Uniform

The very word conjures up vast ranks of compliant “uniforms” all focused on the same tasks and the same outcomes, working at the same marching pace.

About the only use I can see for uniforms is in identifying and associating with a particular group.  That’s important for security personnel and airline pilots maybe, but for school students?  Students are different from each other in the way they learn, different in the things they need to learn, and different in the pace they learn.  The exact opposite of the thoughts which are brought to mind when thinking about uniforms.

Uniforms cost money, are usually more expensive than regular clothing (due to a limited production run of about 1000 to 2000 units, and in different sizes).  The quality also suffers due to keeping production costs as low as possible so that uniforms make them at least a bit of money.  As far as I can tell, uniforms are a pain in the neck for uniform retailers too.

And policing uniform is a pointless and demoralising task for teachers.  Everybody knows that it doesn’t change the ability of the students to achieve.  The poorly worn uniform is a symptom of a larger problem – one of poor student engagement (and an unwillingness to pretend to be engaged for fear of the “consequences”).  Making a student wear their uniform better will not make them engage with the work in a productive manner.

Now, I’m not against a tidy standard of attire, in keeping with the role of the person attired.  However, what is appropriate for that role is usually culturally determined.  Teachers dress a little smarter than their students to set an example which will stand out.  The older students get, the more they tend to dress in a “mature” fashion (yes that was a pun).  As time passes, and age occurs to them, people (students are people too) “find themselves” and their style.  It’s another form of creative expression which we should encourage.  It is more important for some to stand out than others.

If uniforms are indeed necessary, then I think denim jeans make a good base to start from.  Cheap, tidy, hard wearing, good looking, warm in winter.  Let students wear whatever else they want but the other compulsory item is one of those rubber wrist bands which cost about $2 each.  You could even have the school name stamped on the band.  How easy is that?  How cool is that?