Featured image: Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay
Hey all. First – hope everyone is having a good week. My week has been mixed. I am happy to say I have passed my driving theory test now, although that was like two weeks ago now. Right now, I am moving everything over to a new bank account and it was going quite fine – I have managed to move everything over now bar one thing… the council tax direct debit.
What a nightmare it has become. Apparently, it is simply impossible to get through to them no matter if I phone or send an online form, I have tried numerous without any success.
Either they are incredibly backlogged, or service is just poor. But I have not had issues with other sections/departments of the council, so I don’t see why the council tax department seems to be a nightmare. I fear I may have no choice but to force hands by simply cancelling the direct debit without moving it over. I shall attempt to write a physical letter to them before that though – but it remains very annoying as I am really hoping to have this done before December, but it is looking less and less likely.
Anyway, enough of that annoyance. Today I wanted to talk about school uniforms which is something I did not much like wearing in school. I am sure many understand how uncomfortable the whole get-up is, particularly the jumper/polo-shirt collar combination that really irritates the neck. Sure, you get used to it throughout the day – usually – but the whole uncomfortable process starts again the next school day.
And since I have Autism and its accompanying sensory issues the feeling was far worse for me to deal with. Many kids with Autism despise school uniform solely for this reason and for some it may even be a barrier to entry in many regards, impacting their education.
I am not a big believer in school uniforms as things currently stand but not for the above reason alone – I do though ultimately believe school uniforms should exist, just not in their current state. One of the biggest reasons is the cost of getting a school uniform for families who have very little money. In that regard once again, it is another barrier to entry as many schools have zero tolerance for non-compliance of wearing their uniform – pretty much no matter the case. And some schools take this to extremes to even the point where it becomes uncomfortable in hot weather for example – boys may not be allowed to wear shorts – or too cold in the winter – girls may not be allowed to wear trousers.
For me there is only a few reasons why schools want their pupils/students to wear school uniforms and one of the main reasons is to advertise the school’s existence – its reach. The other is they wish to have pupils/students as smartly dressed as possible and the best way to do that is by mandating a uniform, schools can then proudly display their students/pupils. One commonly stated reason by schools for having uniforms is that it helps prevent bullying over what a child chooses to wear but I think this is a cheap cop out.
Perhaps schools should more strongly lean into teaching acceptance of differing styles pupils/students may choose to wear – we already teach them tolerance in many other areas such as culture, religion, sexuality, gender choice, and so on, why is something as simple as style excluded from this? We should be embracing that rather than shying away from it. Of course, it would still be sensible to have some level of dress code in place, but maybe a full-blown uniform is unnecessary?
I also see absolutely zero reason to make one sex wear trousers and another skirts if they do not wish to. Either sex should be given the option to wear what they feel most comfortable in – particularly when it comes to the weather.
Another argument is that it prepares children for future employment as businesses/companies may have their own uniforms. But again, I think now a days more than anything we’re seeing such things being relaxed. The suit and tie are becoming a rarer thing in offices, many places are embracing a casual dress style. And even places that do mandate a uniform, it is rarely as uncomfortable as school uniform, or even as strict. Most companies will also provide uniform free of charge or at least give some kind of discount.
But even in the above cases I don’t really buy the argument of it ‘preparing children’ for such occurrences in working life. I don’t really see it as something that needs to be prepared for – not over years anyway. I am sure children can just as easily be shown examples of workplace dress and uniform to prepare them.
Perhaps one of the best arguments for uniforms is that it helps with identification of students/pupils of the school so they can more easily be kept track of – more easily enforcing rules and the safety of pupils/students. This reason alone I think is why there should be uniforms to some extent – the safety aspect.
But in most cases, it simply seems that schools care more about their image and projection than actual education when it comes down to the strictness of uniform. In my view uniform should always come second to the provision of education. Punishing a child for it by taking their education away achieves nothing but resentment and regression. And once again the poorest and most vulnerable are affected by such things.
The vast majority of pupils would probably be far more comfortable wearing their own clothes rather than a school uniform – mood would be improved, and barriers would be torn down. But if not even that then we should at least be helping poorer families cover the cost of school uniforms and putting education ahead of uniforms – if circumstances that are unavoidable come about where a child absolutely could not on a certain occasion wear their uniform, they should still be able to be educated on that day rather than miss out.
And even just designing uniforms that are more comfortable and better for children with sensory issues would go a long way to lowering barriers for vulnerable students/pupils. Why must so many schools make their uniforms overly smart and stiff with irritating materials? Making uniforms softer is all any of us ask. For myself I have a neck warmer I put on around my neck to make wearing hoodies/jackets/coats more comfortable. Maybe designing more simple uniforms would also make them cheaper and easier to afford.
Also make it so uniform is more adaptable to changing weather and that students/pupils can choose to wear shorts/trousers provided as uniform when needed.
- Simplify uniforms and make them more comfortable with softer materials.
- Provide support to those with sensory issues who struggle with school uniforms – design uniforms or allow them to make adaptations.
- Supply or cover costs of uniform for those who struggle to afford school uniforms.
- Put provision of education before the interests of uniform conformation.
- Have summer and winter uniforms/adaptations.
- Potentially consider becoming a non-uniform school if it is found that there are little real benefits to a school uniform.
- Teach acceptance of different fashion and style.
That’s just some of the things I wanted to say on the topic after coming across this poll done by YouGov. Have a good weekend.
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