exactly like everyone else and the instant you dare to become an individual you get punished back into sheep mode.

God bless Church of England schools and their hypocracy.

Still, we get to wear stripped socks :s, I knew a few rebellious girls who ever had pictures on theirs!

Your school sounds like a laid back fascism. Yeah you HAVE to conform to THEIR standards and surrender your individualism but at least you get the choice to have a turtleneck!

 

[General_Potatoes]

Wow our school is public and all we wear is a shirt with the school colours, pants with school colours, any kind of shoes except slip ons and our hair can be any length.

 

[nothinghere]

Get used to it, heaps of Public Schools in NZ (my country) have uniform.

Defeatist. If you just say get used to it, it won't change anything. That's what disappoints me so much. People just don't try to make a change. Saying "Get over/used to it" and that kind of crap...If you don't care, let those that care make the decisions.

Okay then good sir, what should I say then? I feel sorry for you OP, you have my regards?

Anyway, since I've been to a school that has uniform for two years and my future schooling isn't going to change that I've gotten used to it.
I'm assuming you live in the US so I understand that it might be a new concept for you but all I can really say is that it's not that bad.

[sub]Sue me if people expect a paragraph for each reply, it's how I think in situations where I'm used to it.[/sub]

The dresscode in my schools has been around for years, i'm in my school clothes now. I was just asking a question about dress codes in schools and used my own as an example

 

[SenseOfTumour]

To me, the main plus point of uniforms in terms of the actual child was to prevent bullying based on parental income - in that by enforcing a 'look', they wouldn't get ripped on for not having this season's Nikes, that piece of jewellery, etc.

However, if you're making the uniform expensive then it stops about the only 'plus' of a uniform anyway.

Fortunately, most school uniforms in the UK seem to end up being the target of a supermarket price war, meaning you can clothe a kid for about £20, whereas it used to cost silly money when I was at school as it was all supplied by a private company who'd come in and issue order forms and deliver to the school, bleeding everyone dry as they did it.

 

[Orcboyphil]

Oh my that is a strict dress code.

Get real, here in the UK we have to wear real uniforms. Blazers, trousers, white or blue shirts, plain black or grey socks no colours allowed at all. If your in years 10 and 11 (14-16) your allowed to wear a jumper. You yanks have it easy.

 

[ImprovizoR]

I never understood school uniforms. Kids should be able to express themselves.

 

[Rainforce]

-We cant wear shirts the same color as our eyes

They should probably stab everyones eyes out, just to be sure.
*adapts to sanity level*

 

[manic_depressive13]

It's really weird the way your school is going about it; that is, bothering to strictly enforce a dress code, but not getting an actual uniform.

Personally, I think uniforms are for the best. I'm lazy as hell. Often I'll wear (wait for it) the same shirt two days in a row! Even when I don't, it looks like I do because most of my shirts are just plain and black, and i'll usually stock up on a few of the exact same shirts if they're comfortable. People, particularly girls (from my experience) are judged rather harshly on how they dress. This is tacky, that's 'skanky', that's ugly for one reason or another, that looks like the shirt you've been wearing for the past three days. Add to this that many young people are already insecure about their appearances. With a uniform, everyone dresses the same. You look horrible in it? Well, at least it's not your fault. Uniforms just simplify things, and they're no big deal really. Teenagers are too goddamn immature to be allowed too much freedom.

Strict enforcement, to the point where you get into considerable trouble just because you don't have your shirt tucked in is annoying, but not a huge deal either. Usually staff gets tired of enforcing it, so you only have to make sure you do it for certain classes, or during assemly, etc.

 

[Regular Guy]

YAAAAAAAY CONFORMITY! BEIGE, UNISEX JUMPSUITS FOR EVERYONE!

Fucking fascists.

 

[Dags90]

Ahh I got you, so theres a slight code I see still better than having to wear a uniform lol. But doesn't all forms of clothing stand a free speech? as its a personal expression of the person wearing it =/ all very confusing. Hasn't this gone to supreme court or something? Childrens free speech or something, I remember scanning over something about it.

The one that went to the Supreme Court was anti-Vietnam War protest shirts. "Free speech" in the U.S. is more limited than most people on the interwebs would have you believe. It centers around political speech. So political speech is always more guarded than your right to say that orange is the new pink. There was also a District Court case that decided that as long as a shirt wasn't "offensive" it was protected, but that precedent doesn't cover the entire country.

 

[Fetzenfisch]

I think almost all schools have a uniform.

Shirt
Tie with school colours
School trousers(I don't know their type).
And no hats inside.
Girls can wear skirts, the school trys to keep the length long but no one listens and they eventually give up.

As a passionate individualist, I think the very concept of a dress code is ridiculous, and especially hair.

Sure, school is for learning, not for making fashion statements, but dress codes have nothing to do with learning. I've yet to hear one single good argument FOR dress codes.

It allows you to spot intruders in the school easier and quicker before they cause trouble.

All schools? I only know 3 in this area that have optional school clothes that you can wear if you want to.Mostly shirts,pullovers and hoodies in several colours with the school logo.
Still got my hoodie from back then and i like it very much.
But apart from that there is not a single rule about clothing in our schools here.
So we had the guy in a suit next to the guy with a leatherjacket with nice metal spikes on the shoulders(who might that have been ), who sat in front of the girl in miniscirt and top or the gal in turtleneck and jeans and her friend in baggyclothes.
A diverse mix of diverse characters and luckily it worked for us.
Well Its some kind of "elite" school so its not that there was much reason for enviousness, which is often given as a reason for uniforms.

 

[EightGaugeHippo]

Live in Britian, you have to wear a uniform not matter how rich your parents are.

-Black dress shoes
-Black/grey socks (knee length for girls)
-Black/Grey Pants(or grey skirt)
-White long/short sleeved collared polo shirt (top button must be done up and shirt tucked in)
-School tie (must be worn at five stripes)
-Black jumper with school logo
-No earrings for Boys AND girls
-Coats or hoodies must not be worn inside, even if the heating is broken and no matter how cold it is
-No hats inside or outside
-No makeup at all.
-No unnatural hair dye (blue green purple bright red)
-Boys: Hair must be no shorter than a number two (but can be as long as possible)
-Girls: No shorter than 15 cm
-All: Hair must not be styled in a certain way (pig tails, braids, dred locks, mohawks)

No warnings are given for a violation, instant detention (1 hour after school)

To add iceing to the cake of hatred:
Teachers are allowed to wear what they want to a degree.

And this is just a normal school, public school is much stricker