Sydney School Uniform – Indispensible or Unnecessary?

It is strange when you think that although almost all children dislike wearing school uniform, the vast majority of schools in English speaking countries including The UK, the USA, New Zealand and of course Australia, still insist on school uniform. More strangely, although as kids my sister and I hated wearing school uniform we are now very much in favour of the Sydney school uniform rules.

The school governors believe that wearing a school uniform instills a sense of professionalism and discipline into children, and unlike trendy clothes helps students remain focused and undistracted. The concept of making kids wear a uniform is also to help promote a sense of seriousness about school and its principal purpose of imparting knowledge to pupils.

My own reasons for being in favour of school uniform are somewhat more basic and practical. As a mum of three who also has a part time job and a husband and pets to look out for, I need lots of systems in place to help me stay organized and get through the week without too many disasters. Knowing exactly what my children will be wearing for five days of the week makes it much easier for me to stay on top of the laundry and clothing repairs, and keep them looking relatively smart and tidy.

Parents who are in favor of children wearing their own clothes instead of Sydney school uniform claim it makes no difference as far as laundry goes whether you are washing a uniform or personal clothing – but I disagree because I can well imagine my kids pulling their favourite top or jeans from the dirty washing to put on rather than selecting from the piles of clean items. I also dread to think what some of the girls would be wearing – we have enough trouble getting our daughter to wear appropriate clothing at weekends – I really would not want to go through that every day of the week.

 

School Uniform and Activities

There is also the consideration that clothing must be suitable for the varied actions a child will perform throughout the day at school.  On a normal school day my children probably have to sit cross-legged on the floor, exercise, do crafts, maybe dance, and of course a large part of the break time is spent fooling around – and fashionable clothes simply are designed or intended for such a wide range of activities. Although they surely do not appreciate it, school uniforms are generally designed for comfort and practicality; they will not split or tear during the normal hustle and bustle of the school day.

Like most parents in this country, I also like the fact that school uniforms produce a sense of equality among the pupils. When wearing a uniform it is hard to identify diverse social, cultural and economic backgrounds. No one has to feel ashamed that they do not have the latest designer gear or boastful because their parents are more well off than those of their school mates.