Tracksuits To Become Standard School Uniform?

M0nica

Allira

Bassoues

I never forgot the first time I saw rows of identical looking children at a school and thought it was some kind of institute... I had never come across school uniforms. It is such a strange concept to anybody not english!
I never understood this idea that everybody had to rigidly wear the same clothes at school. We used to wear casual clothes until jeans came in and that was that.

Very many countries have school uniform, not just the UK.

I remember when my DD started school and there was no uniform because the Head did not agree with it.
When parents said they would prefer a simple uniform, he refused. As he was unmarried and had no children, we assumed he had never battled with a six year old daughter at 7.00am about what they wanted to wear to school that day.

Allira That sounds like the school my DC went to. It had a dress code. In the 1970s this was no jeans or trainers, I think we called them track shoes then and plain T shirts only.

But the unmarried childless Head teacher was anti uniform, and I agreed with him. I thought having a dress code was better because then children would learn that there is such a thing as acceptable clothing for specific occasions and they needed to learn and understand this.

My DD was and still is an extreme owl. I woke her up and saw her out of bed and then left her strictly alone. We had a sort of unspoken agreement. that I would not talk to her or interact with her at all and she would be cooperative and wear acceptable school clothes.

But the unmarried childless Head teacher was anti uniform, and I agreed with him. I thought having a dress code was better because then children would learn that there is such a thing as acceptable clothing for specific occasions and they needed to learn and understand this.

There was no school dress code.

We had a dress code but many parents didn't so that made it difficult. Dealing with an opinionated seven year old who might want to wear a new party dress to school like one of her friends is not easy at 7 am especially when you have a younger child and baby to get ready!

How many adults wear ties or skirts?? I hate tights!

I hated having to wear uniform at school. My DC went to Dutch schools where they could wear what they wanted. They were also encouraged to take responsibility for themselves and their learning. I would have thrived much better had I gone to their school.

Doodle

My autistic grandson (along with many autistic people) could not bear wearing a shirt and trousers, the feel of the clothes and the restriction caused him suffering every day. It is a well known fact that many fabrics cause great problems for autistic people and soft clothing makes life much easier for them.

Indeed. That we could all be comfortable.

Many find soft clothing easier, GGC is much happier in tracksuits, nice uniform.

I'm happier in jeans (my uniform) than trousers.

Adults make choices, IMO this is something many children would choose.

My autistic grandson (along with many autistic people) could not bear wearing a shirt and trousers, the feel of the clothes and the restriction caused him suffering every day. It is a well known fact that many fabrics cause great problems for autistic people and soft clothing makes life much easier for them.

Allira

Bassoues

I never forgot the first time I saw rows of identical looking children at a school and thought it was some kind of institute... I had never come across school uniforms. It is such a strange concept to anybody not english!
I never understood this idea that everybody had to rigidly wear the same clothes at school. We used to wear casual clothes until jeans came in and that was that.

Very many countries have school uniform, not just the UK.

I remember when my DD started school and there was no uniform because the Head did not agree with it.
When parents said they would prefer a simple uniform, he refused. As he was unmarried and had no children, we assumed he had never battled with a six year old daughter at 7.00am about what they wanted to wear to school that day.

Allira That sounds like the school my DC went to. It had a dress code. In the 1970s this was no jeans or trainers, I think we called them track shoes then and plain T shirts only.

But the unmarried childless Head teacher was anti uniform, and I agreed with him. I thought having a dress code was better because then children would learn that there is such a thing as acceptable clothing for specific occasions and they needed to learn and understand this.

My DD was and still is an extreme owl. I woke her up and saw her out of bed and then left her strictly alone. We had a sort of unspoken agreement. that I would not talk to her or interact with her at all and she would be cooperative and wear acceptable school clothes.

SueDonim I used to laugh when I picked my oldest grandson up from college. All those teenagers with black jeans, black Tshirt, black hoodie, and black trainers and back pack. I sure they had spent their schooldays moaning about having to wear a uniform.
The uniform for my middle grandson's grammar school is a grey suit with a shirt and tie. This isn't always how he comes home! Mud is often involved. When I was there for a day last summer I noticed that there was no nonsense about wearing jackets in a heat wave. Boys and masters were all in shirt sleeves.

I think they’re a good practical idea. I went to a school founded in 1699, thank goodness we weren’t stuck wearing the uniform of then. Although, it was strict blazers, skirts, ties etc. including those lovely navy bloomers!

I have had to shell out literally hundreds of pounds for uniforms for the various academies my GCs attend. Each school has an unnecessarily long list of compulsory items only obtainable from one source which have to be replaced regularly as the child grows.

Incidentally, mael3 if you read the full report you would see that 52% of parents gave the thumbs down to track suits.

My experience of convent girls is mixed. Several of my cousins went to convent schools and they are all lovely people. However, when I trained as a nurse there were a nasty group of convent girls who had superiority complexes and looked down the rest of us. The had very bad manners and they used to take the mick out of me because of my accent. I am sure if the expression 'Chav' had been invented they would have applied it to me.

I apologise if the my illiterate posts are not up to convent standards.

Allira said DH pointed out that every young man in the pub (apart from himself) was wearing jeans and similar t-shirts.

That reminds me of the local college, which students can attend from the age of 16 if they want to leave school. I go past regularly and rarely see anyone wearing anything except black trousers, black hoodies and black backpacks. Now and then someone relieves the monotony by wearing a dark grey outfit or even <<shock horror>> having red or green hair!

I think children learn best if they are comfortable in their clothes. If the track suits are of a regulation colour/type, I can’t see the harm in that.

BlueBelle

Ohhhhh it has improved a whole lot oldnproud

Thank goodness for that!

TheSunRisesInTheEast
I agree.

A simple uniform.

We used to wear casual clothes until jeans came in and that was that.

😂😂😂
Years ago DH was waiting to be served in the local pub when someone who was also waiting started chatting. He asked DH where he worked, when he said he was in the Services, the young man said he could never join the Services because he didn't want to wear a uniform. DH pointed out that every young man in the pub (apart from himself) was wearing jeans and similar t-shirts.

I'm totally against tracksuits for school uniforms, my 4 year old granddaughter wears one every Wednesday for PE with plimsolls, and compared to her uniform on the four other days, she looks scruffy for anything other than PE. What would they wear on their feet? She's only 4 yrs old, so velcro plimsolls are fine, but an older child wouldn't want to wear them, and school shoes would look silly with tracksuit bottoms, that leaves trainers, they can cost more than the uniform and soon become dirty and scruffy. I'd rather they wear tailored black trousers, white polo shirt or blouse/shirt, school logo sweatshirts and sensible black shoes. Scrap the ties and blazers.

Bassoues

I never forgot the first time I saw rows of identical looking children at a school and thought it was some kind of institute... I had never come across school uniforms. It is such a strange concept to anybody not english!
I never understood this idea that everybody had to rigidly wear the same clothes at school. We used to wear casual clothes until jeans came in and that was that.

Very many countries have school uniform, not just the UK.

I remember when my DD started school and there was no uniform because the Head did not agree with it.
When parents said they would prefer a simple uniform, he refused. As he was unmarried and had no children, we assumed he had never battled with a six year old daughter at 7.00am about what they wanted to wear to school that day.

Ohhhhh it has improved a whole lot oldnproud

As a female who had awfully heavy periods as a teenager (and beyond), my only objection to compulsory tracksuits in school is the reason that I didn't dare wear trousers at school as a teenager - the fear of massive leaks. You can hide a lot more protection under a skirt than you can in trousers. But maybe protection has improved since the '70s, especially since the arrival of period pants.

Google tells me this
Overview
Where are school uniforms prevalent? [OC] [1436 x 636] : r ...
School uniforms are mandatory or very common in many countries, particularly in Asia, Africa, and the British Isles, with notable examples including the UK, India, China, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Indonesia, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa. They are also widespread in Commonwealth nations and often required in private or religious schools in the US and Canada.

I think it’s a great idea and not dumbing down at all, track suits especially with the school logo on can look very smart

What country are you from Bassoues ? I know plenty of countries that use school uniform not just UK

I never forgot the first time I saw rows of identical looking children at a school and thought it was some kind of institute... I had never come across school uniforms. It is such a strange concept to anybody not english!
I never understood this idea that everybody had to rigidly wear the same clothes at school. We used to wear casual clothes until jeans came in and that was that.

Track suits are probably not such a bad idea, but it does dumb down uniform and reduce "pride" in a uniform
On the other hand, all tracksuits are equal but some are more equal than others.

Track suit trousers don't have to be shiny ones with go-faster stripes and/or garish branding. Plain cotton or polycotton ones can look smart with a sweatshirt, and if the sweatshirt has a school badge on the chest the whole ensemble can look perfectly ok for learning in. I've remembered that my children wore a white polo short under the sweatshirt, so if the weather was warm they could take the sweatshirt off. Again, that looked smart and was practical. Mine were very young, but I can't see why older pupils wouldn't look fine in them too. Trousers come in all shapes and cuts, and not all suit all girls. Teenagers in particular vary hugely in size and shape, and a 'school' pair is by no means going to be suitable for all. When mine were at middle school they allowed trousers for girls, but they had to be bought from the school, and my daughter looked awful in them and they were uncomfortable. Boys, OTOH could wear any black trousers. Apparently this was to stop girls wearing hipsters that might show off their figures too much 🙄. I complained, but got nowhere with it.

butterandjam

mae13

So - parents have been consulted and have given the 'Thumbs Up' for their offspring to attend school looking like Chavs?

Talk about dumbing down!

I attended a convent school and the uniform rules were fiercely imposed. God help any girl who didn't knot their tie correctly or was caught turning their skirt over at the waistband to make it shorter.

Wonderful discipline!

But weak on social education and good manners.

😂👏👏👏👏👏

Allira

lidl thanks autocorrect!
Lisle

Thanks for the laugh. Love your fat finger bloopers 😂

I think for a while now the government has tried to stop expensive uniforms being compulsory in schools because of parents not being able to afford them.