School Uniforms

[author_by_night]

What do you guys think of school uniforms?

I used to be very much against them, perhaps partly because I went to private school and was forced to spend winter shivering in my skirt because leggings didn't do one thing to warm me up. However, I do wonder if I would have minded had we been allowed to wear pants more often.

Now I'm very conflicted.

-: It might inhibit self expression.

+: Of course, I speak as someone who rarely wore nice clothing to school until college. Meanwhile, a close friend of mine who was one of those people who'd shop at the same store for hours missed wearing a uniform and not having to worry about what she was going to wear. (Maybe she would have gotten better grades? Seriously, maybe she would have.)

+: School is a place where you're supposed to be learning.

-: School is also a place where you learn to interact with your peers, and that includes peers who might be wearing clothing you find distracting, that's more expensive or less expensive than your own clothing, or outfits that express beliefs and/or ideas you disagree with.

-: Skirts make for cold legs in the winter.

+: Schools wouldn't have to require skirts. 

Where do you guys stand? 

Comments

[kelleypen.livejournal.com]

Uniforms at my school are solid color polo or oxford shirts and dockers. That's it. It really is simple. What's nice is you can't tell the rich kids from the poor kids, the goths from the geeks, nor the rehabs from the righteously bubble-wrapped. It makes it a better atmosphere for study. It also gives school a professional feeling and elevates the seriousness of what we do. It breaks down cliques and levels the playing field. It keeps the distractions whether from immodesty or outrageousness to a minimum.

The uniforms I grew up with were plaid wool skirts, red cardigans and white blouses. I hated them and thought I hated uniforms. Now I just see I hated plaid wool skirts. Stupid itchy pleats.

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

What's nice is you can't tell the rich kids from the poor kids, the goths from the geeks, nor the rehabs from the righteously bubble-wrapped.

I guess I just feel there'd still be ways for kids like that to show who they are, even with everyone wearing the same clothes.


The uniforms I grew up with were plaid wool skirts, red cardigans and white blouses. I hated them and thought I hated uniforms. Now I just see I hated plaid wool skirts. Stupid itchy pleats.

I can see that, and wonder if that's how it is with me. I mean, we were sometimes technically allowed to wear pants, but everyone knew they wanted us to wear skirts. We absolutely had to wear them for assembly.

[kelleypen.livejournal.com]

They don't really show the differences until they get to know each other. And by then, they don't matter. They have to have their hair normal colors--none that don't occur in nature; have no body piercings but ears, etc... so that hides a lot.