Should kids have to wear a uniform in school?

[Frolic_Fun]

Uniforms here were not very expensive at all, none of that poncey blazer and tie bollocks you see some schools do. Parents who can't afford it could easily get assistance if needed (the joys of a semi-socialist system ), so there's less likely students with hand-down uniforms.

[Queen Victoria]

When uniforms were proposed for our public schools the arguments (and my dissent) were:

1) No arguing over what to wear.  (Well, if you don't buy inappropriate clothes in the first place, there's no argument)
2) No fights in the morning over what to wear. (See above and pick out the clothes the night before.)
3) Equal social playing field, (After 2 or 3 kids have worn the same shirt it looks pretty ratty and some child will always have the "got-to-have lunch kit, coat, shoes, whatever)
4) Cuts down on gang violence. (In grammar school?  And besides what's to keep someone from beating up a kid because he knows the kid belongs to a rival school)
5) Makes the school safer (No, anyone can buy the uniform or borrow/steal it and get on campus)
6) Cost less (I outfitted the PR for an entire year for the price of one uniform shirt.  Shopped at thrift stores and garage sales.  Underwear and shoes excepted)
 

[Osensitive1]

Uniforms here were not very expensive at all, none of that poncey blazer and tie bollocks you see some schools do. Parents who can't afford it could easily get assistance if needed (the joys of a semi-socialist system ), so there's less likely students with hand-down uniforms.

Might assume their was still social segmentation regardless. Never understood the arguement of uniforms based on the point of everyone simply dressing the same to avoid status based on clothing. The kids still know which ones have family with money; the staff still know which families have influence in the businees and political community or school board.

[bodie]

Uniforms here were not very expensive at all, none of that poncey blazer and tie bollocks you see some schools do. Parents who can't afford it could easily get assistance if needed (the joys of a semi-socialist system ), so there's less likely students with hand-down uniforms.

Might assume their was still social segmentation regardless. Never understood the arguement of uniforms based on the point of everyone simply dressing the same to avoid status based on clothing. The kids still know which ones have family with money; the staff still know which families have influence in the businees and political community or school board.

Yes anyone not wearing school colours got pulled at assembly and was made to wear something
from lost property!  Humiliating or what?

[The_Chosen_One]

Funnily enough, one of the reasons they told us to wear a uniform was for school excursions. If the class or year were going on some sort of excursion, the school was being represented, and wearing different clothes by the students was meant to be a slur on the school.

For about the first 2 years I was in High school, I wore the uniform (except for the shoes) and it was toward the end I added my own variations. 3rd form and later, I couldn't be bothered with it, and wore wtf I liked. Got sent to the principal a few times, and got sent home once to change, but always used the excuse I didn't have any uniform pants or jumper etc. They gave up after awhile. Also, the school claimed it was cheaper to wear uniform, but when you wore normal clothes every day, that sort of blew that argument out of the water.

Primary chool were never big on uniforms anyway.

[bodie]

I was always anti uniform.  Must admit however, the urchin looks cute in his.

He is only four years old,  and i think it is a bit too young.  The girls at his
school have to wear those blue/white gingham dresses.  It's like stepping
back in time!

[Icequeen]

I can see the logic in it I guess, but as a habitual non-conformist myself, I still hate the idea.

I was rotten, plain & simple. I remember I had one shirt with a picture of a vette on the front, it had "Corvette" at the top, and below the picture it said "wrap your ass in fiberglass".

Principal stopped me one day and told me if he ever saw me wear it again he would send me home. Guess what I washed and wore the next day?

Walked past him 6 times in the hallway, and he never did send me home. 

[odeon]

I don't give a shit about individuality but I have real trouble with anyone telling me what to do and how to do it. Luckily I never had anyone telling me how to dress or, for that matter, telling me how my kids should dress. Revolutions have started for less.